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The differences between lighting engineers and electrical designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lighting engineer and an electrical designer. Additionally, a lighting engineer has an average salary of $85,362, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.
The top three skills for a lighting engineer include A/V, technical aspects and STARS. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $64,930 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 82,332 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A lighting engineer oversees everything that is happening in a tv show, concert, play, or theater production. This is the person responsible for ensuring that the lighting and the visual effects are operating just right. Their skills are essential because this will set the mood for the audience with the lighting effects that they provide. Also, they monitor the work of the flight crew and technicians.
An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.
Lighting engineers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $64,930 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Amd |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and electrical designers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |