Audio and Video Technicians
Audio and Video Technicians (SOC 27-4011) earn a median $58,100 a year ($27.93 an hour) in the United States, with 70,230 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What audio and video technicians do
Audio and video technicians set up, maintain, and take down audio and video equipment, including microphones, speakers, cables, mixing boards, cameras, monitors, and servers, for live or recorded events. The SOC definition's examples of events include concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events. Duties include diagnosing and resolving media system problems, notifying supervisors when major repairs are needed, directing and coordinating assistants during production, and compressing, digitizing, duplicating, and storing audio and video data. They also install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment that records, edits, and transmits radio and television programs, run the lights and sound at live events, and switch between video sources. Sound engineering technicians, lighting technicians, and audiovisual equipment installers and repairers are counted in separate occupations.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Audio Installer, Audio Technician, Audio Video Technician, Audio Visual Communications Systems Technician, Audio Visual Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.26 | $22.30 | $27.93 | $37.29 | $48.39 | $31.07 | 70,230 |
| Annual | $37,990 | $46,390 | $58,100 | $77,560 | $100,650 | $64,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where audio and video technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $18.82 | $27.49 | $37.87 | $50.11 | $59.68 | $39.44 | 830 | 1.19 | 2.63 |
| Annual | $39,150 | $57,170 | $78,770 | $104,240 | $124,130 | $82,040 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.75 | $26.85 | $34.16 | $39.63 | $51.34 | $35.78 | 2,280 | 0.53 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $47,320 | $55,840 | $71,040 | $82,420 | $106,780 | $74,430 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $22.94 | $26.67 | $33.67 | $38.83 | $49.19 | $35.09 | 1,770 | 0.64 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $47,720 | $55,480 | $70,040 | $80,770 | $102,300 | $72,980 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $23.99 | $27.75 | $33.30 | $40.71 | $58.53 | $37.47 | 1,360 | 0.38 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $49,900 | $57,720 | $69,270 | $84,680 | $121,740 | $77,940 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.49 | $25.86 | $32.50 | $44.59 | $55.30 | $36.42 | 7,990 | 0.83 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $42,620 | $53,780 | $67,600 | $92,760 | $115,010 | $75,760 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $19.21 | $23.19 | $31.07 | $42.04 | $58.02 | $35.17 | 9,280 | 0.51 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $39,950 | $48,230 | $64,620 | $87,450 | $120,690 | $73,150 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.49 | $25.86 | $32.50 | $44.59 | $55.30 | $36.42 | 7,990 | 0.83 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $42,620 | $53,780 | $67,600 | $92,760 | $115,010 | $75,760 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.26 | $22.14 | $26.07 | $32.37 | $38.95 | $28.79 | 6,000 | 0.60 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $37,980 | $46,040 | $54,230 | $67,330 | $81,010 | $59,870 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.74 | $21.28 | $23.77 | $29.10 | $38.26 | $25.78 | 4,280 | 0.30 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $34,810 | $44,260 | $49,440 | $60,540 | $79,570 | $53,620 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $18.55 | $21.82 | $27.35 | $35.76 | $44.75 | $29.63 | 3,080 | 0.51 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $38,590 | $45,380 | $56,890 | $74,370 | $93,080 | $61,630 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $24.61 | $30.77 | $41.57 | $48.02 | $48.37 | $39.57 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $51,190 | $63,990 | $86,470 | $99,880 | $100,610 | $82,310 | ||||
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | Hourly | $9.85 | $26.56 | $38.37 | $38.37 | $47.74 | $31.75 | 40 | 0.49 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $20,480 | $55,240 | $79,810 | $79,810 | $99,290 | $66,050 | ||||
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | Hourly | $30.75 | $37.85 | $38.28 | $41.24 | $42.11 | $37.77 | 560 | 3.33 | 7.37 |
| Annual | $63,950 | $78,730 | $79,610 | $85,790 | $87,580 | $78,560 | ||||
| Springfield, MA | Hourly | $23.18 | $27.38 | $38.21 | $38.21 | $44.24 | $34.55 | 60 | 0.30 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $48,220 | $56,960 | $79,470 | $79,470 | $92,020 | $71,860 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.65 | $26.73 | $36.32 | $48.28 | $61.70 | $39.54 | 1,370 | 0.58 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $47,100 | $55,590 | $75,540 | $100,420 | $128,340 | $82,250 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.78 | $27.50 | $34.76 | $44.78 | $60.39 | $37.40 | 7,800 | 0.82 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $45,300 | $57,200 | $72,300 | $93,140 | $125,610 | $77,780 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.80 | $23.67 | $31.20 | $45.19 | $61.85 | $35.94 | 4,710 | 0.75 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $39,110 | $49,240 | $64,900 | $94,000 | $128,650 | $74,760 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $20.50 | $30.66 | $41.57 | $56.19 | $33.40 | 2,490 | 0.55 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $42,640 | $63,780 | $86,470 | $116,880 | $69,470 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.09 | $28.04 | $35.76 | $47.50 | $58.03 | $37.58 | 2,210 | 0.70 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $45,950 | $58,320 | $74,380 | $98,800 | $120,690 | $78,170 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $18.54 | $22.35 | $26.16 | $33.87 | $39.76 | $29.17 | 1,820 | 0.64 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $38,570 | $46,490 | $54,410 | $70,440 | $82,700 | $60,670 | ||||
Top industries employing audio and video technicians
Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) employ 17.3% of audio and video technicians nationally (12,140 jobs) at a median $51,020 a year ($24.53 an hour), followed by Motion Picture and Video Industries (12.0%) and Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) NAICS 5320A1 | 12,140 | 17.3% | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 8,420 | 12.0% | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 4,930 | 7.0% | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,630 | 6.6% | $56,770 | $27.29 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 4,260 | 6.1% | $71,430 | $34.34 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (70,230). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,820 for audio and video technicians in May 2021 and $58,100 in May 2025, with employment of 50,590 and 70,230.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,820 | $23.47 | 50,590 |
| May 2022 | $50,660 | $24.36 | 56,110 |
| May 2023 | $51,640 | $24.83 | 66,700 |
| May 2024 | $54,830 | $26.36 | 70,080 |
| May 2025 | $58,100 | $27.93 | 70,230 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $37.87 | $78,770 | $39,150 | $124,130 | 830 | 1.19 | 2.63 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $34.16 | $71,040 | $47,320 | $106,780 | 2,280 | 0.53 | 1.18 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $33.67 | $70,040 | $47,720 | $102,300 | 1,770 | 0.64 | 1.42 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $33.30 | $69,270 | $49,900 | $121,740 | 1,360 | 0.38 | 0.84 |
| 5 | New York profile | $32.50 | $67,600 | $42,620 | $115,010 | 7,990 | 0.83 | 1.83 |
| 6 | California profile | $31.07 | $64,620 | $39,950 | $120,690 | 9,280 | 0.51 | 1.13 |
| 7 | Rhode Island profile | $30.80 | $64,070 | $41,470 | $83,900 | 150 | 0.29 | 0.64 |
| 8 | Nevada profile | $30.18 | $62,770 | $40,910 | $97,830 | 1,580 | 1.02 | 2.25 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $29.87 | $62,120 | $41,470 | $100,510 | 820 | 0.48 | 1.06 |
