Lighting Technicians
What Lighting Technicians Do
Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. May focus or operate light fixtures, or attach color filters or other lighting accessories.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 13.1%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Adaptability
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- ArtisticLow
- InvestigativeLow
- EnterprisingLow
- SocialLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where lighting technicians make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV5.81× national avg
- 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA5.69× national avg
- 3Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL2.99× national avg
- 4Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN2.50× national avg
- 5San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA2.36× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation EquipmentLateral Move
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentLateral Move
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansLateral Move
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayLateral Move
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician
- Full Sail University (Winter Park, FL)grads earn ~$44,012
- SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville (Nashville, TN)grads earn ~$31,742
- Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (Tempe, AZ)grads earn ~$37,556
- Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology (Orlando, FL)grads earn ~$33,711
- SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville (Nashville, TN)grads earn ~$33,379