Lighting Technicians

Employment for lighting technicians is expected to decline by 3 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). "Motion picture and sound recording industries will continue to need broadcast, lighting, and sound engineering technicians to improve the quality of shows and movies," according to the DOL. "However, advances in technology will allow fewer technicians to set up and operate broadcast, lighting, and sound systems, which is expected to reduce demand for these workers."

As long as the movie and television industries continue to grow, opportunities will remain available for people who wish to become lighting technicians. With the expansion of the streaming market and the public's growing interest in watching television shows, movies, and other professionally produced video content online, lighting technicians may find work in more than one area. However, persistence and hard work are required in order to secure a good job in film or television.

The increasing use of visual effects and computer generated imagery (CGI) will likely have an impact on the work of lighting technicians. Through computer programs, filmmakers and editors can adjust lighting themselves; however, live-action shots are still integral to the filmmaking process, and will remain so for some time. To get the initial shots of a film will require sophisticated lighting equipment and trained technicians. Lighting technicians often have to know about the assembly and operation of more pieces of equipment than anyone else working on a production. Equipment will become more compact and mobile, making the technician's job easier.