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Salary comparison

Lighting Technicians vs. Public Relations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Public Relations Specialists out-earn Lighting Technicians by $7K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Lighting Technicians land at $68,060 and Public Relations Specialists at $74,750. The education gap is real: lighting technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while public relations specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Lighting Technicians is Washington ($126,100); for Public Relations Specialists it's District of Columbia ($102,740).

Lighting Technicians
Public Relations Specialists
Median salary
$68,060
$74,750
Hourly rate
$32.72/hr
$35.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$42,310
$44,110
Senior level (90th %)
$130,760
$135,150
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
8,900
283,380
Job growth (10-year)
-4.6%
4.8%
Category
Arts & Media
Arts & Media
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Lighting Technicians median pay.

State
Lighting Technicians
Public Relations Specialists
Washington
$126,100
$87,470
California
$94,070
$85,030
New Jersey
$87,550
$80,130
New York
$78,000
$81,250
Connecticut
$72,450
$84,990
Georgia
$70,150
$73,200
Oklahoma
$67,110
$64,920
Nevada
$61,250
$73,840
Virginia
$60,340
$80,380
Michigan
$60,210
$65,300
Massachusetts
$60,110
$79,660
Oregon
$57,900
$74,900
Texas
$53,150
$65,160
North Carolina
$49,410
$67,230
Maryland
$49,080
$79,560

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Lighting Technicians or Public Relations Specialists?

Public Relations Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $68,060 for Lighting Technicians versus $74,750 for Public Relations Specialists, a difference of $7K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Lighting Technicians or Public Relations Specialists?

Public Relations Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 4.8% projected growth, compared to -4.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Lighting Technicians or Public Relations Specialists?

Lighting Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Public Relations Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Lighting Technicians get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Lighting Technicians at $126,100/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Lighting Technicians vs. Public Relations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Lighting Technicians earn $126,100 vs. $87,470 for Public Relations Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Lighting Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Lighting Technicians by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Public Relations Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a lighting techniciansGuide →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →