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Theater technician vs stage technician

The differences between theater technicians and stage 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 stage technician. Additionally, a stage technician has an average salary of $40,047, 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 stage technician are video equipment, venues, and audio equipment.

Theater technician vs stage technician overview

Theater TechnicianStage Technician
Yearly salary$39,818$40,047
Hourly rate$19.14$19.25
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs12,70530,456
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a theater technician do?

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.

What does a stage technician do?

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.

Theater technician vs stage technician salary

Theater technicians and stage technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Theater TechnicianStage Technician
Average salary$39,818$40,047
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $59,000Between $27,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-Reno, NV
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-General Electric
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between theater technician and stage technician education

There are a few differences between a theater technician and a stage technician in terms of educational background:

Theater TechnicianStage Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorTheatreTheatre
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University

Theater technician vs stage technician demographics

Here are the differences between theater technicians' and stage technicians' demographics:

Theater TechnicianStage Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 70.2% Female, 29.8%Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between theater technician and stage technician duties and responsibilities

Theater technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage multiple stages: FOH mix, monitor mix, and video presentation editing mix.
  • Set up, operate, strike and troubleshoot audio, video and lighting equipment
  • Design the set and run the lights/sound system for high school plays and annual assemblies.
  • Report equipment problems, or troubleshoot with other crew members, and ensure that require repairs are make.
  • Provide support for the engineering, furnishing, and installation of classify and unclassify video teleconferencing systems and video distribution systems.
  • Duplicate CDs from the chapel services and seminars to fill orders place in the bookstore.

Stage technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage multiple stages: FOH mix, monitor mix, and video presentation editing mix.
  • Help set with lights, audio sound equipment, stage props, and backline band gear.
  • Work include setup, strike and operation of sound, lighting, and video equipment as well as carpentry and rigging.
  • Assist in the unloading and division of backline equipment.
  • Operate professional audio mixer, utilize on board and off board components, including eq.
  • Install necessary software and update drivers, windows update security policies and group policies through proper network protocols.
  • Show more

Theater technician vs stage technician skills

Common theater technician skills
  • Sound Equipment, 14%
  • Technical Support, 12%
  • Video Equipment, 11%
  • Audio Equipment, 9%
  • A/V, 7%
  • Safety Regulations, 5%
Common stage technician skills
  • Video Equipment, 10%
  • Venues, 10%
  • Audio Equipment, 9%
  • Troubleshoot, 9%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Sound Systems, 7%

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