Lighting Technicians Salary
The median lighting technicians salary in the United States is $68,060 per year ($32.72/hour). Salaries range from $42,310 at the entry level to $130,760+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,900 lighting technicians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 4.6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$68,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.72
per hour
Employment
8,900
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$42,310
25th percentile
$52,770
Median
$68,060
75th percentile
$95,640
90th percentile
$130,760
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-4.6%
Decline
Annual Openings
800
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Lighting Technicians Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$42K$126K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$126K
+85%
California
$94K
+38%
New Jersey
$88K
+29%
New York
$78K
+15%
Connecticut
$72K
+6%
Georgia
$70K
+3%
Oklahoma
$67K
-1%
Louisiana
$67K
-2%
Florida
$62K
-9%
Nevada
$61K
-10%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $126,100 | +85.3% |
| California | $94,070 | +38.2% |
| New Jersey | $87,550 | +28.6% |
| New York | $78,000 | +14.6% |
| Connecticut | $72,450 | +6.5% |
| Georgia | $70,150 | +3.1% |
| Oklahoma | $67,110 | -1.4% |
| Louisiana | $66,840 | -1.8% |
| Florida | $62,190 | -8.6% |
| Nevada | $61,250 | -10.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 27
Lighting Technicians Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,110 | +85.3% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,010 | +54.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,510 | +28.6% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $79,380 | +16.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,000 | +8.7% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,790 | +6.9% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,970 | +4.3% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,150 | +3.1% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $67,110 | -1.4% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $67,080 | -1.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 30
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A lighting technicians earning $68,060/year would need 876 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 940 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how lighting technicians salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Lighting Technicians salary trend (2011–2024) →