# Lighting Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lighting-technicians
- SOC code: 27-4015.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $68,060 (10th percentile $42,310, 90th percentile $130,760)
- Projected growth: Decline, -4.8%
- Openings a year: 600
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 17 |
| Artistic (A) | 23 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## Also called

Controls Technician (Controls Tech), Dimmer Board Operator, Electrical Lighting Technician (ELT), Entertainment Lighting Technician, Entertainment Professional, Gaffer, Lamp Operator, Light Technician (Light Tech), Lighting Controls Technician, Lighting Designer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1002) (CIP 1002, 328 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $62,858 | not reported |
| [Bowie State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bowie-state-university-288) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $44,461 | $56,818 | $20,654 |
| [Elon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/elon-university-906) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $53,185 | $22,250 |
| [Webster University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/webster-university-3187) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $35,468 | $50,359 | not reported |
| [Husson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/husson-university-1255) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $35,885 | $48,777 | $27,000 |
| [New England Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-england-institute-of-technology-1845) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $32,288 | $46,996 | not reported |
| [Rowan University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rowan-university-2272) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $28,529 | $46,969 | $15,000 |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $31,036 | $46,022 | $20,938 |

## Related careers

- [Electricians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electricians): $63,190 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers-transportation-equipment): $84,890 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $78,190 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-equipment-assemblers): $45,850 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-repairers-commercial-and-industrial-equipment): $74,090 median pay
- [Helpers--Electricians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-electricians): $42,670 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.