What is a studio technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Michael Neal Ph.D.

If you want to become a studio technician, you can work in the video, radio, and music industry with audio, visual, and other technical equipment. Your job will include performing in live and filmed scenarios, music and television studios, and at the venue, where you can set up and run equipment and lead other equipment operators. It is essential to have extensive knowledge in using audio transmissions and records in this role.

Formal post-secondary education is not necessarily a prerequisite in smaller or independent productions. These productions encourage studio technicians to gain expertise with facilities, processes, and technologies before selecting a specialization or progressing to roles that need more training or experience. These productions promote studio technicians before choosing a department or advancing to the position that needs further experience or knowledge to learn about equipment, processes, and technology.

One successful tip for succeeding in this role is to serve as an audio or video intern. These programs provide useful hands-on training, which can be provided or required for some degree programs. Since the majority of the graduate programs cover various facets of production, aspiring technicians can pursue an internship that gives them knowledge and expertise in the field of their interest.

What general advice would you give to a Studio Technician?

M

Michael Neal Ph.D.Michael Neal Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, Director, Rhetoric & Composition, Florida State University

The advice can be tricky, especially since our graduates go into a number of fields. My hope for them is that they continue to build upon what they learned in our program and apply it to new situations and contexts outside of school. I often tell students that editing, writing, and media aren't skills you master and then apply universally across contexts. Instead, we encourage students to keep growing and stretching themselves, since they will most likely face new genres, audiences, and contexts that they didn't see in college. Therefore, we teach them to be flexible, to be close readers, and analyze each rhetorical situation to determine how to best communicate within that context. Good writing isn't one-size-fits-all. Instead, it's a complex, negotiated relationship between writers, texts, contexts, audiences, media, modalities, etc.
ScoreStudio TechnicianUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,545

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.7

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 5.58%

Black or African American 9.97%

Hispanic or Latino 15.93%

Unknown 6.24%

White 61.91%

Gender

female 27.22%

male 72.78%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress Level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Studio Technician career paths

Key steps to become a studio technician

  1. Explore studio technician education requirements

    Most common studio technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.8 %

    Associate

    15.5 %

    Master's

    5.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific studio technician skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Teleprompter21.44%
    Video Production7.87%
    Camera Operation6.73%
    Studio Cameras6.05%
    Audio Equipment4.94%
  3. Complete relevant studio technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New studio technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a studio technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real studio technician resumes.
  4. Research studio technician duties and responsibilities

    • Lead false-positive team to identify and resolve network service issues and produce a manual for outsource providers to troubleshoot technical issues.
    • Operate DV/mini DV ENG broadcast cameras shooting interviews, stands ups, and b-roll.
    • Operate secondary camera for b-roll footage.
    • Interface with users, technicians and consultants to facilitate high quality and successful videoconferencing for meetings and company events.
  5. Prepare your studio technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your studio technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a studio technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Studio Technician Resume templates

    Build a professional Studio Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Studio Technician resume.
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  6. Apply for studio technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a studio technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Studio Technician Job

S

Steven S.

Studio Technician, Stoton

Becoming a Studio Technician first involves getting the knowledge required and also having the passion for the work. you need training and hands on experience. Internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer opportunities at recording studios, radio stations, TV stations, or multimedia production companies can provide valuable hands-on experience. Your expertise as a studio technician lies in the technical aspects of audio, lighting, and video equipment, among other things. You're meticulous, detail-oriented, and adept at troubleshooting any issues that arise in the studio environment. A typical day of a studio technician might involve setting up equipment for recording or live broadcasts, calibrating cameras and microphones, adjusting lighting rigs for optimal visibility, and testing audio levels to guarantee crisp sound quality. You're also needed to be constantly updated on the latest advancements in studio technology, whether it's new software for editing or innovative hardware for better performance. Basically becoming a studio technician is a passion and a lovely job.

Average studio technician salary

The average Studio Technician salary in the United States is $32,545 per year or $16 per hour. Studio technician salaries range between $21,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average Studio Technician Salary
$32,545 Yearly
$15.65 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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