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Media Equipment Workers

Media Equipment Workers operate, maintain, and repair technical equipment used in television, radio, film, photography, and live entertainment productions. These professionals work behind the scenes to ensure high-quality audio and visual content by setting up cameras, lighting systems, sound equipment, and broadcast technology. They typically work in studios, theaters, outdoor venues, or on location for various media productions.

Median Annual Pay
$54,596
Range: $28,080 - $154,480
Training Time
2 to 4 years
AI Resilience
🟑AI-Augmented
Education
Associate's degree

🎬Career Video

πŸ€–AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 1/6: high AI task exposure, declining job demand creates significant risk from AI disruption

πŸ”΄High Disruption Risk

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

52% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Declining+0

-3% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 17/25

Total Score1/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

πŸ“‹Key Responsibilities

  • β€’Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
  • β€’Diagnose and resolve media system problems.
  • β€’Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
  • β€’Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data.
  • β€’Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations.
  • β€’Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions.
  • β€’Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
  • β€’Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment.

πŸ’‘Inside This Career

Media equipment workers spend their days bringing audio-visual experiences to life, whether they're setting up for a live concert, operating cameras in a television studio, or fine-tuning sound levels during a film shoot. Their morning might begin with equipment checks and calibration, ensuring microphones capture clear audio, cameras produce sharp images, and lighting creates the right atmosphere. Throughout the day, they monitor technical quality, adjust settings in real-time, and troubleshoot any issues that arise. During active recording, broadcasting, or live events, these professionals maintain intense focus, making split-second decisions that can affect thousands of viewers or audience members.

The work environment varies dramatically depending on the project and specialization. One day might find them in a climate-controlled recording studio mixing tracks for a music album, while the next could involve working outdoors at a sports stadium managing broadcast equipment in unpredictable weather. They collaborate closely with directors, producers, performers, and other technical crew members, often communicating through headsets during live productions or huddling around monitors during post-production work. The pace can shift from methodical setup and testing phases to high-energy, deadline-driven periods where everything must work flawlessly.

Technical problem-solving forms a constant thread throughout their workday. Equipment malfunctions, audio feedback, lighting failures, or connectivity issues require quick thinking and hands-on solutions. Media equipment workers also spend considerable time maintaining and organizing their tools, staying current with evolving technology, and adapting to new software or hardware that can enhance production quality and efficiency.

πŸ“ˆCareer Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$28,080
$25,272 - $30,888
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$36,770
$33,093 - $40,447
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$57,690
$51,921 - $63,459
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$96,710
$87,039 - $106,381
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$125,410
$112,869 - $137,951

πŸ“šEducation & Training

Requirements

  • β€’Entry Education: Associate's degree
  • β€’Experience: One to two years
  • β€’On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
2-3 years (typically 2)
Estimated Education Cost
$7,980 - $23,220
Public (in-state):$23,220
Community college:$7,980
Source: college board (2024)
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πŸ’»Technology Skills

Audio/video editing software (Pro Tools, Premiere)Live streaming softwareSound mixing boardsMicrosoft OfficeDigital audio workstationsVideo conferencing systemsBroadcast engineering softwareVideo switching systemsSignal monitoringScheduling systemsDigital audio workstations (Pro Tools)Sound mixing consolesAudio editing softwareLive sound systemsSignal processing tools

⭐Key Abilities

β€’Near Vision
β€’Oral Expression
β€’Oral Comprehension
β€’Problem Sensitivity
β€’Information Ordering
β€’Written Comprehension
β€’Written Expression
β€’Deductive Reasoning
β€’Inductive Reasoning
β€’Visual Color Discrimination

🏷️Also Known As

Media Equipment WorkersAudio InstallerAudio TechnicianAudio Video TechnicianAudio Visual Communications Systems TechnicianAudio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist)AV Installation Tech (Audiovisual Installation Technician)AV Production Specialist (Audio Visual Production Specialist)AV Specialist (Audiovisual Specialist)AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician)+20 more

πŸ“‘Specializations

This career includes 8 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

πŸ”—Related Careers

Other careers in arts-media

πŸ”—Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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