### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			broadcast and sound engineering technicians imageBroadcast and sound engineering technicians operate controls to ensure quality audio and video recordings for radio and television broadcasts.							
						Quick Facts:     Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$54,160     per year
										$26.04     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    142,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,500What Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for media programs.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically work indoors in radio, television, movie, and recording studios. They may also work in hotels, arenas, offices, or schools.
            
                                                How to Become a Broadcast, Sound, or Video Technician
                                                
                        
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for broadcast, sound, and video technicians was $54,160 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 12,900 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for broadcast, sound, and video technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of broadcast, sound, and video technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about broadcast, sound, and video technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians Do 
            

			Broadcast, sound, and video techniciansBroadcast, sound, and video technicians operate equipment in schools and office buildings.			
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.
Duties
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically do the following:
Operate, monitor, and adjust audio, video, sound, lighting, and broadcast equipment to ensure consistent quality
Set up and take down equipment for events and live performances
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording equipment or computers, sometimes using complex software
Synchronize sounds and dialogue with action taking place on television or in movie productions
Convert video and audio records to digital formats for editing on computers
Install audio, video, and lighting equipment in hotels, offices, and schools
Report any problems that arise with complex equipment and make routine repairs
Keep records of recordings and equipment usedThese workers may be called broadcast or sound engineering *technicians*, *operators*, or *engineers*. They set up and operate audio and video equipment, and the kind of equipment they use may depend on the particular type of technician or industry. At smaller radio and television stations, broadcast, sound, and video technicians may have more responsibilities. At larger stations, they may do more specialized work, although their job assignments may vary from day to day.
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians share many responsibilities, but their duties may vary with their specific area of focus. The following are examples of types of broadcast, sound, and video technicians:
***Audio and video technicians***, also known as *audio-visual technicians*, set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment. They also connect wires and cables and set up and operate sound and mixing boards and related electronic equipment.
Audio and video technicians work with microphones, speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, and recording equipment. The equipment they operate is used for live or recorded events such as meetings, concerts, sporting events, podcasts, and news conferences.
***Broadcast technicians***, also known as *broadcast engineers*, set up, operate, and maintain equipment that regulates the signal strength, clarity, and ranges of sounds and colors for radio or television broadcasts. They operate transmitters, either in studios or on location in the field, to broadcast radio or television programs. Broadcast technicians also use computer programs to edit audio and video recordings.
***Lighting technicians***set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting controls, and associated electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. They also may focus or operate light fixtures and attach color filters or other lighting accessories.
***Sound engineering technicians***, also known as *audio engineers* or *sound mixers*, assemble and operate sound equipment. They use this equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
 Work Environment
			Broadcast, sound, and video techniciansBroadcast, sound, and video technicians work with a variety of electronic and recording equipment.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Broadcast, sound, and video technicians held about 142,800 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up broadcast, sound, and video technicians was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Audio and video technicians
                74,800Broadcast technicians
                39,900Sound engineering technicians
                17,600Lighting technicians
                10,500The largest employers of broadcast, sound, and video technicians were as follows:
        Motion picture and sound recording industries
                20%Broadcasting and content providers
                16Self-employed workers
                14Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries
                8Educational services; state, local, and private
                8Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically work indoors in radio, television, movie, or recording studios. However, they may work outdoors in all types of weather in order to broadcast news and other programming on location. Audio and video technicians also set up systems in offices, arenas, hotels, schools, hospitals, and homes.
Technicians doing maintenance may climb poles or antenna towers. Those setting up equipment may do heavy lifting.
Work Schedules
Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.
Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.
 How to Become a Broadcast, Sound, or Video Technician

			Broadcast, sound, and video techniciansBroadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education, although some are hired with a high school diploma.			
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.
Education
Educational requirements for audio and video, lighting, and sound engineering technicians vary from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the position. Broadcast technicians typically need an associate’s degree.
Prospective broadcast, sound, and video technicians should complete high school classes in math, physics, and electronics. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have skills related to audio and video equipment and related technologies.
Postsecondary programs for audio and video, lighting, and sound engineering technicians may take several months to years to complete. These programs, which may lead to either a nondegree award or a college degree, often provide hands-on experience with the equipment used in many entry-level positions.
Broadcast technicians typically need an associate’s degree. In addition to courses in math and science, coursework for prospective broadcast technicians should emphasize practical skills such as video editing and production management.
Although typically not required, a bachelor's degree in fine and performing arts or a related field, such as communications technology, may be helpful.
Training
Because technology is constantly improving, technicians often enroll in continuing education courses and receive on-the-job training to become skilled in new equipment and hardware. On-the-job training includes setting up cables or automation systems, testing electrical equipment, learning the codes and standards of the industry, and following safety procedures.
Newly hired workers may be trained in a variety of ways, depending on the types of products and services the employer provides. In addition, new workers’ level of education may also dictate how much training they need.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although it is not required by most employers, voluntary certification may offer advantages in getting a job as a broadcast or sound engineering technician. Certification tells employers that the technician meets certain industry standards and has kept up to date with new technologies.
The Society of Broadcast Engineers offers operator level, engineering level, broadcast networking, and specialist certifications. Most of these certifications require passing an exam.
The Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association offers the general Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential as well as the design CTS and installation CTS. All three credentials require passing an exam and are valid for 3 years.
Other Experience
Gaining practical experience in a high school or college audiovisual department also helps to prepare for work as an audio and video equipment technician.
Advancement
Although many broadcast, sound, and video technicians work first in small markets or at small stations in big markets, they often transfer to larger, better paying radio or television stations after gaining experience and skills. Few large stations hire someone without previous experience, and they value specialized skills.
Experienced workers with strong technical skills may become supervisory broadcast technicians or chief broadcast engineers. To become chief broadcast engineer at large television stations, technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients’ needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations.
***Computer skills.*** Technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings.
***Manual dexterity.*** Some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination. Others adjust small knobs, dials, and sliders during radio and television broadcasts and live performances.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them. Employers typically desire applicants with a variety of skills, such as setting up equipment, maintaining the equipment, and troubleshooting and solving any problems that arise.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Broadcast, Sound, and Video TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Broadcast, sound, and video technicians$54,160  Media and communication equipment workers$53,850  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for broadcast, sound, and video technicians was $54,160 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,990.

			
                    	Median annual wages for broadcast, sound, and video technicians in May 2023 were as follows:
        Lighting technicians
		$62,240Sound engineering technicians
		59,430Broadcast technicians
		57,690Audio and video technicians
		51,640In May 2023, the median annual wages for broadcast, sound, and video technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Motion picture and sound recording industries
                $78,090Educational services; state, local, and private
                52,660Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries
                50,750Broadcasting and content providers
                46,250Technicians working in major cities typically earn more than those working in smaller markets.
Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.
Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Broadcast, Sound, and Video TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Media and communication equipment workers4%  Total, all occupations3%  Broadcast, sound, and video technicians2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 12,900 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians varies by occupation (see table).
Companies are continuing to increase their audio and video budgets so they can use video conferencing to reduce travel costs and communicate worldwide with other offices and clients, especially as more people work in a remote or hybrid environment. In addition, an increase in the use of digital signs should lead to higher demand for audio and video technicians.
Motion picture and sound recording industries will continue to need broadcast, lighting, and sound engineering technicians to improve the quality of shows and movies. However, advances in technology will allow fewer technicians to set up and operate broadcast, lighting, and sound systems, which is expected to reduce demand for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     broadcast, sound, and video technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Broadcast, sound, and video technicians**
			—
			142,800
			145,300
			2
			2,500
			—**Audio and video technicians**
			27-4011
			74,800
			78,300
			5
			3,500
			Get data**Broadcast technicians**
			27-4012
			39,900
			39,400
			-1
			-400
			Get data**Sound engineering technicians**
			27-4014
			17,600
			17,400
			-1
			-200
			Get data**Lighting technicians**
			27-4015
			10,500
			10,200
			-3
			-400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Audio and video technicians
					Broadcast technicians
					Lighting technicians
					Sound engineering technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of broadcast, sound, and video technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Computer Support Specialists**
            Computer support specialists maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users.
            See How to Become One
            $60,810**Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians**
            Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop equipment that is powered by electricity or electric current.
            Associate's degree
            $72,800**Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers**
            Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install or repair a variety of electrical equipment.
            See How to Become One
            $67,220**Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators**
            Film and video editors and camera operators manipulate moving images that entertain or inform an audience.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,070**Announcers and DJs**
            Announcers present news and sports or may interview guests on media such as radio and television. Disc jockeys (DJs) act as masters of ceremonies (emcees) or play recorded music at weddings, parties, or clubs.
            See How to Become One
            The annual wage is not available.**News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists**
            News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
            Bachelor's degree
            $57,500**Telecommunications Technicians**
            Telecommunications technicians install, maintain, and repair radio, internet, and other telecommunications infrastructure.
            See How to Become One
            $62,350
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more career information and links to employment resources, visit
National Association of Broadcasters
Audio Engineering Society
For more information about certification and links to employment information for broadcast technicians, visit
Society of Broadcast Engineers
For more information on certification and career information for audio and video technicians, visit
Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Audio and Video TechniciansBroadcast TechniciansLighting TechniciansSound Engineering Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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