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The differences between audio visual technicians and light technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an audio visual technician and a light technician. Additionally, an audio visual technician has an average salary of $43,529, which is higher than the $40,111 average annual salary of a light technician.
The top three skills for an audio visual technician include customer service, customer satisfaction and audio visual equipment. The most important skills for a light technician are ladders, hand tools, and light fixtures.
| Audio Visual Technician | Light Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,529 | $40,111 |
| Hourly rate | $20.93 | $19.28 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 15,387 | 31,530 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An audiovisual technician is responsible for operating and monitoring audiovisual equipment and systems used for various events such as live public events and business conferences. Audiovisual technicians' duties include repairing technical issues, running diagnostic tests before actual use, identifying and resolving malfunctions immediately, assembling system components, installing and arranging equipment on their proper positions, instructing clients on how to operate the systems, and ensuring the safety of the equipment. An audiovisual technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and system procedures to perform setups and installment accurately.
A light technician is responsible for controlling and setting up all the needed lighting production equipment used in a show or concert. This person acts as an assistant to the lighting engineer or designer who controls and determines what needs to be developed and enhanced. They are the technicians who operate the visual effects, color lights, control switch, reflectors, and dim lights in a live or recorded show. A light technician always keeps the lighting equipment in good shape and condition.
Audio visual technicians and light technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Audio Visual Technician | Light Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,529 | $40,111 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $66,000 | Between $28,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | School of Visual Concepts | BlackRock |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an audio visual technician and a light technician in terms of educational background:
| Audio Visual Technician | Light Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Communication | Photography |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | New Mexico State University |
Here are the differences between audio visual technicians' and light technicians' demographics:
| Audio Visual Technician | Light Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |