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The differences between stage technicians and stage hands can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a stage technician has an average salary of $40,047, which is higher than the $35,686 average annual salary of a stage hand.
The top three skills for a stage technician include video equipment, venues and audio equipment. The most important skills for a stage hand are venues, audio systems, and stage equipment.
| Stage Technician | Stage Hand | |
| Yearly salary | $40,047 | $35,686 |
| Hourly rate | $19.25 | $17.16 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 30,456 | 10,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A stage technician is part of the production and technical side of a stage play performance. The stage technician's job is to work alongside the floor director and the props team in the set up of the stage before a performance and packing it up afterward. Alongside this main role, a stage technician also serves as one of the people involved in the set up of props, lighting, stage equipment, sound placements, and other technical issues needed for a stage performance.
Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production. They must keep the venue clean by removing any trash in waste containers and sweeping the stage floor in between shows. Stagehands must also perform any adjustments on the set and run errands when necessary.
Stage technicians and stage hands have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stage Technician | Stage Hand | |
| Average salary | $40,047 | $35,686 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $58,000 | Between $25,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | - |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | - |
| Best paying company | General Electric | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a stage technician and a stage hand in terms of educational background:
| Stage Technician | Stage Hand | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Theatre | Business |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | - |
Here are the differences between stage technicians' and stage hands' demographics:
| Stage Technician | Stage Hand | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |