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The differences between lighting engineers and lighting designers 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 a lighting designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a lighting engineer has an average salary of $85,362, which is higher than the $53,542 average annual salary of a lighting designer.
The top three skills for a lighting engineer include A/V, technical aspects and STARS. The most important skills for a lighting designer are revit, photoshop, and light fixtures.
| Lighting Engineer | Lighting Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $53,542 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $25.74 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 46,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Lighting Designers are responsible for developing and implementing electrical and lighting systems. They are responsible for conducting site assessment and analysis, liaise with clients and engineers to determine technical specifications, design lighting plans, create budget reports for a project initiated, track progress targets, install electrical and lighting systems and ensures installation adheres to local energy regulation as well as building codes. Lighting designers work in commercial, industrial, or residential spaces and must demonstrate computer software proficiency such as AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suites.
Lighting engineers and lighting designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Lighting Designer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $53,542 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $34,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and a lighting designer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Lighting Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Theatre |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and lighting designers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Lighting Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 65.0% Female, 35.0% |
| 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, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |