How much does an AV technician make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical AV technician in the United States makes $58,100 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Before a show, an AV tech runs cables, sets up microphones, speakers, screens, and mixing boards, then tests the picture and sound. During the event, they monitor levels and fix glitches; afterward, they pack the gear away.
Did you know? Some AV technicians run the lights and sound at live concerts not only during the show, but before and after it and even during intermissions.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $37,990 and $100,650How do you become one?
US AV techs often start after high school (around 18), then train through an AV certificate or college program and hands-on practice. No license is listed as a usual requirement; optional certifications may help and often require an exam.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, AV techs may earn more as they gain experience, sought-after skills, optional certifications, or responsibility for complex setups. Pay also varies by employer and industry, location, and hours worked.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($78,770), lowest in Louisiana ($44,480).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,990 | $58,100 | $100,650 | about 70,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $78,770 | about 830 |
| New Jersey | $71,040 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $70,040 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $69,270 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $67,600 | about 8,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Sound Engineering Technicians” (27-4014), “Lighting Technicians” (27-4015), and “Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers” (49-2097).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technici
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-4011.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes274011.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.avixa.org/explore/articles/av-technician
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY