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Audio and Video Technicians

SOC 27-4011.00Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers audio and video technicians working across live-event production, broadcast studios, recording facilities, corporate multimedia environments, and post-production settings at Job Zone 3 preparation level.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Basic audio and video equipment — identify and connect under direct supervision in a studio or live-event setting.
  2. Equipment malfunctions and signal issues — recognize and report to supervisors promptly during production setup.
  3. Electronic cables, connectors, and patch bays — label and route according to established diagrams on a broadcast or event job site.
  4. Audio recording software — operate at a basic level to capture single-track material under technician guidance in a recording studio.
  5. Video input sources — switch between cameras or pre-recorded feeds following a rundown sheet under direct supervision.
  6. Equipment manuals and technical bulletins — read and apply basic procedures to configure standard AV hardware in a production environment.
  7. Lighting consoles and sound boards — power on, check levels, and reset to preset configurations before a live event.
  8. Digital media files — compress, duplicate, and store audio and video data using standard software on a production workstation.
  9. Checklists and equipment logs — complete accurately to support pre-show and post-show equipment accountability for a live or studio event.
  10. Verbal instructions from directors and senior technicians — listen actively and follow through on assigned tasks during a broadcast or live performance.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Audio and video media systems — diagnose common signal-flow problems and apply corrective adjustments with minimal supervision in a live or studio environment.
  2. Electronic equipment for recording and editing — install, adjust, and operate routinely to produce broadcast-ready program segments.
  3. Soundtracks and dialogue tracks — record and edit using digital audio workstation software to meet production specifications for film or video projects.
  4. Live concert and event lighting and sound — control and balance before, during intermissions, and after performances according to the show plot.
  5. Video input switching — execute smooth transitions between cameras, film, and network or local programming feeds during a live broadcast.
  6. Audio and video data — digitize, encode, and archive in multiple formats to meet project delivery requirements on a production timeline.
  7. Junior assistants and production support personnel — coordinate task assignments and monitor progress during routine production activities.
  8. Video conferencing and multimedia presentation systems — configure and operate for corporate or institutional clients with reduced oversight.
  9. Equipment repair needs — evaluate severity, document findings, and escalate major issues to engineering or vendor support in a timely manner.
  10. Production schedules and technical riders — read, interpret, and translate requirements into equipment setup plans for events of moderate complexity.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex media system failures — diagnose and resolve autonomously under time pressure during live broadcasts or high-stakes productions.
  2. Full audio signal chain — design, configure, and operate from source to output across diverse venues including concert halls, broadcast studios, and conference centers.
  3. Multi-camera video production — manage input switching, graphic overlays, and format conversion for live television or webcast programming without supervision.
  4. Audio recording and post-production — record, edit, mix, and master soundtracks and voice-overs to professional broadcast or theatrical standards.
  5. Lighting and sound systems for large-scale events — program, cue, and operate across the full arc of a production including pre-show, performance, and strike.
  6. Video creation and editing software — use advanced features to assemble, color-correct, and export finished multimedia content for broadcast or online distribution.
  7. Technical production documentation — author equipment specifications, signal-flow diagrams, and post-show reports to support future productions and quality review.
  8. Vendor and rental equipment — evaluate, select, and integrate third-party gear into existing infrastructure to meet non-routine production requirements.
  9. Cross-functional production teams — coordinate with directors, producers, and stage managers to align technical execution with creative vision on complex projects.
  10. Compression codecs, streaming protocols, and storage systems — apply expert knowledge to optimize quality and reliability of digital media delivery pipelines.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental technical standards and workflows — establish and maintain for audio, video, and lighting operations across an organization or production company.
  2. Junior and mid-level AV technicians — mentor, evaluate, and develop through structured coaching, performance feedback, and on-the-job training programs.
  3. Capital equipment acquisition plans — research, recommend, and justify investments in broadcast, live-event, or multimedia infrastructure to senior leadership.
  4. Organization-wide media technology strategy — design and lead implementation to support evolving production formats, platforms, and business objectives.
  5. Complex multi-venue or multi-platform productions — oversee technical direction and resource allocation to ensure consistent quality and schedule adherence.
  6. Risk and contingency plans for live productions — develop and enforce protocols covering equipment failure, safety incidents, and broadcast emergencies.
  7. Cross-departmental collaboration — lead coordination among engineering, creative, IT, and facilities teams to deliver integrated AV solutions at organizational scale.
  8. Industry standards and regulatory requirements — interpret and ensure organizational compliance with broadcast licensing, signal specifications, and accessibility mandates.
  9. Vendor partnerships and service-level agreements — negotiate and manage to optimize cost, reliability, and support for critical production technology assets.
  10. Emerging AV technologies — evaluate, pilot, and champion adoption of innovations such as IP-based broadcast infrastructure and immersive audio formats to advance organizational capability.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Audio-Visual Technician · Audio Installer · Audio Technician · Audio Video Technician · Audio Visual Communications Systems Technician · Audio Visual Installer (AV Installer) · Audio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist) · AV Installation Tech (Audiovisual Installation Technician) · AV Production Specialist (Audio Visual Production Specialist) · AV Specialist (Audiovisual Specialist) · AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician) · AV Tech (Audiovisual Technician)
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0246 · Audio-Visual Technician
O*NET skills
MonitoringReading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingCoordinationService OrientationWritingActive ListeningSystems AnalysisTime ManagementActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessOperation and ControlJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
Computers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsFine ArtsEngineering and TechnologyCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and Management
Abilities
Near VisionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningHearing SensitivityVisual Color Discrimination
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailStress ToleranceAdaptabilityCautiousnessPerseverance
Technology
Video creation and editing softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareDesktop publishing softwareData base user interface and query softwareOperating system softwareVideo conferencing softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
  2. Diagnose and resolve media system problems.
  3. Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
  4. Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data.
  5. Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations.
  6. Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions.
  7. Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
  8. Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment.
CIP education codes
01.080210.020110.0203

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.