AV Technician Rate Guide 2026

Average 10-hour day rates for freelance AV technicians across major US markets. Rates reflect corporate / live-event work and vary by experience, gear ownership, and show complexity.

*Rates are industry estimates based on market research. Actual rates vary by experience, market, and event type. As Truss grows, these will reflect real platform data.

AUD Audio

2 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
A1 Audio Engineer	$650–$1,000	$675–$1,025	$625–$950	$575–$900	$575–$875	$525–$800	$500–$800	$500–$775	$550–$875	$600–$925
A2 Audio Technician	$425–$650	$425–$675	$400–$625	$375–$575	$375–$575	$325–$525	$325–$500	$325–$500	$350–$550	$375–$600

VID Video

6 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
V1 Video Engineer	$650–$1,050	$675–$1,100	$625–$1,000	$575–$950	$575–$925	$525–$850	$500–$825	$500–$825	$550–$925	$600–$1,000
V2 Video Technician	$425–$650	$425–$675	$400–$625	$375–$575	$375–$575	$325–$525	$325–$500	$325–$500	$350–$550	$375–$600
GFX Graphics/Playback Operator	$475–$775	$500–$800	$450–$725	$425–$675	$425–$675	$375–$625	$375–$600	$375–$600	$400–$675	$450–$725
CAM Camera Operator	$475–$825	$500–$850	$450–$775	$425–$725	$425–$725	$375–$675	$375–$650	$375–$650	$400–$725	$450–$775
LED LED Technician	$525–$825	$550–$850	$500–$775	$475–$725	$475–$725	$425–$675	$425–$650	$425–$650	$450–$725	$500–$775
PROJ Projectionist	$475–$775	$500–$800	$450–$725	$425–$675	$425–$675	$375–$625	$375–$600	$375–$600	$400–$675	$450–$725

LTG Lighting

3 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
L1 Lighting Designer/Director	$600–$1,000	$600–$1,025	$550–$950	$525–$900	$525–$875	$475–$800	$475–$800	$450–$775	$500–$875	$550–$925
L2 Lighting Technician	$375–$600	$400–$600	$375–$550	$350–$525	$350–$525	$300–$475	$300–$475	$300–$450	$325–$500	$350–$550
SPOT Spot Operator	$325–$475	$325–$500	$300–$450	$300–$425	$275–$425	$250–$375	$250–$375	$250–$375	$275–$400	$300–$450

STG Staging & Rigging

3 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
SH Stagehand	$300–$475	$300–$500	$275–$450	$275–$425	$250–$425	$250–$375	$225–$375	$225–$375	$250–$400	$275–$450
PWR Power/Electrical Technician	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0
CARP Scenic Carpenter	$475–$775	$500–$800	$450–$725	$425–$675	$425–$675	$375–$625	$375–$600	$375–$600	$400–$675	$450–$725

NET IT & Networking

3 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
NET Show Network Engineer	$700–$1,175	$725–$1,225	$675–$1,125	$625–$1,050	$625–$1,050	$575–$950	$550–$925	$550–$925	$600–$1,025	$650–$1,100
BRK Breakout Operator	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0
IT IT/Help Desk	$425–$650	$425–$675	$400–$625	$375–$575	$375–$575	$325–$525	$325–$500	$325–$500	$350–$550	$375–$600

PRD Production & Management

4 roles · 10-hr day rates (USD)

Role	San Francisco	New York	Los Angeles	Las Vegas	Chicago	Dallas	Atlanta	Nashville	Miami	Seattle
TD Technical Director	$825–$1,425	$850–$1,475	$775–$1,350	$725–$1,250	$725–$1,250	$675–$1,150	$650–$1,125	$650–$1,100	$725–$1,225	$775–$1,325
LT Lead Technician	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0
TP Teleprompter Operator	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0	$0–$0
PM Production Manager	$775–$1,300	$800–$1,350	$725–$1,225	$675–$1,150	$675–$1,150	$625–$1,050	$600–$1,025	$600–$1,000	$675–$1,125	$725–$1,200

How We Calculate Rates

Market Data

Rates are based on current freelance market data, IATSE scale references, and reported rates from working technicians in each market.

10-Hour Day

All rates assume a standard 10-hour day, the industry norm for corporate AV. Overtime, travel days, and per diem are additional.

Experience Bands

Low end reflects 1-3 years experience; high end reflects 8+ years, specialized skills, or gear-owner operators.

Highest-Demand Roles

Audio Engineer

$550–$850

national avg / day

Video Engineer

$550–$900

national avg / day

Lighting Designer

$500–$850

national avg / day

Technical Director

$700–$1,200

national avg / day

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