An audio visual director is required to have a high school diploma or GED and technical knowledge about audio visual equipment. Although a college degree is not required to enter this career field, it may help applicants appeal to potential employers. The majority of these jobs are in either schools or businesses within the hospitality industry.
Essential Information
Audio visual directors work with hotels, conference centers, schools and other organizations that host meetings, seminars and events that utilize audio visual equipment. Audio visual directors must possess high levels of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills because they hire, train, and oversee employees and set up and use various types of equipment. Evening, weekend and holiday work may be required.
| Required Education | High school diploma or GED, but a college degree may be useful |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 12% for all audio and video technicians |
| Median Wage (2019)* | $45,910 for all audio and video technicians |
Sources: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Job Description
Audio visual directors primarily work in the hospitality and educational sectors. Job duties include overseeing employees, as well as the audio video technology used for conferences, meetings, seminars, lectures, and events. Audio visual directors may work nights, weekends, and odd shifts.
Duties
Audio visual directors hire, train, and manage audio visual technicians. They also obtain new clients and employ customer service and interpersonal skills to satisfy existing clients, as indicated by October 2011 job postings on Monster.com. Job requirements include advanced technical knowledge of how to setup, install, troubleshoot, and break down audio visual equipment including cameras, microphones, projectors, and monitors.
Audio visual directors may also schedule productions, purchase new equipment, and monitor existing inventory. They may also be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, such as setting up and breaking down audio-visual equipment and building relationships with hotel staff or educators. Other duties may include finding new clients, managing client billing and invoicing, keeping up-to-date on new technology and equipment as it's introduced to the market, and renting additional equipment necessary for conferences or events.
Job Outlook and Salary Information
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect employment and salary information specifically for audio visual directors, the BLS reports that all audio and video technicians should see job growth of 12% from 2019 to 2029.The BLS published the median annual salary for audio and video technicians as $45,910 in May 2019.
Audio visual directors oversee the staff who operate audio visual equipment. They hire, train, supervise and direct their staff, and are also responsible for ordering new equipment or repairs. They often work unusual hours, including evenings and weekends, providing sound systems to conferences or conventions or other events.
