Career comparison
Lighting Technician vs. Set Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Set designers earn more at the median ($75,240 vs. $68,060), while lighting technicians usually get to work faster (6 months–2 years of training). Lighting technicians set up, program and run lighting for stages, film sets and events. Set designers design sets for theater, film, TV and events.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Lighting Technician | Set Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $68,060 ($32.72/hr) | $75,240 ($36.17/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $42,310 – $130,760 | $41,750 – $135,410 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -4.8% (a projected decline) | +1.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 600 | 2,200 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6 months–2 years | Degree plus assisting experience |
| Key credential | ETCP Entertainment Electrician | BFA or MFA |
| Work setting | Lighting techs work in theaters, concert venues, studios and film sets, often at heights and late at night.. | Designers work in studios, scene shops, stages and sets.. |
What each job does
Lighting Technician
- Hang and focus lighting fixtures
- Run cable and power distribution
- Program lighting consoles
- Operate cues during shows
- Maintain and repair equipment
Set Designer
- Read scripts
- Research styles
- Sketch and model sets
- Create drawings
- Budget sets
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, creative work, and teamwork. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose lighting technician if…
- I love theater, concerts or film
- I like technical work
- I’m comfortable at heights
Choose set designer if…
- I love theater or film
- I like drawing and building models
- I collaborate well
Still torn? Take the Lighting Technician fit quiz and the Set Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, lighting technician or set designer?
Set Designers earn more at the median: $75,240 versus $68,060 for lighting technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Lighting Technicians typically train faster (6 months–2 years) than set designers (Degree plus assisting experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects set designers to grow +1.4% from 2025–35, compared with -4.8% for lighting technicians.