| 10 | Alaska profile | $29.84 | $62,060 | $43,040 | $89,240 | 70 | 0.21 | 0.46 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $29.20 | $60,740 | $31,200 | $108,610 | 3,020 | 0.50 | 1.10 |
| 12 | Hawaii profile | $28.92 | $60,150 | $35,380 | $84,260 | 430 | 0.69 | 1.52 |
| 13 | Delaware profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $48,370 | $78,760 | 130 | 0.26 | 0.57 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $37,640 | $77,610 | 1,700 | 0.39 | 0.85 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.35 | $56,890 | $38,590 | $93,080 | 3,080 | 0.51 | 1.12 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | $27.30 | $56,790 | $41,700 | $82,630 | 830 | 0.29 | 0.64 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $27.01 | $56,180 | $34,560 | $81,950 | 170 | 0.24 | 0.54 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $26.07 | $54,230 | $37,980 | $81,010 | 6,000 | 0.60 | 1.34 |
| 19 | Virginia profile | $25.94 | $53,960 | $39,060 | $85,320 | 1,900 | 0.46 | 1.03 |
| 20 | Minnesota profile | $25.86 | $53,800 | $34,960 | $79,320 | 960 | 0.33 | 0.72 |
| 21 | Oregon profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $36,550 | $80,340 | 630 | 0.32 | 0.71 |
| 22 | South Carolina profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $40,570 | $113,840 | 440 | 0.19 | 0.43 |
| 23 | Vermont profile | $24.76 | $51,500 | $35,070 | $82,890 | 170 | 0.56 | 1.23 |
| 24 | Wisconsin profile | $24.71 | $51,390 | $36,440 | $82,230 | 760 | 0.26 | 0.57 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $24.69 | $51,350 | $39,470 | $104,730 | 1,630 | 0.33 | 0.74 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $24.53 | $51,030 | $35,980 | $77,910 | 290 | 0.18 | 0.41 |
| 27 | Missouri profile | $24.37 | $50,680 | $37,830 | $85,150 | 1,370 | 0.47 | 1.03 |
| 28 | Nebraska profile | $24.35 | $50,660 | $35,380 | $76,690 | 290 | 0.29 | 0.64 |
| 29 | Alabama profile | $24.12 | $50,160 | $23,660 | $80,090 | 320 | 0.15 | 0.34 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $24.09 | $50,110 | $40,680 | $76,770 | 100 | 0.24 | 0.53 |
| 31 | Kansas profile | $24.05 | $50,030 | $38,700 | $80,820 | 220 | 0.16 | 0.34 |
| 32 | Tennessee profile | $24.02 | $49,970 | $32,830 | $84,390 | 1,640 | 0.50 | 1.11 |
| 33 | Idaho profile | $24.02 | $49,950 | $37,790 | $88,470 | 210 | 0.25 | 0.54 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $23.99 | $49,890 | $37,110 | $79,590 | 1,430 | 0.26 | 0.57 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $23.98 | $49,870 | $31,880 | $70,320 | 1,390 | 0.44 | 0.96 |
| 36 | Wyoming profile | $23.88 | $49,680 | $47,870 | $69,140 | 50 | 0.18 | 0.40 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $23.77 | $49,440 | $34,810 | $79,570 | 4,280 | 0.30 | 0.67 |
| 38 | Oklahoma profile | $23.56 | $49,010 | $37,140 | $77,800 | 540 | 0.32 | 0.70 |
| 39 | Utah profile | $23.43 | $48,730 | $30,440 | $126,970 | 1,880 | 1.08 | 2.39 |
| 40 | Kentucky profile | $23.23 | $48,320 | $34,820 | $78,610 | 600 | 0.30 | 0.67 |
| 41 | Arizona profile | $22.67 | $47,140 | $37,910 | $75,390 | 1,340 | 0.42 | 0.92 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $22.63 | $47,070 | $26,260 | $62,090 | 420 | 0.49 | 1.07 |
| 43 | Montana profile | $22.45 | $46,700 | $37,660 | $65,370 | 140 | 0.28 | 0.61 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $22.45 | $46,700 | $36,380 | $64,300 | 1,870 | 0.38 | 0.84 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $22.40 | $46,590 | $35,500 | $87,920 | 200 | 0.28 | 0.62 |
| 46 | Maine profile | $22.15 | $46,080 | $40,760 | $71,340 | 150 | 0.23 | 0.52 |
| 47 | Louisiana profile | $21.38 | $44,480 | $36,470 | $63,140 | 860 | 0.45 | 0.99 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $21.11 | $43,910 | $31,780 | $78,190 | 150 | 0.12 | 0.25 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $20.91 | $43,500 | $27,970 | $61,500 | 200 | 0.17 | 0.38 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-4010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-4011 Audio and Video Technicians.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-4011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-4011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.