Hi everyone,
I’m in my mid-30s, based in Essex in the UK, and have recently made a career change into commercial AV.
I’ve started working for an Essex-based AV company and would really appreciate some advice from people who’ve been in the industry for a while, particularly those working in the UK.
I’m genuinely excited about the industry and want to build a successful, well-paid career in it. However, I’m already questioning the working hours and what sort of lifestyle I can realistically expect long-term.
A bit about my background
I’ve spent most of my working life in the music industry as a musician, producer and someone who’s been involved in the technical and organisational sides of live performances, recording studios and events.
I’ve always been technically minded, comfortable with audio equipment, computers, troubleshooting and learning new systems. I’ve also got experience with project organisation, managing people, dealing with clients and working under pressure.
Commercial AV seemed like a natural progression where I could apply my existing skills while developing a much broader technical skill set.
I’m effectively starting from the bottom in terms of commercial AV-specific experience, but certainly not starting from scratch technically.
My current employment situation
Location: Essex, UK, with regular work at client sites, including London.
Commute: The company’s base is only around 10–15 minutes from home, which is a massive positive.
Salary: Around £30,000 basic.
Contract: Standard 40-hour week, Monday to Friday.
Overtime: Paid at my normal hourly rate, not time-and-a-half.
Actual hours: Although I’m contracted for 40 hours, I’m finding that several days a week can involve considerably earlier starts or later finishes, depending on the job.
Long days: Some days can stretch to around 12–14 hours once travelling is factored in.
Progression: I’m hoping that, with hard work and rapid development, I could potentially reach £35–40k basic within the first year or so, although that’s an ambition rather than anything guaranteed.
I’m still learning exactly how the company handles travel time, overtime expectations, time off in lieu and other arrangements, particularly when travelling further afield.
The positives
Firstly, I actually enjoy the work.
I’m learning new things constantly, working with equipment and technology that interests me, and getting hands-on experience that should become increasingly valuable as I develop.
The company seems to have experienced people I can learn from, and management has been approachable and supportive so far.
Being so close to home is another huge advantage, particularly compared with having to commute into London every day.
I also recognise that somebody is effectively investing time and resources into training me in an industry where I’m relatively inexperienced. I appreciate that and want to repay that investment by becoming genuinely good at what I do.
I’m ambitious, willing to work hard, happy to get stuck in and keen to become as technically competent as possible.
My reservations
The biggest concern is the working hours and overall work-life balance.
I’m absolutely fine working a 40-hour week, and I don’t mind occasional overtime or longer days when a project requires it.
What worries me is whether regularly working 50–60+ hours becomes the expectation rather than the exception.
From conversations with people who’ve been working in the industry for years, I’ve noticed that some seem to have very little time for hobbies or interests outside work.
Obviously, everyone’s circumstances are different, but it got me thinking.
Music is still a massive part of my life. I have my own projects that I’m passionate about and don’t want to abandon. I also value keeping fit, spending time with my partner and family, and generally having a life outside work.
I’m not interested in making loads of money if it means sacrificing everything else to earn it.
It’s still early days, so I don’t want to jump to conclusions or make any rash decisions. I appreciate that I’m adjusting to full-time employment in a new industry.
However, I also don’t want to spend the next five years establishing myself only to discover that excessive hours are unavoidable regardless of employer or seniority.
What I’d really appreciate advice on
1. Are these working hours normal in commercial AV?
Are regular 12–14 hour days simply part of the industry, or does it depend heavily on the employer, the type of AV work and how projects are managed?
Are there particular sectors or roles within AV where a relatively predictable 40-hour week is realistic?
2. Is £30k a reasonable starting salary?
Considering my transferable technical experience but limited commercial AV experience, does £30k in Essex sound fair?
Is overtime at standard hourly rate normal in the UK?
What salary progression would you realistically expect over the first 12–24 months?
Is £40k basic after a year achievable, or am I being too optimistic?
