Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Audio and video technicians work in a field that combines technology, hands-on equipment work, and creative problem solving. Nationally, this occupation employs about 92,000 people, with a median annual salary of $54,830. The role draws on a mix of creativity and innovation, computers and information technology, mechanical aptitude, and fine motor skills. Strong speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, help technicians communicate clearly and follow detailed information. Critical and analytical thinking, plus problem solving and decision making, are also central to succeeding in this work. A typical entry path involves a postsecondary nondegree award, which can appeal to people who want a technical, skill-based career without immediately pursuing a full college degree. With projected employment growth of 3.3% and about 7,000 annual openings, audio and video technicians can consider this a field with ongoing opportunities in different locations and work settings across the country.
Audio and video technicians earn a national median annual salary of $54,830, reflecting solid earnings for a technical role that typically requires a postsecondary nondegree award. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among top states, Washington reports a median salary of $69,270 and New York $67,600, both above the national median. California’s median of $64,620 and Colorado’s $56,790 also exceed the national figure, while Virginia’s $53,960 is close to it. At the metro level, several areas stand out with higher median pay. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has a median salary of $75,540, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $74,380. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median of $73,100, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $72,300. These numbers show that certain metros and states offer elevated earning potential compared with the nationwide median.
Audio and video technicians have national employment of about 92,000, with projected employment growth of 3.3%. This same 3.3% projected growth rate appears in the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a consistent outlook in those highlighted regions. With approximately 7,000 annual openings nationwide, the field presents ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers seeking new positions. The combination of current employment size and projected growth indicates a stable, steadily evolving occupation rather than a shrinking niche. For people considering training for this career, the presence of regular annual openings can be important, as it signals that positions are expected to become available each year through growth and workforce turnover. Overall, the employment and growth figures point to a career with continuing demand across multiple locations rather than short-term or one-time hiring surges.
Location can significantly shape the experience of audio and video technicians. At the state level, California and New York stand out with relatively high employment (9,280 and 7,990) and opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78. Washington and Colorado have smaller employment bases (1,360 and 830) but maintain opportunity scores above 56, with Washington offering a median salary of $69,270. Virginia combines employment of 1,900 with a median salary of $53,960 and an opportunity score of 54.96. Metro-level data points to several especially strong areas. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77 and median salaries above $72,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also offer median pay in the mid-$70,000s. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA combines higher employment (4,710) with a median salary of $64,900, illustrating another sizeable market with solid opportunity.
For audio and video technicians, the typical education requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award. This points to a career path where focused, often shorter-term training programs can prepare people for entry into the field, rather than requiring a full bachelor’s degree. Within that training, several skill areas are especially important. Creativity and innovation support the more artistic and conceptual aspects of the work. Computers and information technology, along with mechanical and fine motor skills, align with operating and handling technical equipment. Project management skills help technicians coordinate tasks and timelines. Adaptability supports working in changing conditions, while critical and analytical thinking, plus problem solving and decision making, are vital for handling technical issues. Strong speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, contribute to clear communication and understanding of instructions or documentation. Together, this mix of education and skills creates a balanced technical and communication-oriented profile for success in the occupation.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
