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Resident Lighting Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

La Jolla Playhouse

$35.14/hr

LJP Staff, Visiting Artists & Designers, IATSE Labor, UCSD Residents & Students PRODUCTION ... The Moving Light Programmer will collaborate closely with visiting Lighting Designers, the ...

ALLEY THEATRE

Overhire Lighting Technician

Houston, TX · On-site

$18/hr

... and designers from across the country have regularly joined the Resident Acting Company. Rob ... Overhire Lighting Technicians will service both Alley theatre spaces for load-ins, changeovers ...

ALLEY THEATRE

Overhire Lighting Technician

Houston, TX · On-site

$18/hr

... and designers from across the country have regularly joined the Resident Acting Company. Rob ... Overhire Lighting Technicians will service both Alley theatre spaces for load-ins, changeovers ...

Kingscott

Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · On-site

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design and Development: * Assist in the design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and ...

Kingscott

Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · On-site

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design and Development: * Assist in the design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and ...

Kingscott

Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · Remote

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design and Development: * Assist in the design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and ...

AllSTEM Connections

Electrical Designer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$160K - $170K/yr

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design and Development: * Assist in the design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and ...

Kingscott

Senior Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · On-site

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and security systems for commercial and K-12 ...

Kingscott

Senior Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · Remote

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and security systems for commercial and K-12 ...

Kingscott

Senior Electrical Designer

Detroit, MI · On-site

This position also requires the individual be a resident in the State of Michigan with the ability ... Design of electrical power, lighting, life safety and security systems for commercial and K-12 ...

Liberty

Resident Designer

Lynchburg, VA

Act as designer for assigned area on productions ... Scenic, Lighting, Costumes, Projections. * Responsible for producing design renderings, ground ...

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Resident Lighting Designer information

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$43K

$67.9K

$104.5K

How much do resident lighting designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for resident lighting designer in the United States is $67,889.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,000.00 and $79,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Resident Lighting Designer vs Lighting Designer?

AspectResident Lighting DesignerLighting Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in lighting design, theater, or related field; certifications varySimilar educational background; certifications like LC or CLD may be preferred
Work EnvironmentPrimarily works on a specific production or venue, often on-site for long-term projectsWorks on multiple projects, often freelance or contract-based, across various venues
Employer & Industry UsageEmployed by theaters, production companies, or venues for ongoing productionsHired by event planners, theaters, or production companies for diverse projects

The main difference is that a Resident Lighting Designer is typically employed full-time at a specific venue or production, focusing on long-term projects, while a Lighting Designer often works freelance or on multiple projects, providing specialized lighting design services across various venues and events.

What is a resident lighting designer?

A Resident Lighting Designer is a professional who is responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing the lighting for theatrical productions at a specific venue or company. They collaborate closely with directors, set designers, and other members of the production team to create lighting schemes that enhance the mood, atmosphere, and visibility of performances. Unlike freelance lighting designers, resident lighting designers typically work for one theater or organization, ensuring consistency and quality across various shows. Their role can also include maintaining lighting equipment and mentoring other staff. This position is essential in bringing creative visions to life on stage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a resident lighting designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Resident Lighting Designer, you need expertise in lighting design principles, a degree in theatre or a related field, and experience with live performance production. Proficiency in lighting control systems (such as ETC consoles), CAD software (like Vectorworks or AutoCAD), and industry-standard lighting instruments is typically required. Creativity, strong collaboration, effective communication, and problem-solving are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure visually impactful productions, seamless technical execution, and smooth teamwork throughout rehearsals and performances.

What are some typical challenges a resident lighting designer faces when working on multiple productions simultaneously?

Resident Lighting Designers often juggle several productions at once, which requires strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt designs to different directors’ visions. Balancing time between overlapping tech rehearsals, meetings, and design revisions can be demanding. Clear communication with production teams and effective delegation to assistants or associates are key to ensuring each show receives appropriate attention. Additionally, managing resources within budget constraints while still achieving creative goals is a common challenge in this role.
More about Resident Lighting Designer jobs
What job categories do people searching Resident Lighting Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Resident Lighting Designer jobs are:
Resident Lighting Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Resident Lighting Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,889 per year, or $32.6 per hour.

