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The differences between lighting engineers and electrical engineers 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 engineer. Additionally, a lighting engineer has an average salary of $85,362, which is higher than the $81,026 average annual salary of an electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a lighting engineer include A/V, technical aspects and STARS. The most important skills for an electrical engineer are autocad, electrical systems, and UL.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $81,026 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $38.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 68,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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.
Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations. Electrical engineers study and apply the mathematics and physics of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity to small and large-scale electrical systems to transmit energy and process information. They often work with all types of electronic devices, such as supercomputers and power transmission. They also work in the emerging field of microelectronics.
Lighting engineers and electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $81,026 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and an electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and electrical engineers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |