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The differences between event technicians and technical directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an event technician and a technical director. Additionally, a technical director has an average salary of $131,719, which is higher than the $35,674 average annual salary of an event technician.
The top three skills for an event technician include customer service, troubleshoot and audio equipment. The most important skills for a technical director are business development, architecture, and technical expertise.
| Event Technician | Technical Director | |
| Yearly salary | $35,674 | $131,719 |
| Hourly rate | $17.15 | $63.33 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 17,749 | 77,550 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An event technician is someone who ensures that events are held successfully. The event technician handles the audio, video, and other technical aspects of an event. It is through this person that a party is conducted properly. Before the event, the event technician is expected to inspect the location, make plans on setting up the equipment, and ensure that this equipment works during the event and is packed up properly after the event. The event technician should have excellent knowledge in video and audio set up, basic wiring skills, and working knowledge for lighting if required.
A technical director is responsible for monitoring the technical efficiency of operations. Technical directors inspect audio and visual equipment, lighting systems for productions, and other technical processes. They ensure that all the equipment is in proper working condition, identify and troubleshoot defects, and deliver high-quality project results. They also monitor expenses, forecast sales reports, and create cost estimates for the systems needed for the project completion, following the clients' specifications to gain satisfaction. A technical director must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to manage operational processes with maximum accuracy.
Event technicians and technical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Technician | Technical Director | |
| Average salary | $35,674 | $131,719 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $55,000 | Between $86,000 And $200,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Nike |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event technician and a technical director in terms of educational background:
| Event Technician | Technical Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Communication | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between event technicians' and technical directors' demographics:
| Event Technician | Technical Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8% | Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.1% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 14% |