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Junior Lighting Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Junior Lighting Designer George Sexton Associates (GSA) is seeking to hire a creative, ambitious Junior Lighting Designer to add to our collaborative design team at our DC or NYC offices . The work ...

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Junior Lighting Designer George Sexton Associates (GSA) is seeking to hire a creative, ambitious Junior Lighting Designer to add to our collaborative design team at our DC or NYC offices . The work ...

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The Senior Lighting Designer collaborates with a team of project managers, junior lighting designers and other team members to develop lighting designs and corresponding documents that align with the ...

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The Senior Lighting Designer collaborates with a team of project managers, junior lighting designers and other team members to develop lighting designs and corresponding documents that align with the ...

Direct and review the work of Junior Lighting Designers and Lighting Interns. * Adept at working in the field on a construction site. * Attend construction site walkthroughs and project team meetings.

Direct and review the work of Junior Lighting Designers and Lighting Interns. * Adept at working in the field on a construction site. * Attend construction site walkthroughs and project team meetings.

Sr. Designer (Lighting)

Monrovia, CA · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

Direct and review the work of Junior Lighting Designers and Lighting Interns. * Adept at working in the field on a construction site. * Attend construction site walkthroughs and project team meetings.

Lighting Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

May mentor the work of Junior and Intermediate Lighting Designers Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Industrial Design; equivalent experience may ...

Lighting Designer

El Cajon, CA · Hybrid

$80K - $120K/yr

Lighting Designer Employment Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (2 days onsite) Location: El Cajon, CA Job ... Support and supervise junior technicians when needed Required Qualifications: * 1-3 years of ...

Lighting Designer I

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$72K - $95K/yr

The Lighting Designer I performs lighting design and documentation as the lead-role on smaller ... Review comments/questions of junior staff on product selections and characteristics * Understand ...

Lighting Designer I

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$72K - $95K/yr

The Lighting Designer I performs lighting design and documentation as the lead-role on smaller ... Review comments/questions of junior staff on product selections and characteristics * Understand ...

Minimum 2yrs experience working in a Junior Designer Role. * 4-year degree in Lighting or related field. * Great interpersonal skills. * Polished communication skills (both verbal & writing)

Minimum 2yrs experience working in a Junior Designer Role. * 4-year degree in Lighting or related field. * Great interpersonal skills. * Polished communication skills (both verbal & writing)

Lighting Designer II

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$90K - $120K/yr

The Lighting Designer II performs lighting design and oversees documentation of a variety of ... junior staff at a project level. They have passed the LC exam and completed the required work ...

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Junior Lighting Designer information

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$31K

$56.7K

$86K

How much do junior lighting designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior lighting designer in the United States is $56,698.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,500.00 and $65,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Junior Lighting Designer vs Lighting Technician?

AspectJunior Lighting DesignerLighting Technician
Required CredentialsDegree in lighting design, architecture, or related fieldTechnical training or certification, hands-on experience
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, theaters, event productionsOn-site at venues, event setups, live productions
Employer & Industry UsageArchitectural firms, theater companies, event organizersProduction companies, theaters, live event companies

The Junior Lighting Designer focuses on creating lighting plans and concepts, working closely with designers and clients. In contrast, the Lighting Technician handles the technical setup, operation, and maintenance of lighting equipment during productions. Both roles require technical knowledge, but the Junior Lighting Designer emphasizes design skills, while the Lighting Technician emphasizes technical execution.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a Junior Lighting Designer expect in their first year on the job?

As a Junior Lighting Designer, you can expect to work on a variety of projects, including supporting senior designers on commercial, residential, or entertainment lighting schemes. Your daily tasks may involve creating CAD drawings, preparing presentations, conducting lighting calculations, and assisting with site visits or mock-ups. You'll often collaborate with architects, engineers, and clients to ensure design intent is maintained. The role provides valuable hands-on experience and mentorship, helping you build technical knowledge and grow within a multidisciplinary team.

What does a Junior Lighting Designer do?