Assistant Professor of Lighting Design

Wofford College

Spartanburg, SC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

The Department of Theatre at Wofford College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Lighting Design, beginning August 2026. We seek a dynamic artist-educator who is excited to engage with undergraduate students in a liberal arts setting and contribute to a collaborative and forward-thinking theatre program. The Department is housed in the Rosalind S. Richardson Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art building (opened 2017) that is home to both theatre and visual arts, including a 325-seat proscenium theatre, a 100-seat black box theatre, classrooms, and offices, in addition to extensive gallery, museum, and studio spaces.
For more information about Wofford College and the Department of Theatre, visit the Theatre program page.
Teaching and Production Responsibilities
The successful candidate will
  • Serve as the department's resident lighting designer
  • Teach at least two courses per semester related to design and production, with flexibility to teach in related areas of expertise or interest. The teaching load is 3:1:3, typically including two classroom courses and one course equivalent for production design responsibilities, plus a flexible Interim course during January.
  • Design lighting for all departmental productions (typically 3-4 annually), including:
    • Two main stage shows
    • Two black box projects
    • A student-directed January term production
    • End-of-semester course showcases
  • Mentor and supervise student lighting designers and technicians
  • Maintain and oversee lighting systems in two well-equipped performance venues
  • Collaborate closely with faculty, staff, and guest artists to support a vibrant season

Qualifications
  • MFA in Theatre Design (with a concentration in Lighting Design) required by August 2026 (or MFA in Lighting Design, Theatre Design, Theatre Technology, or another similar terminal degree required by August 2026)
  • Demonstrated excellence or potential in undergraduate teaching (strongly preferred)
  • Professional or academic lighting design experience
  • Commitment to inclusive teaching and supporting a diverse student body
  • Strong collaborative, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills (and a sense of humor)
  • Experience with ETC lighting sytems is required. Knowledge of Vectorworks (preferred) or AutoCAD, QLab, and Lightwright required. Knowledge of Sketchup, Revit, Solidworks, Rhino, or similar programs desirable.

Application Process
For your application to be fully considered, please apply via the Wofford Careers Page and be sure to include the following:
  • Cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Portfolio of lighting design work (PDF or link to online portfolio)
  • Statement of teaching philosophy, including approach to inclusive pedagogy
  • Contact information for three professional references

Applications received by February 15, 2026, will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
ABOUT WOFFORD COLLEGE
Wofford College, established in 1854, is a private liberal arts residential college located a few blocks north of downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina. Wofford offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of nearly 1,800 undergraduates and is nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, and study abroad participation. Wofford is home to one of the nation's 290 Phi Beta Kappa chapters. The college community supports 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams and numerous student organizations, including honor societies, professional organizations, faith-based organizations, Greek life, and club sports.
SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA
Spartanburg is located in upstate South Carolina, 30 miles east of Greenville, South Carolina, an hour from Charlotte, North Carolina, and three hours east of Atlanta, Georgia. Historic Charleston and the South Carolina coast are three hours away, and Wofford sits an hour south of the artistic, culinary hub of Asheville, North Carolina. Spartanburg is a growing, diverse community that supports six college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations. It became the first city in South Carolina to join the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and, in 2012, became one of five cities nationally to participate in the 10-year Wellville program, a national nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving equitable well-being in U.S. cities. Spartanburg and Wofford partner on multiple community equity initiatives, including the Northside Initiative, which has brought together a diverse group of citizens to revitalize a neighborhood in ways that don't reproduce the harm of earlier urban renewal programs.
EEO STATEMENT
Wofford College values diversity within our students, faculty and staff and strives to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people. Wofford College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For information about Wofford's Title IX compliance, visit wofford.edu/administration/title-ix. It is the policy of Wofford College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities for employment. If you require any accommodations to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact HumanResources@Wofford.edu.

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