Also called: SFX Technician, Pyrotechnician
Builds and runs practical effects on film sets and at concerts, from fake snow to fire bursts.
You build a rig that drops 200 pounds of fake snow on cue, then load the flame cannons for a concert and run safety checks with the fire marshal before the show.
Freelance; pay depends on how many productions you land.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. High school plus on-the-job training; state pyrotechnic operator license.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Theater Technology.
Growing about average.
Medium risk for 10 years. CGI and AI video tools replace some on-set effects; live concerts and real-world effects still need licensed techs.
Classes: Chemistry, Theater tech crew, Shop class, Art or sculpture.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-4099.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.