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Careers›Roles›Communications Equipment Operating Technician
Mid-Level

Communications Equipment Operating Technician

Behind the scenes of a broadcast or live event, you run the communications and audio gear that keeps everyone connected and the signal flowing, setting up, operating, and troubleshooting on the fly. The technical link that keeps a production talking.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
A
I
S
E
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Communications Equipment Operating Technicians
Technology & Information · 21%Real Estate · 19%Entertainment & Media · 16%Education · 11%Administrative Services · 9%Professional Services · 8%
Job markets for Communications Equipment Operating Technicians
Employment concentration · ~185 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Communications Equipment Operating Technician

Most of the work is setup, operation, and quick fixes: configuring intercoms, radios, audio, and transmission gear, then running it live and solving problems the instant they appear. You work on a crew under deadline, and a dropout or dead mic is unforgiving on air. The craft is calm troubleshooting when something fails mid-show, with no second take live.

What's taxing is the long, irregular hours and the live pressure: setups run late, shows don't wait, and the tech keeps evolving. The work is often project-based and event-driven, with uneven schedules. It spans broadcast, concerts, and corporate events, each with its own gear and pace to master quickly on each gig.

It fits someone practical, quick-thinking, and unflappable under live pressure. If you want predictable hours or a desk, the lifestyle won't offer them. But if you like the energy of live production, and the quiet pride of a show that ran clean because you kept the signal alive, the work tends to be genuinely satisfying, show after show.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsModerate
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Communications Equipment Operating Technicians (SOC 27-4011.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media →
Communications Equipment Operating TechnicianOperating EngineerOperations TechnicianAudio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist)Video OperatorVideo Production AssistantTheater TechnicianProjector OperatorVideo InstallerVideo TechnicianAudio Video TechnicianVideo Control OperatorVideo Equipment TechnicianVideo Production SpecialistVideo Projection TechnicianAV Tech (Audiovisual Technician)AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician)AV Specialist (Audiovisual Specialist)Event AV Operator (Event Audio Visual Operator)
Exploring the Communications Equipment Operating Technician career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$35K–$98K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
70K
U.S. Employment
+3.3%
10yr Growth
7K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MonitoringCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingCoordinationActive ListeningService OrientationWriting
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-4011.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midOperating Engineer$71KmidOperations Technician$66KmidAudio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist)$60KmidVideo Operator$59KmidVideo Production Assistant$54KmidTheater Technician$58K
View all Arts & Media roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.