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The differences between light technicians and audio visual specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a light technician and an audio visual specialist. Additionally, an audio visual specialist has an average salary of $50,127, which is higher than the $40,111 average annual salary of a light technician.
The top three skills for a light technician include ladders, hand tools and light fixtures. The most important skills for an audio visual specialist are visualization, video production, and unity.
| Light Technician | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,111 | $50,127 |
| Hourly rate | $19.28 | $24.10 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 31,530 | 31,773 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Audiovisual specialists are skilled professionals who focus on the effective operation of audiovisual systems and technology. These specialists are required to maintain and troubleshoot audio, video, and lighting equipment that are used in broadcasts and recordings. They must connect, tune, and configure audio-video setups to ensure high-quality broadcasting while operating software to control the AV technologies. Audiovisual specialists must also monitor live feeds as well as prepare teleprompters with scripts.
Light technicians and audio visual specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Light Technician | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Average salary | $40,111 | $50,127 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $56,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | BlackRock | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between a light technician and an audio visual specialist in terms of educational background:
| Light Technician | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Photography | Business |
| Most common college | New Mexico State University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between light technicians' and audio visual specialists' demographics:
| Light Technician | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% | Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |