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The differences between lighting engineers and senior 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 a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, 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 a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Lighting Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 82,639 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Lighting engineers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Seattle, 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 a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |