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The differences between technical directors and lead technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a technical director and a lead technician. Additionally, a technical director has an average salary of $131,719, which is higher than the $90,615 average annual salary of a lead technician.
The top three skills for a technical director include business development, architecture and technical expertise. The most important skills for a lead technician are java, architecture, and digital transformation.
| Technical Director | Lead Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $131,719 | $90,615 |
| Hourly rate | $63.33 | $43.56 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 77,550 | 250,590 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A technical director is responsible for monitoring the technical efficiency of operations. Technical directors inspect audio and visual equipment, lighting systems for productions, and other technical processes. They ensure that all the equipment is in proper working condition, identify and troubleshoot defects, and deliver high-quality project results. They also monitor expenses, forecast sales reports, and create cost estimates for the systems needed for the project completion, following the clients' specifications to gain satisfaction. A technical director must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to manage operational processes with maximum accuracy.
Lead technicians are technicians who oversee the technical needs of a specific project or department. They are usually tenured employees, and their familiarity with the company's technical and technological processes, software, and hardware would be a great advantage in succeeding in their role. Lead technicians are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining various software and hardware components in the office. They often manage a group of technicians, and they ensure that the group they manage is properly trained and well-versed on the processes of the company. Lead technicians are expected to have strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Technical directors and lead technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Director | Lead Technician | |
| Average salary | $131,719 | $90,615 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $200,000 | Between $67,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Nike | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a technical director and a lead technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Director | Lead Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between technical directors' and lead technicians' demographics:
| Technical Director | Lead Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.1% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 11% |