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The differences between lighting engineers and sound 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 sound engineer. Additionally, a lighting engineer has an average salary of $85,362, which is higher than the $52,197 average annual salary of a sound engineer.
The top three skills for a lighting engineer include A/V, technical aspects and STARS. The most important skills for a sound engineer are audio equipment, venues, and A/V.
| Lighting Engineer | Sound Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,362 | $52,197 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $25.09 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 38,070 | 6,923 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| 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.
Sound engineers are audio engineering professionals who are responsible for performing audio mixes and reproduction while manipulating the equalization and electronic effects of sound. These engineers must design and control the sound at different locations such as theaters, conferences, and any other venue that requires sound projection. By using their well-trained ears, sound engineers must control the combination of microphones, sound levels, and sound outputs. Sound engineers must also maintain and sound up sound equipment such as amplifiers, complex PA systems, and speakers for bands and other sound engineers.
Lighting engineers and sound engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lighting Engineer | Sound Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,362 | $52,197 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $117,000 | Between $28,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Apple | Techtronic Industries TTI |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a lighting engineer and a sound engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lighting Engineer | Sound Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Music |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between lighting engineers' and sound engineers' demographics:
| Lighting Engineer | Sound Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |