Audio and video equipment technicians
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians: Set up and/or operate audio and video equipment including microphones, sound speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, recording equipment, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, and related electronic equipment for concerts, sports events, meetings and conventions, presentations, and news conferences. May also set up and operate associated spotlights and other custom lighting systems.
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators held about 95,000 jobs in 2004. Their employment was distributed among the following detailed occupations:
| Audio and video equipment technicians | 46,000 |
| Broadcast technicians | 34,000 |
| Sound engineering technicians | 13,000 |
| Radio operators | 2,000 |
About 30 percent worked in broadcasting (except Internet) and 17 percent worked in the motion picture, video, and sound recording industries. About 7 percent were self-employed. Television stations employ, on average, many more technicians than radio stations. Some technicians are employed in other industries, producing employee communications, sales, and training programs. Technician jobs in television and radio are located in virtually all cities; jobs in radio also are found in many small towns. The highest paying and most specialized jobs are concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC—the originating centers for most network or news programs. Motion picture production jobs are concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City.
Television stations usually pay higher salaries than radio stations; commercial broadcasting usually pays more than public broadcasting; and stations in large markets pay more than those in small markets.
Median annual earnings of audio and video equipment technicians in May 2004 were $32,570. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,180 and $44,290. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,620. Median annual earnings in motion picture and video industries, which employed the largest number of audio and video equipment technicians, were $33,670.
Median annual earnings of broadcast technicians in May 2004 were $28,010. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,240 and $42,760. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,850. Median annual earnings in radio and television broadcasting, which employed the largest number of broadcast technicians, were $25,220.
Median annual earnings of sound engineering technicians in May 2004 were $38,110. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,470 and $56,320. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,450.
Median annual earnings of radio operators in May 2004 were $32,720. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,960 and $43,850. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,420.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians and Radio Operators)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Audio and video equipment technicians | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Construction employment: 360 mean earnings: $41,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,410 | $32,060 | $38,930 | $45,630 | $56,790 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 360 mean earnings: $41,430 | $27,350 | $32,080 | $39,000 | $45,740 | $56,940 |
| Manufacturing employment: 320 mean earnings: $39,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,550 | $29,030 | $34,790 | $45,970 | $65,580 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 260 mean earnings: $38,180 | $22,170 | $28,620 | $34,000 | $45,170 | $64,370 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $30,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $17,300 | $23,090 | $28,430 | $36,740 | $47,800 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 580 mean earnings: $33,700 | $14,070 | $20,380 | $33,460 | $43,030 | $55,860 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,880 | $20,930 | $23,910 | $26,960 | $30,700 | $35,710 |
| Retail Trade employment: 610 mean earnings: $37,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,360 | $25,400 | $35,980 | $44,530 | $61,880 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 570 mean earnings: $38,430 | $21,050 | $27,280 | $37,300 | $45,090 | $62,930 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $22,370 | $18,800 | $19,780 | $21,430 | $23,050 | $29,900 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 60 mean earnings: $41,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,900 | $28,740 | $37,480 | $55,240 | $68,850 |
| Information employment: 14,040 mean earnings: $36,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,450 | $24,670 | $32,650 | $43,700 | $61,890 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,040 | $17,240 | $26,400 | $33,520 | $44,640 | $54,280 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 9,230 mean earnings: $38,500 | $20,630 | $26,330 | $33,930 | $44,540 | $63,440 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 4,090 mean earnings: $33,720 | $15,760 | $20,470 | $29,220 | $40,620 | $57,840 |
| Telecommunications employment: 500 mean earnings: $34,250 | $18,560 | $22,610 | $30,220 | $41,930 | $59,210 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: n.a. mean earnings: $40,540 | $23,730 | $29,840 | $36,320 | $49,640 | $60,560 |
| Other Information Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $40,000 | $24,850 | $29,370 | $33,280 | $49,050 | $72,250 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 190 mean earnings: $46,090 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,990 | $33,100 | $42,970 | $57,580 | $73,100 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 80 mean earnings: $48,950 | $21,610 | $32,690 | $43,470 | $65,290 | $84,710 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 50 mean earnings: $42,760 | $24,420 | $31,270 | $41,430 | $54,570 | $65,670 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 60 mean earnings: $45,550 | $29,850 | $34,580 | $43,230 | $55,950 | $69,120 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 4,450 mean earnings: $36,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,100 | $26,300 | $33,780 | $43,440 | $56,400 |
| Real Estate employment: 130 mean earnings: $37,850 | $20,000 | $24,680 | $33,080 | $50,600 | $62,780 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 4,320 mean earnings: $36,780 | $21,140 | $26,340 | $33,790 | $43,310 | $56,140 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $38,840 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,080 | $26,990 | $37,150 | $44,450 | $63,370 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $38,840 | $23,080 | $26,990 | $37,150 | $44,450 | $63,370 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 240 mean earnings: $44,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,890 | $31,840 | $42,450 | $54,570 | $69,860 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 240 mean earnings: $44,440 | $22,890 | $31,840 | $42,450 | $54,570 | $69,860 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 2,250 mean earnings: $39,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,920 | $26,770 | $37,710 | $52,220 | $57,860 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 2,250 mean earnings: $39,170 | $21,920 | $26,780 | $37,800 | $52,240 | $57,860 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,100 mean earnings: $33,910 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,710 | $25,550 | $32,590 | $41,140 | $50,330 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,100 mean earnings: $33,910 | $19,710 | $25,550 | $32,590 | $41,140 | $50,330 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 400 mean earnings: $34,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,030 | $26,660 | $33,160 | $41,370 | $48,700 |
| Hospitals employment: 360 mean earnings: $34,610 | $23,080 | $26,890 | $33,240 | $41,200 | $48,160 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 5,790 mean earnings: $35,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,100 | $23,950 | $30,550 | $43,140 | $58,090 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 5,190 mean earnings: $35,780 | $17,670 | $23,910 | $30,340 | $42,830 | $59,930 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,770 | $20,550 | $25,250 | $31,130 | $40,050 | $46,560 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 1,520 mean earnings: $33,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,060 | $23,980 | $29,110 | $40,830 | $54,290 |
| Accommodation employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $34,750 | $19,540 | $24,590 | $31,170 | $43,960 | $56,110 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 370 mean earnings: $28,280 | $17,720 | $22,170 | $26,280 | $30,660 | $42,610 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 590 mean earnings: $35,080 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,740 | $24,000 | $32,310 | $41,780 | $54,260 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: n.a. mean earnings: $47,120 | $26,220 | $31,850 | $41,080 | $49,550 | $67,750 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 510 mean earnings: $33,360 | $18,450 | $22,590 | $31,390 | $40,000 | $52,180 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,750 mean earnings: $36,160 (def) (IG) | $19,050 | $24,740 | $34,880 | $46,240 | $55,790 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,750 mean earnings: $36,160 | $19,050 | $24,740 | $34,880 | $46,240 | $55,790 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.