Audio & Video Technology
Students study audio engineering, video production technology, live event systems, and multimedia equipment operation and maintenance. Graduates typically pursue careers as audio engineers, video production technicians, live event specialists, and AV systems designers for venues, studios, and corporate facilities. The live events and streaming industries drive consistent demand for skilled AV technicians.
What Audio & Video Technology graduates do
Your career in audiovisual technology is hands-on from day one. You might spend your days as an audio and video technician, setting up microphones for a conference, running a soundboard for a concert, or troubleshooting a corporate livestream. In a different role, you could be a camera operator, meticulously framing shots on a film set, or a video editor, sifting through hours of raw footage to cut scenes and polish the final product with color and sound.
Most people start as assistants or junior technicians, learning the equipment and industry workflows on the job. From there, you build a portfolio to advance into senior roles like lead editor or technical director. While demand for digital content creators is growing, some traditional roles in broadcast and live events face headwinds. With moderate AI exposure across the field, your job will change. AI will increasingly handle routine tasks like creating rough video cuts or basic sound mixing, shifting your focus to creative oversight, complex problem-solving, and final polish. Note that a few paths, like court reporting and captioning, face fundamental disruption from automation.
Students weighing Audio & Video Technology often also consider Communications Technology, Publishing, and Film & Photography — compare earnings, ROI, and AI outlook side by side.
Where Audio & Video Technology graduates work
Common career paths for Audio & Video Technology graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 20,800 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Film and video editors
|
$70,980
$50K–$102K
|
3,600 | +4.0% | High · 53% |
|
Camera operators, television, video, and film
|
$68,810
$48K–$102K
|
2,900 | +1.2% | Moderate · 42% |
|
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
|
$67,310
$50K–$93K
|
1,700 | -0.3% | Very High · 96% |
|
Sound engineering technicians
|
$66,430
$48K–$100K
|
1,200 | -1.7% | Moderate · 43% |
|
Lighting technicians
|
$60,560
$47K–$83K
|
800 | -4.6% | Low · 16% |
|
Audio and video technicians
|
$54,830
$44K–$74K
|
7,300 | +3.3% | Moderate · 44% |
|
Broadcast technicians
|
$53,920
$37K–$80K
|
1,800 | -2.8% | High · 52% |
|
Disc jockeys, except radio
|
—
|
1,500 | +3.8% | High · 53% |
Best schools for Audio & Video Technology
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 14.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · Public
|
22 | $27,701 | 6.3x |
| 6 |
SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY · Public
|
22 | $24,687 | 10.1x |
| 7 |
Husson University
Bangor, ME · Private nonprofit
|
18 | $29,736 | 2.9x |
| 8 |
University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Arecibo, PR · Public
|
18 | $6,316 | 10.2x |
| 9 |
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL · Private for-profit
|
17 | $30,014 | 2.1x |
| 10 |
American University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit
|
16 | $19,337 | 1.9x |
| 11 |
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
|
14 | $20,927 | 2.5x |
| 12 |
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Private nonprofit
|
11 | $24,389 | 0.9x |
| 13 |
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit
|
11 | $22,664 | 1.4x |
| 14 |
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA · Private nonprofit
|
10 | $20,682 | 1.3x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| New England Institute of Technology
RI |
$37,101 |
| Bowie State University
MD |
$35,168 |
| Ferris State University
MI |
$34,043 |
| Full Sail University
FL |
$30,014 |
| Husson University
ME |
$29,736 |
Best ROI Top 5
| Bowie State University
MD |
15.0x |
| University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
PR |
10.2x |
| SUNY Buffalo State University
NY |
10.1x |
| Rowan University
NJ |
6.3x |
| Alabama A & M University
AL |
6.2x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Audio & Video Technology.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Audio & Video Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Audio & Video Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Audio & Video Technology
What's the typical salary after a Audio & Video Technology degree?
The median first-year salary across 14 Audio & Video Technology programs is $25,836. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($6,316) and highest ($37,101) earning programs is significant.
What is the AI automation risk for Audio & Video Technology?
Our analysis classifies Audio & Video Technology as "High" for AI risk — approximately 47% of typical job tasks overlap with current AI capabilities. That puts some of the daily work in the automation-sensitive category.
Which school has the best Audio & Video Technology program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Bowie State University ranks #1 for Audio & Video Technology with a score of 42/100 and graduate earnings of $35,168/yr.
Is a Audio & Video Technology degree worth the investment?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 5.0x tuition. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.