Also called: Lighting Designer, Illumination Engineer
Designs how buildings, stadiums and streets are lit so they look great and save energy.
You build a 3D model of a museum gallery and test where each light goes so paintings glow without glare. Later you visit a sports stadium at night with a light meter to check the new LED system meets TV broadcast standards.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical or architectural engineering; LC (Lighting Certified) credential.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Lighting Design.
Growing about average. Small niche; steady with LED retrofits.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI and software render lighting plans and calculations quickly; creative design, client meetings and site aiming stay human.
Classes: Physics, Art or design class, Drafting CTE, Theater lighting crew.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2071.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.