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Audio and Video Technicians

Typical education: Associate degreeLower pressure

What they do

Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,100 Median per year · $27.93/hr Most earn $37,990–$100,650

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
  • Perform narration of productions or present announcements.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
  • Locate and secure settings, properties, effects, and other production necessities.
  • Construct and position properties, sets, lighting equipment, and other equipment.
  • Plan and develop pre-production ideas into outlines, scripts, story boards, and graphics, using own ideas or specifications of assignments.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 6,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Rental and leasing services14.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)10.0%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.9%
  • Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events5.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals3.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Audio and Video Technicians usually need an associate degree and about 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience before they take this job, so it is not usually an entry-level role straight out of school. A high school graduate can start building that experience right away through installer or crew jobs.

  1. Associate degree in audio-video production or electronics technology

    2 years

    You learn how audio, video, and electronic equipment work, and you get hands-on practice with cables, mixers, cameras, and servers, which are the core skills this job needs.

  2. Audiovisual Equipment Installer

    1-2 years

    You install and repair AV systems in venues, meeting rooms, and event spaces, building the real-world experience employers look for before they hire technicians.

  3. Audio and Video Technician

    Entry point after about 1-2 years of prior experience

    You set up, run, and take down audio and video equipment for live and recorded events, and you become the person who troubleshoots problems on the spot.

Where it can lead

  1. Sound Engineering Technician

    1-2 years of experience first

    You focus more deeply on recording, mixing, and sound quality for studios, live events, or broadcasts, which means stronger audio skills and more creative control.

  2. Broadcast Technician

    2-4 years of experience first

    You work on the technical side of TV or radio production, keeping signals, transmitters, and studio systems running, which requires deeper technical knowledge and experience with broadcast equipment.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics and any electronics or media classesPhysics explains how sound and light behave, and electronics or media classes give you hands-on practice with the equipment you'll use on the job.
  • Join the school's AV, media, or theater tech crewRunning sound, lights, or cameras for school shows and assemblies gives you real experience setting up and troubleshooting equipment under pressure.
  • Volunteer to set up sound or video at community eventsHelping at churches, town events, or local meetings builds practical experience and a reference you can list later.
  • Look for a starter job at a venue, rental company, or event spaceEven a part-time role carrying and setting up equipment teaches you how events run and shows employers you are reliable.
  • Learn basic computer and networking skillsMany AV systems run on computers and networks, so comfort with those tools will help you a lot later.

In college

  • Enroll in an audio-video production or electronics associate programA focused two-year program teaches the technical knowledge and equipment experience that this career requires and that employers look for.
  • Work on a campus event or media crewRunning sound and video for campus events, performances, or the student station gives you real experience and a reference from people who've seen your work.
  • Seek an internship at a local TV station, production company, or event AV firmAn internship lets you see how professional productions run and often leads to part-time work or a full-time job after graduation.
  • Take a course in networking or IT basicsDigital AV systems depend on networks and servers, so this skill sets you apart when you apply for technician roles.
  • Ask about industry certificationsMany AV programs and employers recognize industry certifications, which can show employers you have verified skills; check which ones your local employers prefer.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience early. Employers care a lot about what you have actually set up, so keep a simple list of events, shows, or installs you've helped with.
  • Pick up basic electronics and networking knowledge, since modern AV systems rely on servers, cables, and digital signal networks as much as on microphones and cameras.
  • Start building a portfolio or reference list of supervisors and event organizers who can vouch for your reliability and problem-solving.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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