3. What should I look for in my contract and overtime arrangements?
I’d be interested in how other UK companies handle:
Travel time to and from sites, especially early starts and late finishes.
Whether overtime is expected, optional or effectively compulsory.
Overtime rates versus time off in lieu.
Overnight jobs, weekend work and overseas travel.
Rest periods between particularly long shifts.
Expenses, accommodation, allowances and travel arrangements.
I’d also appreciate advice on how to raise concerns about excessive working hours with management without appearing unwilling to work hard, particularly as a new employee.
4. What’s the smartest strategy for the first 1–3 years?
My current thinking is to learn absolutely everything I can, become dependable and technically capable, and build up a solid range of experience before making any significant career decisions.
Would you recommend staying with one company for a few years while learning, or moving between employers as your skills improve?
How long did it take you to feel genuinely competent and able to work independently?
5. What should I specialise in to maximise my earning potential?
I’m interested in the technical side rather than just remaining an installer indefinitely.
I’ve seen people mention certifications and skills such as CTS/CTS-I/CTS-D, Dante, Q-SYS, Crestron, Extron, networking, control systems, programming and system design.
Which skills and qualifications would you prioritise if you were starting again today?
Are commissioning engineers, control systems programmers, designers or technical consultants generally better paid than installation engineers?
I’d particularly like to develop skills that increase my earning potential without necessarily increasing the hours I need to work.
6. Where could I realistically be in 5–10 years?
For someone who takes their career seriously, continuously upskills and is willing to move employers when appropriate, what sort of positions and salaries are realistically achievable in the UK?
Is earning £50–60k+ basic as an employee achievable without moving into senior management?
Are there technical specialisms with even higher earning potential?
I’m also open to working internationally at some point if the opportunities and salaries justify it.
7. Employed versus freelance – what’s your experience?
Long-term, I’m interested in whether freelancing or contracting could provide greater earnings and more control over my schedule.
For those who’ve made the transition:
How many years of experience did you have beforehand?
What skills or specialisms made you valuable as a freelancer?
What day rates are realistically achievable in the UK?
How consistent is the work?
How difficult is it to build a client network?
What are the biggest drawbacks compared with permanent employment?
Does freelancing genuinely offer greater flexibility, or do you end up working even longer hours?
Is there a sensible way to build freelance opportunities gradually while remaining employed, subject to contractual restrictions?
I recognise that higher day rates don’t automatically mean higher take-home earnings once you account for holidays, pensions, insurance, equipment, downtime and other business expenses.
I’m particularly interested in whether experienced freelance AV engineers can eventually work fewer days while maintaining a decent income.
8. If you could start your AV career again, what would you do differently?
Which career decisions had the biggest impact on your income, opportunities and quality of life?
What mistakes should I avoid?
Are there any less obvious career paths within AV that offer a particularly good combination of salary, flexibility and job satisfaction?
Ultimately, here’s what I’m trying to achieve:
I want to spend the next decade becoming highly skilled, financially comfortable and genuinely valuable within the AV industry.
I’m not afraid of hard work, particularly during the early stages of learning a new trade. But my long-term goal is to increase what I earn through expertise, experience and responsibility, rather than simply working more and more hours.
I’d love to reach a position where I have a strong salary (or freelance income), a good reputation, meaningful career options and enough time to enjoy the other parts of my life.
I don’t necessarily want to run my own company, although I wouldn’t rule it out eventually.
I’m also not looking to leave my current employer after a few weeks. I want to give this opportunity a fair chance and make the most of the training and experience available.
I just want to be strategic about my future rather than drifting into a career where work consumes my entire life.
For those of you who’ve been doing this for 5, 10, 15 or 20+ years, would you choose the same career again? And knowing what you know now, what would you do if you were in my position?
I’d particularly appreciate insights from people in the UK, but international perspectives are welcome too.
Thanks in advance!
