How to hire an av technician

How to hire an av technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step av technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an av technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new av technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an av technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your av technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an av technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an av technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an av technician that fits the bill.

   This list presents av technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of AV Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   AV Technician	Broadcast and sound engineering technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.	$13-32
   Video Engineer	A video engineer installs and maintains video equipment in a certain location. Video engineers are responsible for operating electronic equipment for television and radio program transmission... Show more	$31-74
   Videographer	A videographer specializes in shooting and editing high-definition videos of different events, making them presentable to clients. They are primarily responsible for having their video equipment, coordinating with clients to learn any preferences or particular requests, capturing and recording from the best angle, and producing results quickly and accurately... Show more	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Troubleshoot
   • Ladders
   • Projection
   • Crestron
   • Video Conferencing
   • Polycom
   • Audio Visual Equipment
   • VTC
   • Videoconferencing
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Extron
   • Control Systems
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain and manage multiple stages: FOH mix, monitor mix, and video presentation editing mix.
   • Provide technical support in all venues and resolve conflicts under high stress situations.
   • Route presentation material to in room LCD'S with a Crestron touch screen router.
   • Install, maintain and operate Polycom video teleconferencing equipment and software.
   • Assemble Polycom VSX 8000HD at remote locations for clients.
   • Prepare PowerPoint presentations and switch slides for live events.

   More av technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the av technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. An av technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an av technician in Kentucky may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level av technician. Additionally, an av technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average av technician salary

   $44,144yearly

   $21.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level av technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average av technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$67,899	$33
   2	District of Columbia	$60,259	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$59,307	$29
   4	New York	$56,938	$27
   5	Nevada	$56,089	$27
   6	Virginia	$54,449	$26
   7	Pennsylvania	$49,567	$24
   8	Minnesota	$48,672	$23
   9	Maryland	$48,539	$23
   10	Michigan	$46,967	$23
   11	Georgia	$43,589	$21
   12	Illinois	$41,480	$20
   13	Alaska	$41,225	$20
   14	Iowa	$39,612	$19
   15	South Carolina	$39,609	$19
   16	Colorado	$39,252	$19
   17	Florida	$38,168	$18
   18	New Mexico	$36,469	$18
   19	North Carolina	$35,765	$17
   20	Arizona	$35,739	$17

   Average av technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pace University	$75,030	$36.07
   2	Jacobs Engineering Group	$68,616	$32.99
   3	The Los Angeles Film School	$67,679	$32.54
   4	GPAC	$63,287	$30.43
   5	Stanford University	$61,200	$29.42
   6	Northrop Grumman	$57,797	$27.79	3
   7	VIVA USA	$56,337	$27.09
   8	Vail Health	$55,465	$26.67	1
   9	SA Technologies Inc	$53,859	$25.89	3
   10	Leidos	$53,803	$25.87	15
   11	SGA	$53,667	$25.80
   12	General Dynamics	$53,416	$25.68	18
   13	CyberCoders	$52,042	$25.02
   14	University of California-Berkeley	$51,868	$24.94
   15	Virtelligence	$51,221	$24.63
   16	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	$49,214	$23.66
   17	M.C. Dean	$48,877	$23.50	37
   18	American University	$48,681	$23.40	1
   19	DreamWorks Animation	$47,771	$22.97
   20	Yorktel	$47,212	$22.70	3

4. Writing an av technician job description

   A job description for an av technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an av technician job description:

   Av technician job description example

   At INSPIRE, we know the value of exceptional people. We pride ourselves on providing our employees with growth and career oriented succession planning. INSPIRE operates each day in a customer-focused, innovative, and team-based environment. Our people are the primary reason for our success.
   
   We provide quality technology, qualified technicians, and a creative vision that enables our clients to effectively communicate at their conferences, meetings, and events-all while focusing on building trusting and lasting relationships through professional and personalized service.
   
   We offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees. Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, Life Insurance, Short-term and Long-term Disability and Paid Time Off / Holiday, 401(k), along with additional voluntary benefits are available to all full time employees at INSPIRE.
   We are seeking an AV Technician to work at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota in Sarasota, FL.
   
   In this role, the AV Technician will need solid, working knowledge of all departments, including: projection, video equipment, sound reinforcement, computer and peripheral devices, high speed internet, staging, outdoor and decorative lighting and control, as well as power and basic rigging.
   
   What you would do:
   
   * Prep, set, and strike audio visual equipment and keep inventory updated at all times
   * Consistently keep track of inventory and ensure orders are completed in a timely fashion
   * Operate AV equipment with full understanding of signal flow and equipment specifications
   * Determine equipment shortages while preparing equipment order and offer substitutions
   * Keep open lines of communication with management at all times
   * Follow strict guidelines and a rigid schedule
   * Represent INSPIRE in a professional manner and follow grooming and attire policies in place
   * Continue our long standing respectful relationship with clients and hotel staff
   * Work in a fast paced, ever changing environment where input is always appreciated
   * Protect company equipment as if it were your own and report any damages to respective personnel
   * Maintain a clean and safe working environment at all times
   * Any other duties that are assigned
   
   What your background should be:
   
   * Experienced with audio visual technology
   * Strong customer service and overall communication skills
   * You can lift at least 50 pounds on your own
   
   What we always look for:
   
   * A self-starter who can lead but also works well with others
   * An excellent organizer, good communicator and motivator
   * Service oriented individuals who are always willing to help the team
   * A hard worker who doesnt mind working long hours and holidays
   * Flexibility-someone who can handle change well

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find av technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any av technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level av technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your av technician job on Zippia to find and recruit av technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit av technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new av technician

   Once you've selected the best av technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new av technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an av technician?