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Overview
The work sets up boom microphones by hand, on an arm or on a moving platform, positions microphones on set and may handle microphones attached to actors' clothing.
In job descriptions, look for boom microphone operation, soundchecks, scripts, sound quality, audiovisual equipment, wireless audio, collaboration with sound editors and following artistic direction.
Explore this occupation
Search jobsWhat the work can involve
Boom operation is sound work on set. The operator reads the scene, places the microphone, follows actors and camera movement, and protects dialogue quality while staying out of frame.
Skills and specializations
Useful depth includes acoustics, audiovisual equipment, soundchecks, script analysis, wireless audio, sound-quality judgement, technical documentation and close coordination with the sound editor or mixer.
Salary context
Pay context depends on production type, shooting pace, location difficulty, equipment responsibility, wireless microphone duties, schedule length and whether the role also supports mixing or sound design.
Career paths
Experience can lead from assistant boom work to lead boom operation, production sound mixing, sound equipment supervision, location sound planning or post-production sound coordination.
Good to know
Check whether adverts name film, TV or live production, boom and radio microphones, soundchecks, scripts, location work, artistic direction, equipment setup and who leads the sound team.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for work as boom operator. It is not official labour-market statistics or role-specific pay data.
Map overview
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O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 2
Audio and Video Technicians
27-4011.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETSound Engineering Technicians
27-4014.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
Alternative labels
Occupation group
audio-visual technician (3521.1)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/4d102082-8d43-4c59-81ab-08a7509f3c40 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 3521.1.1 |
| ISCO group | 3521 |
| Concept type | Occupation |