The Ultimate Guide to Finding Music Festival Jobs

Love EDM music and want to make a living in the festival scene? Music festival jobs range from part-time or seasonal gigs to full-time industry careers. In the U.S., you can work at big festivals (EDC, Ultra, Coachella), raves, nightclubs, concert halls, or behind the scenes for EDM promoters and labels. This guide covers all the options – from on-site crew and hospitality to marketing, PR, and even volunteer roles – plus key resources for finding these gigs. We’ll list typical positions, salaries, required training, volunteer programs, and specialized job boards so you have all the info you need to pursue music festival jobs or any career in the EDM industry.

Festival Production & Technical Roles

Stagehands and production crews do the heavy lifting at festivals. Many entry-level festival jobs are technical or production-oriented. 

Audio Engineers (sound techs) and Lighting Technicians build and run the show.

For example, audio technicians (mixing live sound) earn a median of about $66,430/year in 2024 while lighting techs average ~$60,560

 These roles usually require specialized training: a degree or certificate in audio engineering or lighting design, and hands-on experience with soundboards, speakers, and lighting consoles.

Other production positions include Rigging Crew/Stagehands who set up stages, trusses and equipment (often needing forklift or OSHA safety certifications) and Stage Managers who coordinate performer logistics.

• Sound Engineer/Audio Technician: Mixes on-stage sound. Median ~$66K
   Technical school or audio certification recommended.

• Lighting Technician: Programs and runs stage lighting. Median ~$60K
   Training in lighting design and safety is needed.

• Production Assistant/Stagehand: Sets up gear and assists crews. No degree required, but heavy lifting/rigging experience is a plus (OSHA forklift certification may help). Pay starts lower (~$25–35K).

• Video/AV Technician: Operates cameras or projectors at outdoor events. Skills in video equipment and broadcast can pay ~$50K or more.

Operations & Hospitality Roles

Event coordinators and security staff keep festivals running smoothly. Beyond production, festivals need a host of operations and support staff. Event Planners/Coordinators oversee festival logistics – scheduling, vendor contracts, permits, etc. These professionals earned a median $59,440/year in 2024; most have a bachelor’s degree (often in hospitality or business) and may hold a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential. Other key roles include:

• Festival/Event Planner (Coordinator): Median ~$59.4K. Often requires a bachelor’s and event-planning certification (CMP).

• Volunteer Coordinator: Organizes volunteer staff. Degree in communications or HR helpful; pay varies by festival.

• Security Guard: Protects attendees and artists. Median ~$38,370/year
   Guards need at least a high school diploma and usually a state security license(especially if armed).

• Medical Staff (EMT/Paramedic/Nurse): Provides on-site medical care. Requires EMT or nursing certification; pay ranges from ~$18–$25/hour.

• Hospitality Staff (Bartenders, Food Vendors, Merch): For example, bartenders median wage is $16.12/hr (about $33K/year) including tips. Most states require bartenders to complete an alcohol-server training or responsible-serving course. Food vendors, merch sellers and ticket agents earn ~$12–18/hr, usually with no formal education required.

• Venue Operations (Parking, Box Office, Janitorial): Pay is often minimum wage plus tips or overtime. Commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) are needed for shuttle/transport drivers.

Creative, Marketing & Media Roles

PR/marketing and media jobs let you shape the festival brand or cover music scenes. Festivals and clubs also hire for creative and promotional positions. Social Media Managers create content and campaigns; for instance, Insomniac’s social media jobs require deep knowledge of EDM festival culture. Marketing/PR Coordinators (often degree-holders) promote events and artists. Promoters/Booking Agents handle artist lineups and ticket sales (compensation often includes bonuses). If you love writing or video, roles like Music Journalist, Photographer, or Videographer exist – though many start freelance. For context, a music journalist’s average salary is around $37,996/year. Other creative positions include graphic designers (for posters/merch) and community managers.

• Social Media/Content Manager: Runs festival/artist accounts. No fixed salary, but experience in EDM marketing needed.

• Marketing/PR Specialist: Develops campaigns, press releases, advertising. Salaries vary ($40–70K). A background in marketing or communications is required.

• Music Journalist/Blogger: Writes for music outlets or blogs. Median ~$38K
   (with large range). Strong writing skills and industry passion are key.

• Photographer/Videographer: Documents the event. Freelancers can charge $200-$500+ per assignment, depending on skill and brand.

Volunteer Opportunities at Festivals

Many festivals offer volunteer programs (usually in exchange for a free ticket or perks). Common volunteer tasks include crowd management, recycling, and guest services. Notable programs include Clean Vibes – a recycling crew that lets volunteers trade shifts for a festival pass (e.g. Ultra Music Festival offers single-day or multi-day volunteer admissions). Environmental group Reverb also runs volunteer teams at concerts and fests, giving free passes and T-shirts to eco-volunteers. Coachella’s sustainability arm, Global Inheritance, recruits 18+ volunteers (no prior experience needed) to staff environmental stations; volunteers receive a festival pass, camping space, and meals

To volunteer, search sites like VolunteerMatch or specific festival pages. For example, a VolunteerMatch listing needed “guest services” volunteers at Lollapalooza (applicants must be 18+, wear black pants/shoes, and have a valid ID). Local nonprofit and college programs often partner with festivals too.

For someone with no experience, start by signing up early on festival websites (look for “volunteer” or “Crew” links) or joining festival-focused volunteer orgs (like Clean Vibes or Reverb). Volunteer gigs are a great way to network and later apply for paid roles.

EDM/Festival Job Boards & Resources

Specialized job boards make it easier to find electronic music and festival jobs. For example, DoorsOpen.co is a nonprofit career site dedicated to electronic/dance music jobs worldwide 

ROSTR (jobs.rostr.cc.) is a music industry board with a “Dance/EDM” category (currently listing dozens of openings) 

Other useful sites include EntertainmentCareers.net (search “festival” or company names like Insomniac, Live Nation),

ShowbizJobs.com (see the “Music Festivals” category), and genre-specific forums or groups.

Don’t forget general platforms – setting up job alerts on LinkedIn, Indeed, and even Craigslist (in major cities) for “festival” or “concert” jobs can turn up opportunities. Finally, follow festival promoters and venues on social media or newsletters, as they often announce openings directly.

Non-Festival Careers in EDM Music

You can also immerse yourself in EDM culture beyond events. Record labels (major or indie dance labels) hire for roles like A&R, marketing, distribution, and digital operations.

For instance, an A&R representative’s median salary is about $73,566vault.com (entry-level around $30–45Kvault.com); these jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree and a strong network in musicvault.com. 

Music Producer or Audio Engineer (studio-based) can be a career path – while top producers earn big royalties, many earn ~$50K+ contracting or salaried. 

Music Technologists (SoundCloud, streaming services) and music tech startup roles (like app development or analytics) are growing fields.

Other roles include radio DJ/host, which may require starting in college radio or smaller stations. 

Music equipment retail or education (teaching DJ or production classes) lets you stay connected to EDM.

Even event adjacent roles like event marketing, tour management, or artist management keep you inside the scene.

Research occupations like “agents and business managers” or “producers and directors” on the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see pay ranges (agents avg ~$50K, producers ~$78K). The key is to identify what part of the industry excites you and build relevant skills: writing and networking for journalism, marketing savvy for label work, or technical chops for production.

Salaries, Skills & Certifications

Festival and club jobs vary widely in pay.

• Technical roles (sound, lighting) start around $50–60K medianbls.gov,
• Event planners ~$59Kbls.gov, 
• Security ~$38Kbls.gov, and
• Bartenders about $33K (with tips)bls.gov.
• Creative/media roles range more (journalists ~$38Kindeed.com, 
• Designers/marketers ~$40–70K).
• Volunteer roles are unpaid (but include tickets).
• Remember, these are medians – high-level careers (e.g. executive producers or famous DJs) can earn six figures, while entry-level festival gigs may pay hourly.

Training often comes from experience or short courses. Relevant qualifications include:

• Responsible-Server (Alcohol Service) Certificate: Needed for bartenders and bar managersbls.gov.

• Security Guard License: For security jobs; requirements vary by statebls.gov.

• First Aid/CPR/EMT Certifications: Required if you want to work in medical/first-aid teams at events.

• Certified Meeting Planner (CMP): Useful for event coordinatorsbls.gov.

• Technical Degrees/Certificates: Audio production programs for sound techs; lighting design courses for lighting techs.

• Drivers License/CDL: For shuttle drivers or hauling equipment.

• Promoter/Social Media Courses: Helpful for marketing roles (many short online courses exist).

• General Safety Training: Forklift/OSHA training if you’ll operate equipment.

Even if you lack formal training, many festival workers start as unpaid interns or crew members and learn on the job. Emphasize any related skills (customer service for hospitality, computer skills for media, languages for guest services) on your resume. Networking is huge in this industry: volunteer, attend local shows, and connect on LinkedIn with industry pros. Building a portfolio (for example, mixing tracks or running a music blog) can also open doors.

Working in EDM festivals and clubs is a dynamic way to combine passion with career. By exploring these job categories, getting the right certifications, and using specialized job boards (and volunteer opportunities), you’ll be well-prepared to land a spot in the fast-paced world of electronic music events. Good luck, and enjoy the ride of turning your EDM enthusiasm into a job!