Lighting Technician

Lighting Technician assesses people, records findings, and performs 20 concrete steps used in routine work. The tasks focus on communication with clients and colleagues and what matters most each shift. Each one shows where we found it, and comes with an AI prompt you can copy and use straight away.

20evidenced tasks
20ready prompts
8tools of the trade
27-4015.00O*NET-SOC code
8,900hold this job (US, BLS 2025)
$68,060median pay/yr (US)
Open Lighting Technician in the interactive atlas →

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)
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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.

Keeping the record5

Communicate with Lighting Designer

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Send the lighting plot changes and power load summary to Marcus the lighting designer, ask whether the key…
Send the lighting plot changes and power load summary to Marcus the lighting designer, ask whether the key backlight should shift left for the singer’s new blocking, and request any color references by Wednesday so I can order gels.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia

Setup lighting equipment

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Build the front-of-house and side truss rigs from the new lighting plot, hang the fresnels and moving heads…
Build the front-of-house and side truss rigs from the new lighting plot, hang the fresnels and moving heads called out on the plan, torque all clamps and safety cables, and run power distro feeds with a notes sheet for the electrician before the noon soundcheck.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ProjectESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia

Unload lighting equipment

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Unload the road cases at stage left, inventory each fixture and cable against the load-in list, tag any…
Unload the road cases at stage left, inventory each fixture and cable against the load-in list, tag any missing or damaged items, and put everything onto the dolly lists for storage in the dock by 10:30 so the crew can start hanging at 11.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia

Program and operate lighting control devices

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Program the lighting console with the new scene list, patch each fixture to the channels on the console, test…
Program the lighting console with the new scene list, patch each fixture to the channels on the console, test intensity and focus for the director’s cues, and save a show backup and a USB copy before tonight’s performance.
The tools that do the workProgrammable logic controller PLCjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia

Install color effects or image patterns

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Fit the new gobos and color frames into the ellipsoidals and LED movers per the designer’s notes, check for…
Fit the new gobos and color frames into the ellipsoidals and LED movers per the designer’s notes, check for hot spots and focus shifts on stage, and hand a photo reference and the gel list to wardrobe before curtain.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADO*NETWikipedia
Fixing1

Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.

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Run new power runs from the stage distro to the upstage cyc, pull and secure three 12/3 armored cables…
Run new power runs from the stage distro to the upstage cyc, pull and secure three 12/3 armored cables through the catwalks, label each cable with circuit and dimmer numbers, test each for continuity and correct polarity before hanging fixtures tomorrow night.
The tools that do the workSAP Maintenancejob descriptionsO*NET
The daily work14

Prepare personal work environment

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Set up my rigging area for tonight: lay out hard hat, gloves, harness, respirator and lamp-safe work boots,…
Set up my rigging area for tonight: lay out hard hat, gloves, harness, respirator and lamp-safe work boots, check grounding kit and spare fuses, run a power survey to confirm circuits and breakers meet the load, and log any hazards before I start work.
The tools that do the workSAP MaintenanceESCOsee the evidence ↗

Focus lighting equipment

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Focus the key movers for the 8pm scene: climb to position with harness, set beams to the director's mark,…
Focus the key movers for the 8pm scene: climb to position with harness, set beams to the director's mark, tighten shutters and gel frames, verify focus through the stage aperture, note trim distances and lamp hours, and flag any units that need relamping before load-in.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADESCOsee the evidence ↗

Set up, rig, and dismantle lighting equipment

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Rig the flown grid and floor stands for Friday's show: inventory and label every fixture, cable and clamp,…
Rig the flown grid and floor stands for Friday's show: inventory and label every fixture, cable and clamp, hang and secure each light to the plotted positions, certify safety bonds and circuit allocation, then log kit out after strike.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADjob descriptionsO*NET

Focus and hang lights

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Focus each fixture called on the lighting plot for tonight: set pan, tilt, shutters and beam size to match…
Focus each fixture called on the lighting plot for tonight: set pan, tilt, shutters and beam size to match the designer's notes, fit the correct gels and gobos, record any deviations and get the designer to sign off before curtain.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADjob descriptionsWikipedia

