Audio and Video Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · SOC 27-4011 · O*NET 27-4011.00
Audio and Video Technicians fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. Audio and Video Technicians earn a median salary of $58,100 per year, ranking in the top 56% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.9% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do audio and video technicians earn?
The median annual wage for audio and video technicians is $58,100. That puts audio and video technicians at #459 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is audio and video technicians a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for audio and video technicians is +3.9%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 87K positions in 2024 to 91K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become audio and video technician?
The standard path into audio and video technicians begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about audio and video technicians
What is the median salary for audio and video technicians?
The median annual salary for audio and video technicians is $58,100 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is audio and video technicians a growing career?
BLS projects +3.9% growth for audio and video technicians from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become audio and video technician?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to audio and video technicians?
Related occupations within the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.