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Careers›Roles›Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)
Mid-Level

Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)

A concert, play, or event lives or dies on its sound and lights, and setting them up, running them, and fixing them live, is your work. The technical crew behind every show that goes right.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
A
I
E
S
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)s
Administrative ServicesWholesale & DistributionManufacturingEntertainment & Media · 33%Technology & Information · 32%Hospitality & Food Service · 10%
Job markets for Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)s
Employment concentration · ~32 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 Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)

The work is physical and high-pressure: loading in and setting up gear, mixing sound and running lights during the show, and tearing down after. You work to a schedule and a live clock, and there are no retakes once the show starts. Much of the craft is calm, fast problem-solving when something fails in front of a live audience.

What's demanding is the long, irregular hours and the physical load: late nights, heavy gear, and travel are common. The pay can be uneven, and the work is often freelance or gig-based. It spans concerts, theater, corporate, and houses of worship, each with its own gear and pace to learn.

It fits someone hands-on, unflappable, and energized by live events. If you want a desk, steady hours, or predictable pay, the gig rhythm may not suit. But if you love live production, and the rush of a show that runs flawlessly because you made it, the work tends to be genuinely exciting, night after night.

What people in this role value
Work values data not available for this role.
✦ 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 Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)s (SOC 27-4015.00), 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 →
Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech)Lighting DesignerProduction TechnicianLighting SpecialistTheater TechnicianLamp OperatorSpotlight OperatorDimmer Board OperatorEntertainment Lighting TechnicianLighting Technician (Lighting Tech)Electrical Lighting Technician (ELT)Set Lighting Technician (Set Lighting Tech)Rigging Electrical Lighting Technician (RELT)
Exploring the Sound and Lighting Technician (Sound and Lighting Tech) 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.

$36K–$118K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
10K
U.S. Employment
-4.6%
10yr Growth
800
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

No skills data available

O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-4015.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midLighting Designer$68KmidProduction Technician$65KseniorSenior Production Technician$65KmidLighting Specialist$69KmidTheater Technician$58KmidLamp Operator$61K
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.