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Overview
Light board operators run performance lighting from plans, cues and artistic direction, programming consoles and adjusting lighting states during rehearsals and shows.
In job descriptions, look for lighting console operation, cueing, lighting plans, power needs, automated fixtures, show communication, stage safety and coordination with designers, performers and other operators.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Light board operator work is tied to rehearsals and live performance. The operator prepares the console, checks cue lists, reads lighting plans and runs lighting states at the right moment while staying in contact with stage management, designers and other technical operators.
Skills and specializations
Useful strengths include operating lighting consoles, plotting lighting states, reading lighting plans, assessing power needs, communicating during a show and keeping a safe stage environment. Some roles lean toward automated fixtures, touring setup, video control, stock management or support for a lighting designer.
Salary context
Salary context depends on production scale, rehearsal time, number of performances, technical complexity, evening or touring work, responsibility for setup and whether the operator also programs, focuses or supervises lighting equipment. This guide does not provide salary amounts.
Career paths
Development can start with theatre technician work, lighting crew, followspot, stagehand duties or assisting a designer. It can move toward console programming, lighting design support, production electrician work, technical coordination or leading a lighting team.
Good to know
Check whether a vacancy is mainly show operation, console programming, setup, touring, maintenance or design support. Strong adverts name the console type, rehearsal schedule, cueing responsibilities, safety expectations and who makes final lighting decisions. Also check headset use, call structure, rehearsal attendance and whether cue changes are made by the operator, stage manager or lighting designer.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context. It is not official labour-market statistics or role-specific salary 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: 1
Lighting Technicians
27-4015.00
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
theatre technician (3435.25)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/87e644b2-8bc1-42d4-bb14-cc4abb0bc715 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 3435.25.2 |
| ISCO group | 3435 |
| Concept type | Occupation |