Lighting Technician Salary in New York, NY
Lighting Technicians in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $87,510 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,265 take-home, or $5,522 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lighting technician salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,422
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,426
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,269
- New York income tax$4,129
- Take-home pay$66,265
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Lighting Technician pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,770 | $25.37 | $42,328 | $3,527 |
| 25th percentile | $64,510 | $31.01 | $51,127 | $4,261 |
| Median (50th) | $87,510 | $42.07 | $66,265 | $5,522 |
| 75th percentile | $109,380 | $52.59 | $80,366 | $6,697 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,050 | $63.97 | $95,396 | $7,950 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,510 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lighting technician's $66,265 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,869 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.3× the national concentration of lighting technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lighting technicians, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,010 | $75,803 | $66,748 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,510 | $66,265 | $58,869 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lighting technician make in New York, NY?
The median lighting technician salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $87,510 a year, or about $42.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,510 and $109,380.
What is a lighting technician’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $87,510 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $66,265 a year ($5,522 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,129 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a lighting technician?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $68,060. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,869 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lighting technician afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median lighting technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Art Director — $142,990
- Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey — $124,810
- Technical Writer — $111,050
- Producer and Director — $108,460
- Film and Video Editor — $104,590
- Editor — $102,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,670
- Athlete and Sports Competitor — $100,130
- Fashion Designer — $99,560
- Music Director and Composer — $97,970
- Sound Engineering Technician — $97,510
- Broadcast Technician — $96,820