Audio and Video Technicians
Also called: Audio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist), AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician), Media Technician, Operations TechnicianSet 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 16 of its 29 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 3.9% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.2% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Broadcast, sound, and lighting technicians”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in information, which employs about 19% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,160 | $39,630 to $64,170 | 320 |
| Alaska | $62,060 | $50,860 to $82,230 | 70 |
| Arizona | $47,140 | $43,010 to $61,060 | 1,340 |
| Arkansas | $43,910 | $36,030 to $50,440 | 150 |
| California | $64,620 | $48,230 to $87,450 | 9,280 |
| Colorado | $56,790 | $47,460 to $69,060 | 830 |
| Connecticut | $62,120 | $48,650 to $80,210 | 820 |
| Delaware | $59,700 | $52,190 to $74,880 | 130 |
| District of Columbia | $78,770 | $57,170 to $104,240 | 830 |
| Florida | $54,230 | $46,040 to $67,330 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $51,350 | $45,010 to $78,890 | 1,630 |
| Hawaii | $60,150 | $46,450 to $66,980 | 430 |
| Idaho | $49,950 | $46,210 to $73,100 | 210 |
| Illinois | $60,740 | $42,320 to $84,350 | 3,020 |
| Indiana | $49,870 | $44,280 to $68,530 | 1,390 |
| Iowa | $51,030 | $43,830 to $64,260 | 290 |
| Kansas | $50,030 | $45,760 to $65,580 | 220 |
| Kentucky | $48,320 | $40,750 to $60,140 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $44,480 | $37,260 to $50,530 | 860 |
| Maine | $46,080 | $40,760 to $58,530 | 150 |
| Maryland | $70,040 | $55,480 to $80,770 | 1,770 |
| Michigan | $58,300 | $47,490 to $63,010 | 1,700 |
| Minnesota | $53,800 | $45,200 to $70,210 | 960 |
| Mississippi | $43,500 | $38,250 to $52,000 | 200 |
| Missouri | $50,680 | $45,030 to $63,540 | 1,370 |
| Montana | $46,700 | $43,590 to $55,380 | 140 |
| Nebraska | $50,660 | $40,880 to $61,420 | 290 |
| Nevada | $62,770 | $52,350 to $77,860 | 1,580 |
| New Hampshire | $56,180 | $46,350 to $66,440 | 170 |
| New Jersey | $71,040 | $55,840 to $82,420 | 2,280 |
| New Mexico | $47,070 | $36,070 to $51,020 | 420 |
| New York | $67,600 | $53,780 to $92,760 | 7,990 |
| North Carolina | $46,700 | $40,350 to $52,020 | 1,870 |
| North Dakota | $50,110 | $47,990 to $52,000 | 100 |
| Ohio | $49,890 | $39,340 to $64,940 | 1,430 |
| Oklahoma | $49,010 | $41,590 to $59,950 | 540 |
| Oregon | $52,000 | $44,230 to $64,120 | 630 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,890 | $45,380 to $74,370 | 3,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,860 | $24,340 to $39,110 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $64,070 | $53,330 to $79,570 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $52,000 | $47,900 to $78,520 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $49,970 | $40,230 to $60,780 | 1,640 |
| Texas | $49,440 | $44,260 to $60,540 | 4,280 |
| Utah | $48,730 | $45,750 to $78,470 | 1,880 |
| Vermont | $51,500 | $45,590 to $63,450 | 170 |
| Virginia | $53,960 | $47,060 to $65,630 | 1,900 |
| Washington | $69,270 | $57,720 to $84,680 | 1,360 |
| West Virginia | $46,590 | $46,350 to $54,870 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $51,390 | $45,180 to $65,810 | 760 |
| Wyoming | $49,680 | $47,870 to $62,850 | 50 |
Nationally: $58,100. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 16 of its 29 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed. | Not published |
| Not much | Diagnose and resolve media system problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform minor repairs and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations. | Not published |
See all 29 tasks
| AI + software | Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Design layouts of audio and video equipment and perform upgrades and maintenance. | Not published |
| Not much | Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming. | Not published |
| AI alone | Conduct training sessions on selection, use, and design of audio-visual materials and on operation of presentation equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Mix and regulate sound inputs and feeds or coordinate audio feeds with television pictures. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor incoming and outgoing pictures and sound feeds to ensure quality and notify directors of any possible problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Inform users of audio and videotaping service policies and procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Obtain and preview musical performance programs prior to events to become familiar with the order and approximate times of pieces. | Not published |
| Not much | Construct and position properties, sets, lighting equipment, and other equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Reserve audio-visual equipment and facilities, such as meeting rooms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine formats, approaches, content, levels, and mediums to effectively meet objectives within budgetary constraints, using research, knowledge, and training. | 0.04% |
| AI alone | Plan and develop pre-production ideas into outlines, scripts, story boards, and graphics, using own ideas or specifications of assignments. | 0.06% |
| Not much | Maintain inventories of audio and videotapes and related supplies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze and maintain data logs for audio-visual activities. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop manuals, texts, workbooks, or related materials for use in conjunction with production materials or for training. | 0.23% |
| Not much | Obtain, set up, and load videotapes for scheduled productions or broadcasts. | Not published |
| AI + software | Meet with directors and senior members of camera crews to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, camera movements, and picture composition. | Not published |
| AI + software | Locate and secure settings, properties, effects, and other production necessities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Edit videotapes by erasing and removing portions of programs and adding video or sound as required. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Produce rough and finished graphics and graphic designs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Perform narration of productions or present announcements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Organize and maintain compliance, license, and warranty information related to audio and video facilities. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 6 of the 29 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 29 tasks fall under 22 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #5 Provide information or assistance to the public
- #10 Write material for artistic or commercial purposes
- #12 Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
- and 7 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment | |||
| Operate audiovisual or related equipment | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Alter audio or video recordings | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Provide information or assistance to the public | |||
| Set up equipment | |||
| Write material for artistic or commercial purposes |
Show all 22 activities
| Explain regulations, policies, or procedures | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Compile records, documentation, or other data | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Study details of artistic productions | |||
| Create decorative objects or parts of objects | |||
| Operate communications equipment or systems | |||
| Notify others of emergencies or problems | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report44%
- Teaching material11%
- A video or animation5%
- Creative writing4%
- Marketing or social media content4%
How they worked with Claude
45% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for audio and video technicians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 36,249 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 2 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
- 3 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film High +1.3% 4%
- 4 Sound Engineering Technicians Moderate -3.1% 3%
- 5 Producers and Directors High +4.0% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 31,413 moves in
- 1 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film High +1.3% 4%
- 2 Sound Engineering Technicians Moderate -3.1% 4%
- 3 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 25% high school
- 20% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 11% associate's
- 43% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 25 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 3% less than high school
- 18% high school
- 27% some college
- 11% associate's
- 33% bachelor's
- 7% master's
- 1% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Broadcast, sound, and lighting technicians” · 1,307 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Broadcast, sound, and lighting technicians”
3 programs: Agricultural Communication/Journalism, Photographic and Film/Video Technology/Technician and Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
33.0% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (LIGHT TECHNICIAN; STAGE TECHNICIAN). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Audio and Video Technicians” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/27-4011.00