Lighting Technician salary in the U.S.
Lighting Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $68,060 a year ($32.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,760 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $78,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lighting technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,310 | $20.34 |
| 25th percentile | $52,770 | $25.37 |
| Median | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| 75th percentile | $95,640 | $45.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,760 | $62.87 |
| Average (mean) | $78,380 | $37.68 |
Half of lighting technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,671.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,835.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,617.69 |
| Weekly | $1,308.85 |
| Hourly | $32.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lighting Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $126,100 | 80 |
| California | $94,070 | 2,950 |
| New Jersey | $87,550 | 340 |
| New York | $78,000 | 780 |
| Connecticut | $72,450 | 80 |
| Georgia | $70,150 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $67,110 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,840 | 40 |
| Florida | $62,190 | 600 |
| Nevada | $61,250 | 390 |
| Tennessee | $60,870 | 280 |
| Virginia | $60,340 | 190 |
| Michigan | $60,210 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $60,110 | n/a |
| Oregon | $57,900 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,660 | 100 |
| Ohio | $54,940 | 260 |
| Montana | $54,870 | 50 |
| Texas | $53,150 | 210 |
| Indiana | $50,080 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $49,860 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $49,410 | n/a |
| Maryland | $49,080 | 130 |
| Utah | $49,080 | 120 |
| Kansas | $48,790 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $46,720 | 60 |
| Missouri | $41,900 | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,400 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for lighting technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,110 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,010 | 2,040 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,510 | 720 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $79,380 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,000 | 320 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,790 | 130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,970 | 70 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,150 | 200 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $67,110 | 40 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $67,080 | 50 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,590 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,330 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,090 | 150 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,790 | 160 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $61,250 | 380 |
Metro areas with the most lighting technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,040 | $105,010 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 720 | $87,510 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 380 | $61,250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 320 | $74,000 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 240 | $79,380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 200 | $70,150 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 170 | $58,610 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 160 | $62,790 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 150 | $63,090 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 140 | $58,280 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 130 | $72,790 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 130 | $61,040 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 90 | $50,030 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 90 | $58,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 70 | $70,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Photographer | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Film and Video Editors | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-4015. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lighting technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for lighting technicians in the U.S. is $68,060 a year, or $32.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lighting technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of lighting technicians in the U.S. earn at least $130,760 a year. The top 25% earn $95,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for lighting technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,310 a year, and a quarter of lighting technicians earn $52,770 or less.
How many lighting technicians work in the U.S.?
About 8,900 lighting technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.