How much does a Lighting Technician make?
A Lighting Technician earns a median annual salary of $68,060 in the United States, which works out to roughly $32.72 per hour for full-time work. Most Lighting Technicians earn between $42,310 at the entry level and $130,760 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $52,770 and $95,640 a year.
That is $6,670 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Lighting Technician salary range by percentile
Half of all Lighting Technicians earn between $52,770 and $95,640 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,310 | $20.34 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $52,770 | $25.37 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,060 | $32.72 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $95,640 | $45.98 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,760 | $62.87 |
Highest-paying states for Lighting Technician
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Lighting Technician pay at $126,100 a year, followed by California ($94,070) and New Jersey ($87,550). At the other end, Missouri posts the lowest median at $41,900 — a gap of $84,200 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $126,100 | $60.63 | +85% |
| 2 | California | $94,070 | $45.23 | +38% |
| 3 | New Jersey | $87,550 | $42.09 | +29% |
| 4 | New York | $78,000 | $37.50 | +15% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $72,450 | $34.83 | +6% |
Lighting Technician salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 27 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 9,000 people work as Lighting Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $78,380 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lighting Technician make in the United States?
How does Lighting Technician pay compare to other jobs?
Which state pays Lighting Technicians the most?
How long does it take to become a Lighting Technician?
How many Lighting Technicians work in the United States?
Related salaries
Other arts & media roles with similar pay.