A Junior Lighting Designer assists in creating lighting concepts and plans for various projects, such as theaters, events, or architectural spaces. They typically work under the supervision of senior designers, helping with tasks like drafting lighting plots, selecting equipment, and setting up lighting systems. Junior Lighting Designers also collaborate with other team members, attend site visits, and may help during installations and rehearsals. This role is ideal for those who are starting their career in lighting design and want to gain hands-on experience while learning from established professionals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Lighting Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Lighting Designer, you need a solid understanding of lighting principles, basic design techniques, and a relevant degree such as in lighting design, architecture, or theatre production. Familiarity with lighting design software (such as AutoCAD, Revit, and DIALux), photometric analysis tools, and possibly LEED accreditation is often expected. Strong communication, teamwork, and creativity help you collaborate effectively with architects, engineers, and clients while developing innovative lighting solutions. These skills and qualifications are crucial to deliver visually compelling and technically sound lighting designs that meet project requirements and industry standards.
More about Junior Lighting Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Junior Lighting Designer jobs? Cities with the most Junior Lighting Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Lighting Designer jobs? The most popular types of Lighting Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Junior Lighting Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Junior Lighting Designer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Junior Lighting Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,698 per year, or $27.3 per hour.

Junior Lighting Designer - Architect

George Sexton Associates, LLC

Washington, DC • On-site

$55K - $70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

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Job description

Junior Lighting Designer

George Sexton Associates (GSA) is seeking to hire a creative, ambitious Junior Lighting Designer to add to our collaborative design team at our DC or NYC offices. The work involves lighting design and production for world-class museums, commercial, and residential projects. Working with GSA offers an opportunity to challenge yourself professionally and work with a highly-regarded and globally-recognized firm.

Location: 2121 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Overview: The junior lighting designer collaborates with project managers, senior lighting designers and other team members to develop a design which combines the creative expertise of all team members. The junior lighting designer plays an integral role in supporting the design team by:

  • Helping analyze and select lighting from appropriate sources.
  • Producing architectural drawings using software tools such as AutoCAD or Revit.
  • Creating and working with models, mock-ups and prototypes.
  • Working with senior designers and project managers to provide excellent lighting design services to clients

Other duties may include client communication and traveling for meetings and site visits to ensure that the lighting installations are in compliance with the design document.

Qualifications:

  • Degree in Architecture or Lighting Design
  • With interest in lighting design, a degree in architecture engineering or electrical engineering, interior design or related field
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign)
  • Microsoft Office
  • Ability to use software tools to produce architectural drawings
  • Strong problem solving, research, and communication skills
  • Proficiency in Revit and AGI32 Software strongly preferred

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience. GSA provides excellent benefits, including health, dental, vision and 401k. There is opportunity for advancement with this position and within the firm.

How to Apply: Please visit www.gsadc.com/careers

EO Statement: GSA is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Company Description

George Sexton Associates (GSA), has brought an established yet innovative approach to the fields of lighting design and museum design since the firm was founded in 1980. During this period, GSA has completed a wide range of lighting design projects that vary in size from large scale urban, commercial and institutional projects to smaller scale residential projects. In each project, GSA strives to integrate architectural, aesthetic and functional considerations, with the technical, budget and schedule requirements of our clients.
George Sexton Associates has developed an extensive portfolio of involvement with complex lighting design projects, including educational organizations, museums and galleries, landscapes and parks, capitol buildings, opera houses, libraries, hospitals, office buildings, rapid transit systems, sports arenas, outdoor sculpture, churches and public plazas. Examples of smaller projects include private art collections, residences and specific portions of larger projects such as public areas.
The staff at George Sexton Associates is comprised of professionals with a wide variety of complementary skills which we believe improves our ability to respond to the diverse needs of lighting design projects, design teams and our clients. Creative collaboration between the client's team and GSA, from the early stages of a project through completion, enhances our ability to assist with the development of effective design solutions that are informed by budget and scheduling goals.
George Sexton Associates is structured to handle all phases of a project from inception to completion, by consulting with architects, designers and engineers on the conceptual implications of light and identifying the critical issues involved. We offer detailed follow-through, including value-engineering, review of shop drawings, coordination, field observation, and on-site focusing to ensure that the lighting concepts are optimally achieved. Our method of team working is well suited for projects of varying size and complexity and the organizational structure of each project is determined by the requirements of the project itself.