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The differences between theater technicians and light 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 theater technician and a light technician. Additionally, a light technician has an average salary of $40,111, which is higher than the $39,818 average annual salary of a theater technician.
The top three skills for a theater technician include sound equipment, technical support and video equipment. The most important skills for a light technician are ladders, hand tools, and light fixtures.
| Theater Technician | Light Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,818 | $40,111 |
| Hourly rate | $19.14 | $19.28 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 12,705 | 31,530 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Organizing a stage play is complicated and requires a lot of experience, problem-solving skills, and powerful organizational abilities. A Theater Technician handles all the technical aspects of a stage play production. This person oversees the audio, lighting, and visual equipment in a theater. In most cases, one person handles all of these areas and works hand in hand with the creative and floor director. A Theater Technician rises above and not fold under pressure.
A light technician is responsible for controlling and setting up all the needed lighting production equipment used in a show or concert. This person acts as an assistant to the lighting engineer or designer who controls and determines what needs to be developed and enhanced. They are the technicians who operate the visual effects, color lights, control switch, reflectors, and dim lights in a live or recorded show. A light technician always keeps the lighting equipment in good shape and condition.
Theater technicians and light technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Theater Technician | Light Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,818 | $40,111 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $59,000 | Between $28,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | BlackRock |
| Best paying industry | - | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a theater technician and a light technician in terms of educational background:
| Theater Technician | Light Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Theatre | Photography |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | New Mexico State University |
Here are the differences between theater technicians' and light technicians' demographics:
| Theater Technician | Light Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |