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The differences between lighting engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lighting engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, 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 engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Lighting Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Lighting engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |