What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Lighting Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $68,060 a year — the middle 80% land between $42,310 and $130,760. About 8,900 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Lighting Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$68,060typical pay / year
8,900people in this work
$130,760+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Convincing1
Communicate with Lighting Designer
+Email the production lighting team and head electrician a concise briefing that lists the designer's creative…
Communicate with Lighting Designer
+Email the production lighting team and head electrician a concise briefing that lists the designer's creative intentions for Friday's blackout-to-entrance shift, any compulsory color cues, and three non-negotiable safety constraints so they can confirm feasibility by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Fixing3
Setup lighting equipment
+Prepare the rigging and hanging plan for the Saturday show: list each fixture by position and focus, note…
Setup lighting equipment
+Prepare the rigging and hanging plan for the Saturday show: list each fixture by position and focus, note required safety gear and personnel for each lift, calculate circuit loads so power distribution can be checked before the midday tech call.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Unload lighting equipment
+Coordinate the unload schedule with stage crew and truck driver: assign who handles road cases, who inspects…
Unload lighting equipment
+Coordinate the unload schedule with stage crew and truck driver: assign who handles road cases, who inspects fixtures for transport damage, note required PPE and where to park the truck so we clear the stage for the noon rehearsal.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.
+Draft the cable and power schedule: map each fixture to a dimmer or breaker, record cable lengths and…
Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.
+Draft the cable and power schedule: map each fixture to a dimmer or breaker, record cable lengths and cross-sections, flag any circuits over 80 percent and include required PPE and lockout steps for the electrics crew to follow during installation.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record2
Program and operate lighting control devices
+Create the programming checklist for the lighting desk: list each cue number, target state, timing notes,…
Program and operate lighting control devices
+Create the programming checklist for the lighting desk: list each cue number, target state, timing notes, channel patch and backup procedure, then schedule a two-hour run-through with the operators and director the afternoon before first performance.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Install color effects or image patterns
+Specify the gobos and gel recipe for the designer's key moments: describe desired pattern, rotation and focus…
Install color effects or image patterns
+Specify the gobos and gel recipe for the designer's key moments: describe desired pattern, rotation and focus for each fixture, list gel numbers and spare units, and note any heat or fire risks so the electrics team can approve before load-in.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work14
Set up, rig, and dismantle lighting equipment
+Set and rig the lighting plot for Friday’s rehearsal: hang all fixtures on the numbered battens, secure…
Set up, rig, and dismantle lighting equipment
+Set and rig the lighting plot for Friday’s rehearsal: hang all fixtures on the numbered battens, secure safety cables, trim and focus instruments roughly, label each circuit and record amp draw so the stage electrician can verify power before first run.
The tools that do the workSAP Maintenancejob descriptionsO*NET
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Focus and hang lights
+Hang and focus the inventory called for in the LX plot for tomorrow’s tech call: position each fixture to…
Focus and hang lights
+Hang and focus the inventory called for in the LX plot for tomorrow’s tech call: position each fixture to match the designer’s angles, gel and shutter per cue notes, call the actor sightlines, and sign off the focus sheet before curtain.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Manage power distribution
+Lay out and label the power distro for Saturday’s load-in: assign feeds to dimmer racks and stage panels,…
Manage power distribution
+Lay out and label the power distro for Saturday’s load-in: assign feeds to dimmer racks and stage panels, calculate circuit loads with headroom, mark phase and neutral on distro boxes, and hand the load sheet to the venue electrician for final lock-in.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Call cues during live shows
+Call the LX cues during tonight’s show: follow the cue list, count and deliver intensity and blackout timings…
Call cues during live shows
+Call the LX cues during tonight’s show: follow the cue list, count and deliver intensity and blackout timings precisely, confirm actor hits and adjust timing live if the stage manager moves pace, and note any deviation on the show log.
The tools that do the workProgrammable logic controller PLCjob descriptions
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Use personal protection equipment
+Put on and inspect all required PPE before rigging or focusing today: safety harness, hard hat, gloves and…
Use personal protection equipment
+Put on and inspect all required PPE before rigging or focusing today: safety harness, hard hat, gloves and eye protection, test fall arrest before working aloft, and document the checks on the safety log before any lifts begin.
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Prevent technical problems with lighting equipment
+Run a pre-show equipment check to prevent technical failure: power-cycle each moving light, update fixture…
Prevent technical problems with lighting equipment
+Run a pre-show equipment check to prevent technical failure: power-cycle each moving light, update fixture firmware if needed, test DMX chains and spares, swap any suspect lamp or ballast, and log the results so technical directors can approve the rig.
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Prepare personal work environment
+Set up my workbench for the run: unpack and label the gels and gobos, arrange PPE and hand tools by zone,…
Prepare personal work environment
+Set up my workbench for the run: unpack and label the gels and gobos, arrange PPE and hand tools by zone, verify the distro has correct breakers and spare fuses, post the power plan on the door and note any open hazards.
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Focus lighting equipment
+Walk the stage and focus the fixtures called in the plot: strike each unit to its patch, set beam shape and…
Focus lighting equipment
+Walk the stage and focus the fixtures called in the plot: strike each unit to its patch, set beam shape and shuttering to match the designer’s cue sheet, lock trims, record final channel and lamp hours, and flag any lamp or gel that needs replacement before tech.
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Adapt to artists' creative demands
+Rework the lighting plot and channel assignments to accommodate the new choreography notes from Maya and the…
Adapt to artists' creative demands
+Rework the lighting plot and channel assignments to accommodate the new choreography notes from Maya and the director, keep the key washes but add three movable specials for her moments, and flag any rigging conflicts before Friday tech rehearsal.
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Assess power needs
+Calculate the total circuit load for Act One using the instrument list and lamp wattages, show per-dimmer and…
Assess power needs
+Calculate the total circuit load for Act One using the instrument list and lamp wattages, show per-dimmer and per-phase totals, and produce a CSV that the electrician can cross-check before the load-in on Tuesday.
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Prevent fire in a performance environment
+Walk the stage and backstage areas with the fire marshal checklist, note any lamp proximity or drape risks,…
Prevent fire in a performance environment
+Walk the stage and backstage areas with the fire marshal checklist, note any lamp proximity or drape risks, mark required clearances on the plot, and send the fire risk notes to stage management before first tech.
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Maintain dimmer equipment
+Schedule routine checks and replacement for the dimmer racks, log serials and last service dates, replace any…
Maintain dimmer equipment
+Schedule routine checks and replacement for the dimmer racks, log serials and last service dates, replace any cooling fans showing heat or noise, and issue a service ticket for anything failing before the next show.
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De-rig electronic equipment
+Organise a de-rig plan for the moving lights and cables after the run: assign two riggers per truss, list…
De-rig electronic equipment
+Organise a de-rig plan for the moving lights and cables after the run: assign two riggers per truss, list required PPE, detail the lowering sequence to avoid unbalanced loads, and circulate it to the crew for tomorrow's shift.
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Work with respect for own safety
+Create a personal safety checklist for every shift: required PPE, ladder and harness inspection before use,…
Work with respect for own safety
+Create a personal safety checklist for every shift: required PPE, ladder and harness inspection before use, lockout procedures for electrics, and a reminder to report near misses to the production manager.
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Says who?
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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses