Lighting Technician Salary
Lighting Technicians earn a median $68,060 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$68,060
$32.72 per hour
Range
$42,310 – $130,760
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
8,900
across the U.S.
Lighting Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$56,710
per year · effective tax rate 16.7%
$4,726Monthly
$2,363Twice a month
$2,181Every 2 weeks
$27.26Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,143
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$987
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$56,710
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,310 | $20.34 | $36,176 |
| 25th percentile | $52,770 | $25.37 | $44,581 |
| Median (50th) | $68,060 | $32.72 | $56,710 |
| 75th percentile | $95,640 | $45.98 | $76,113 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,760 | $62.87 | $100,640 |
Best cities for lighting technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,010 | $75,803 | $66,748 | 2,040 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,510 | $66,265 | $58,869 | 720 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $105,010
- New York, NY — $87,510
Lighting Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $126,100 | $97,455 | $72,980 – $175,010 | 80 |
| California | $94,070 | $69,266 | $50,910 – $159,610 | 2,950 |
| New Jersey | $87,550 | $67,034 | $63,220 – $109,380 | 340 |
| New York | $78,000 | $60,088 | $52,000 – $133,000 | 780 |
| Connecticut | $72,450 | $57,389 | $61,230 – $99,990 | 80 |
| Georgia | $70,150 | $55,163 | $48,240 – $123,020 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $67,110 | $53,567 | $40,960 – $134,480 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,840 | $54,233 | $39,050 – $108,190 | 40 |
| Florida | $62,190 | $52,150 | $38,550 – $83,890 | 600 |
| Nevada | $61,250 | $51,394 | $24,960 – $90,830 | 390 |
| Tennessee | $60,870 | $51,089 | $43,140 – $137,190 | 280 |
| Virginia | $60,340 | $48,008 | $29,360 – $75,000 | 190 |
| Michigan | $60,210 | $48,251 | $50,070 – $60,210 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $60,110 | $47,693 | $52,890 – $82,680 | — |
| Oregon | $57,900 | $44,466 | $46,800 – $101,820 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,660 | $46,740 | $37,780 – $95,180 | 100 |
| Ohio | $54,940 | $45,596 | $34,820 – $78,640 | 260 |
| Montana | $54,870 | $44,446 | $51,310 – $66,040 | 50 |
| Texas | $53,150 | $44,886 | $36,050 – $68,850 | 210 |
| Indiana | $50,080 | $40,971 | $35,800 – $147,400 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $49,860 | $40,853 | $47,890 – $78,500 | — |
| North Carolina | $49,410 | $40,418 | $40,080 – $63,360 | — |
| Maryland | $49,080 | $39,648 | $39,030 – $100,990 | 130 |
| Utah | $49,080 | $40,373 | $32,160 – $69,770 | 120 |
| Kansas | $48,790 | $39,460 | $41,570 – $69,800 | — |
| South Carolina | $46,720 | $38,073 | $34,120 – $59,990 | 60 |
| Missouri | $41,900 | $34,815 | $31,200 – $120,690 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lighting technician make?
The national median salary for lighting technicians is $68,060 a year ($32.72 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,310 and the top 10% earn over $130,760. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays lighting technicians the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $126,100. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many lighting technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 8,900 people work as lighting technicians nationwide.