Lighting Technicians
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 27-4015.00
Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. May focus or operate light fixtures, or attach color filters or other lighting accessories.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.35
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
- Data source: OpenAIPublished: 2023
0.094
0.000Range of values carried here0.844Scale, basis and source
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only16 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (25.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Program lighting consoles or load automated lighting control systems onto consoles.O*NET Task ID 22684 | 1.0 |
Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans.O*NET Task ID 22679 | 0.5 |
Operate manual or automated systems to control lighting throughout productions.O*NET Task ID 22681 | 0.5 |
Visit and assess structural and electrical layout of locations before setting up lighting equipment.O*NET Task ID 22688 | 0.5 |
Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock.O*NET Task ID 22673 | 0.0 |
Consult with lighting director or production staff to determine lighting requirements.O*NET Task ID 22674 | 0.0 |
Disassemble and store equipment after performances.O*NET Task ID 22675 | 0.0 |
Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures.O*NET Task ID 22676 | 0.0 |
Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.O*NET Task ID 22677 | 0.0 |
Load, unload, or position lighting equipment.O*NET Task ID 22678 | 0.0 |
Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed.O*NET Task ID 22680 | 0.0 |
Patch or wire lights to dimmers or other electronic consoles.O*NET Task ID 22682 | 0.0 |
Perform minor repairs or routine maintenance on lighting equipment, such as replacing lamps or damaged color filters.O*NET Task ID 22683 | 0.0 |
Set up and focus light fixtures to meet requirements of television, theater, concerts, or other productions.O*NET Task ID 22685 | 0.0 |
Set up scaffolding or cranes to assist with setting up of lighting equipment.O*NET Task ID 22686 | 0.0 |
Test lighting equipment function and desired lighting effects.O*NET Task ID 22687 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (16)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock. | — |
| Consult with lighting director or production staff to determine lighting requirements. | — |
| Disassemble and store equipment after performances. | — |
| Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures. | — |
| Install electrical cables or wire fixtures. | — |
| Load, unload, or position lighting equipment. | — |
| Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans. | — |
| Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed. | — |
| Operate manual or automated systems to control lighting throughout productions. | — |
| Patch or wire lights to dimmers or other electronic consoles. | — |
| Perform minor repairs or routine maintenance on lighting equipment, such as replacing lamps or damaged color filters. | — |
| Program lighting consoles or load automated lighting control systems onto consoles. | — |
| Set up and focus light fixtures to meet requirements of television, theater, concerts, or other productions. | — |
| Set up scaffolding or cranes to assist with setting up of lighting equipment. | — |
| Test lighting equipment function and desired lighting effects. | — |
| Visit and assess structural and electrical layout of locations before setting up lighting equipment. | — |
0.54/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock. | E0 none |
| Disassemble and store equipment after performances. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install electrical cables or wire fixtures. | E0 none |
| Load, unload, or position lighting equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate manual or automated systems to control lighting throughout productions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Patch or wire lights to dimmers or other electronic consoles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform minor repairs or routine maintenance on lighting equipment, such as replacing lamps or damaged color filters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up and focus light fixtures to meet requirements of television, theater, concerts, or other productions. | E0 none |
| Set up scaffolding or cranes to assist with setting up of lighting equipment. | E0 none |
| Test lighting equipment function and desired lighting effects. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Visit and assess structural and electrical layout of locations before setting up lighting equipment. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 10K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 9K
- Change (2025–35)
- -4.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $68,060
- Typical education needed for entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29371 | 조명기사 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 76223 | 조명 기구 설치 및 수리원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3435Other Artistic and Cultural Associate Professionals
- ISCO-08 3521Broadcasting and Audio-visual Technicians
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- followspot operatorESCO 3435.23.1This occupation is broader
Followspot operators control follow spots based on the artistic or creative concept, in interaction with the performers. Follow spots are specialized lighting instruments, designed to follow performers or movements on stage. Movement, size, beam width and color are controlled manually. Therefore, the operators work closely together with the light board operators and performers. Their work is based on instructions and other documentation. Their work can include working on heights, in bridges or above an audience.
- intelligent lighting engineerESCO 3435.12.1This occupation is broader
Intelligent lighting engineers set up, prepare, check and maintain digital and automated lighting equipment in order to provide optimal lighting quality for a live performance. They cooperate with road crew to unload, set up and operate lighting equipment and instruments.
- light board operatorESCO 3435.23.2This occupation is broader
Light board operators control the lighting of a performance based on the artistic or creative concept, in interaction with the performers. Their work is influenced by and influences the results of other operators. Therefore, the operators work closely together with the designers, operators and performers. Light board operators prepare and supervise the setup, steer the technical crew, program the equipment and operate the lighting system. They may be responsible for conventional or automated lighting fixtures and, in some instances, controlling video as well. Their work is based on plans, instructions and other documentation.
- stage technicianESCO 3435.23.5Overlapping, not the same
Stage technicians control different aspects of a performance based on the artistic or creative concept, in interaction with the performers. They prepare and perform the setup, program the equipment and operate various systems. Stage technicians take care of lighting, sound, video, sets and/or fly systems. Their work is based on plans, instructions and calculations. They can work in small venues, theatres and other small artistic productions.
- theatre technicianESCO 3435.23Overlapping, not the same
Theatre technicians execute all technical tasks to support live performances. They build and break down stages and decors, install and operate sound, light, recording and video equipment and organise the transport of decors and technical equipment for performances on displacement.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| L1504 | Eclairagiste | Same scopeprovisional |
| L1515 | Technicien / Technicienne plateau | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3739 | Otros técnicos y profesionales de apoyo de actividades culturales y artísticas | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 94513 | Berufe in der Veranstaltungs- und Bühnentechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 94512 | Berufe in der Veranstaltungs- und Bühnentechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 26383 | Berufe in der Elektrotechnik (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 94514 | Berufe in der Veranstaltungs- und Bühnentechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 592 | 生産類似作業従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 234 | 演出家 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources