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Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
Overview » Industry Pathways » Journalism and Broadcasting 
Audio and video equipment technicians are responsible for making sure you can clearly hear and see the your favorite music awards show or live concert as though you had a front row seat, even if you are in the last seating section of the theater or auditorium. They carefully set-up, test, and operate audio and video equipment, like huge screens and speakers, for concerts, sports events, meetings, presentations, and news conferences. They may also set-up and operate spotlights or other lighting systems.
The transition to digital recording, editing, and broadcasting has greatly changed the work of broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators. Software on desktop computers has replaced specialized electronic equipment in many recording and editing functions.
Most radio and television stations have replaced video and audio tapes with computer hard drives to store data. This transition has forced technicians to learn computer networking and software skills.
Audio and video equipment technicians held about 50,000 jobs in 2006.
About 32 percent worked in broadcasting and 16 percent worked in the motion picture and sound recording industries. Almost one in 10 audio and video equipment technicians were self-employed. On average, television stations employ many more technicians than radio stations.
Some technicians are employed in other industries, producing employee communications, sales, and training programs. Technician jobs in television are located in virtually all cities. Jobs in radio also are found in many small towns.
The highest paying and most specialized jobs are concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; the originating centers for most network or news programs. Motion picture production jobs are concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City and filming is often done in Canada, England, and throughout Europe.
Many people get excited about the possibility of working in these fields, especially in television or the film industry. People seeking entry-level jobs as technicians in broadcasting are expected to face strong competition in major metropolitan areas, where pay generally is higher and the number of qualified jobseekers is typically greater than the number of openings. It is probably easier to find entry-level positions in small cities and towns.
Overall employment of broadcast and sound engineering technicians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016.
Employment of broadcast and sound engineering technicians in the cable broadcasting industry should grow as the range of services is expanded to provide cable Internet access and video-on-demand. Employment of these workers in the motion picture industry will grow rapidly. However, job prospects are expected to remain competitive because of the large number of people who are attracted by the glamour of working in motion pictures.
Audio and video equipment technicians generally need a high school diploma. Many recent entrants have a community college degree or other postsecondary degrees, although it is not always a requirement. They may substitute on-the-job training for formal education requirements. Working in a studio as an assistant is a great way to gain experience and knowledge.
Typical annual earnings of audio and video equipment technicians in 2007 were $36,050.
If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!
For career information and links to employment resources contact:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Occupational Information Network, O*NET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/
Society of Broadcast Engineers: http://www.sbe.org
For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center.
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