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The differences between lighting engineers and electrical engineers lead 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 lead. Additionally, an electrical engineer lead has an average salary of $111,251, which is higher than the $85,362 average annual salary of a lighting engineer.
The top three skills for a lighting engineer include A/V, technical aspects and STARS. The most important skills for an electrical engineer lead are electrical engineering, autocad, and engineering design.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $111,251 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $53.49 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 82,196 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 engineer lead is an engineering professional who works with clients and internal engineers to establish project requirements and work on multiple electrical projects. Electrical engineer leads provide the cost estimation of electrical projects and prepare budget proposals as well as assign personnel with the capabilities required to complete the assigned tasks. They are required to review the calculation methods to ensure that they comply with all regulatory and project requirements. Electrical engineer leads must also accurately check the electrical design calculations for electrical loads, short circuit, and voltage drop using standard electrical engineering software.
Lighting engineers and electrical engineers lead have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer Lead | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $111,251 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $83,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and an electrical engineer lead in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 lead' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Electrical Engineer Lead | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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% |