Audio and Video Technicians
Machines can already do 23% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 52%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Audio and Video Technicians in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 23% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 2% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 52% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 70,230 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $58,100 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: Audio Technician, Audio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist), AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician), Media Technician.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations | 17% | 3% to 30% | |
| Diagnose and resolve media system problems | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Mix and regulate sound inputs and feeds or coordinate audio feeds with television pictures | 9% | 25% to 50% | |
| Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions | 7% | 40% to 80% | |
| Monitor incoming and outgoing pictures and sound feeds to ensure quality and notify directors of any possible problems | 7% | 40% to 80% | |
| Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data | 5% | 68% to 94% | |
| Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment | 5% | 32% to 61% | |
| Perform minor repairs and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills audio and video technicians use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Robotics Technicians47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $73,900
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $84,890
- Medical Equipment Repairers50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $61,660
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,090
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Audio and Video Technicians?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of audio and video technicians?
Machines can do 23% of the tasks of audio and video technicians today and 52% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-4011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Audio and Video Technicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/audio-and-video-technicians/