27 Series · SOC 27-4015
Lighting Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $68,060
- Median / year
- $130,760
- Top 10% earn
- -4.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 8,900
- US workers
Lighting Technicians earn a median of $68,060 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $68,060, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $42,310 (10th percentile) to $130,760 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,900 US workers. Washington pays the most ($126,100), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Lighting Technicians earn a median of $68,060, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 60% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #19 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 4.6% by 2033.
- $68,060
- Median annual wage
- Top 40%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #19 of 36
- in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 3.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $126,100. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Lighting Technicians (SOC 27-4015) pays a national median of $68,060 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $42,310 at the 10th percentile to $130,760 at the 90th, with a mean of $78,380 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,900 Americans work in this occupation across 28 reporting states and 30 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -4.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $126,100, which is +85% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $126,110 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$68,060
per year
Median Hourly
$32.72/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$78,380
average
Employment
8,900
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Lighting Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$68,060 Top 40% higher than 60% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Lighting Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 27-series occupations with growth data, Lighting Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at -4.6% growth and $68,060 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-4.6%
Declining
Annual Openings
800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Lighting Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Key Tasks
- ▸ Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock.
- ▸ Consult with lighting director or production staff to determine lighting requirements.
- ▸ Disassemble and store equipment after performances.
- ▸ Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures.
- ▸ Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.
- ▸ Load, unload, or position lighting equipment.
- ▸ Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans.
- ▸ Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed.
- ▸ Operate manual or automated systems to control lighting throughout productions.
- ▸ Patch or wire lights to dimmers or other electronic consoles.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$42,310
25th Percentile
$52,770
Median
$68,060
75th Percentile
$95,640
90th Percentile
$130,760
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 28 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $126,100 | +85% above national |
| 2 | California | $94,070 | +38% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $87,550 | +29% above national |
| 4 | New York | $78,000 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $72,450 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Georgia | $70,150 | +3% above national |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $67,110 | 1% below national |
| 8 | Louisiana | $66,840 | 2% below national |
| 9 | Florida | $62,190 | 9% below national |
| 10 | Nevada | $61,250 | 10% below national |
| 11 | Tennessee | $60,870 | 11% below national |
| 12 | Virginia | $60,340 | 11% below national |
| 13 | Michigan | $60,210 | 12% below national |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $60,110 | 12% below national |
| 15 | Oregon | $57,900 | 15% below national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $57,660 | 15% below national |
| 17 | Ohio | $54,940 | 19% below national |
| 18 | Montana | $54,870 | 19% below national |
| 19 | Texas | $53,150 | 22% below national |
| 20 | Indiana | $50,080 | 26% below national |
| 21 | Nebraska | $49,860 | 27% below national |
| 22 | North Carolina | $49,410 | 27% below national |
| 23 | Maryland | $49,080 | 28% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $49,080 | 28% below national |
| 25 | Kansas | $48,790 | 28% below national |
| 26 | South Carolina | $46,720 | 31% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $41,900 | 38% below national |
| 28 | Puerto Rico | $38,400 | 44% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 30 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,110 | +85% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,010 | +54% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,510 | +29% above national |
| 4 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $79,380 | +17% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,000 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,790 | +7% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,970 | +4% above national |
| 8 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,150 | +3% above national |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $67,110 | 1% below national |
| 10 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $67,080 | 1% below national |
| 11 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,590 | 4% below national |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,330 | 5% below national |
| 13 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,090 | 7% below national |
| 14 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,790 | 8% below national |
| 15 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $61,250 | 10% below national |
| 16 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,040 | 10% below national |
| 17 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,950 | 10% below national |
| 18 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,250 | 11% below national |
| 19 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $60,110 | 12% below national |
| 20 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,610 | 14% below national |
| 21 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,510 | 14% below national |
| 22 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $58,280 | 14% below national |
| 23 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,880 | 16% below national |
| 24 | Columbus, OH | $55,740 | 18% below national |
| 25 | Richmond, VA | $55,220 | 19% below national |
| 26 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $54,460 | 20% below national |
| 27 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $50,030 | 26% below national |
| 28 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $49,740 | 27% below national |
| 29 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,400 | 44% below national |
| 30 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,850 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 27 (arts design entertainment sports and media) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lighting Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Lighting Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Lighting Technicians? ▼
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Is Lighting Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Lighting Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Lighting Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $95,640/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $126,100/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.