Manage power distribution

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Distribute power for the weekend run: test distro racks, label and map every dimmer and distro feed to the…
Distribute power for the weekend run: test distro racks, label and map every dimmer and distro feed to the stage panels, measure load per phase, rebalance any overloads, and file the final power map with production.
The tools that do the workProgrammable logic controller PLCSAP Maintenancejob descriptions

Call cues during live shows

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Call the lighting cues for tonight's show from headset: follow the cue sheet, watch performers and audio…
Call the lighting cues for tonight's show from headset: follow the cue sheet, watch performers and audio tempo, announce every cue number and timing to stage, confirm execution, and log any missed or modified cues in the post‑show report.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions

Use personal protection equipment

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Put on the full PPE for today's rigging and focus session: hard hat, harness clipped to certified anchor,…
Put on the full PPE for today's rigging and focus session: hard hat, harness clipped to certified anchor, gloves, eye protection and non‑slip boots, inspect each item for defects, and refuse work if any PPE fails inspection.
The tools that do the workSAP MaintenanceESCOsee the evidence ↗

Prevent technical problems with lighting equipment

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Prevent technical faults by running the lighting systems check: bench test each fixture, sweep DMX addresses,…
Prevent technical faults by running the lighting systems check: bench test each fixture, sweep DMX addresses, replace or bench‑repair failing lamps and ballasts, tidy and strain‑relieve all connectors, then sign off the faults list for the electrician.
The tools that do the workRockwell RSLogixESCOsee the evidence ↗

Adapt to artists' creative demands

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Respond to the director and lead designer’s requested changes to the lighting plot by sketching revised focus…
Respond to the director and lead designer’s requested changes to the lighting plot by sketching revised focus positions, propose three practical fixture swaps to achieve their colour and texture, and confirm any power or rigging implications before tech rehearsal tonight.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADESCOsee the evidence ↗

Assess power needs

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Survey the stage and load-in plan, produce a consolidated circuit schedule that totals by dimmer and…
Survey the stage and load-in plan, produce a consolidated circuit schedule that totals by dimmer and distribution board, flag any overloaded feeds and recommend two redistribution options for the production manager by noon tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOsee the evidence ↗

Prevent fire in a performance environment

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Walk the stage, inspect all lanterns and followspots for heat, cable routing and proximity to drapes, log any…
Walk the stage, inspect all lanterns and followspots for heat, cable routing and proximity to drapes, log any fire hazards with photos, tag items needing immediate removal, and send the report to the venue safety officer before doors open.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCOsee the evidence ↗

Maintain dimmer equipment

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Strip and bench-test the dimmer racks after the show, replace any failed triac or module, record serials and…
Strip and bench-test the dimmer racks after the show, replace any failed triac or module, record serials and firmware, and update the maintenance log so the chief electrician can sign off before the next load-in.
The tools that do the workSAP MaintenanceESCOsee the evidence ↗

De-rig electronic equipment

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De-rig the overhead trusses in the scheduled strike, inventory every moving head and cable as it comes down,…
De-rig the overhead trusses in the scheduled strike, inventory every moving head and cable as it comes down, label returned items to their road cases, and note any loose hardware or damage for the production manager’s acceptance check.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOsee the evidence ↗

Work with respect for own safety

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Prepare a personal safety check before tonight’s get-in: inspect harness, hard hat and gloves, confirm RCD…
Prepare a personal safety check before tonight’s get-in: inspect harness, hard hat and gloves, confirm RCD protection on the working circuits, brief the crew on exclusion zones, and sign the permit-to-work so the stage manager can authorise lifts.
The tools that do the workProgrammable logic controller PLCESCOsee the evidence ↗

Says who?

These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.

O*NET 27-4015.00BLS pay surveyBLS OEWS 2025UK NOS SKSL6UK NOS SKSL9UK NOS SKSL4WikipediaESCOberklee.edugetintotheatre.orgwhat people in this job say

The logs, files & records this job keeps

Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.

maintenancenotespermit

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