What can you do with a Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology degree?

First, some facts. Of the Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 149 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 58%, Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates have a lower likelihood (-9%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 58%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 21% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 23%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2011 from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Programming Assistant
Southern Connecticut State University
Aug 2011 - Apr 2012
The position of Programming Assistant does not require specific skills or knowledge from a Technical Theatre degree, focusing instead on programming tasks unrelated to theatre design and technology.

Graduate Intern
Southern Connecticut State University
Feb 2011 - May 2013
As a Graduate Intern, the role does not directly utilize knowledge or skills from Technical Theatre, often encompassing general tasks rather than specialized theatre design or technology functions.

Connecticut program assistant
Student Conservation Association
Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
The position of Connecticut Program Assistant primarily involves administrative and organizational duties that do not relate directly to Technical Theatre or its specific skill set.

Community engagement specialist
Easter Seals Inc.
2013 - Sep 2014
The role of Community Engagement Specialist focuses on community outreach and advocacy, which does not directly involve the technical or design aspects of Theatre.

Program Manager School Friendship Program
Best Buddies International
Sep 2014 - May 2016
As a Program Manager for the School Friendship Program, the position is centered around program management and social initiatives that lack direct relevance to Theatre Design and Technology.

Outreach and Amissions counselor
New Haven Job Corps Center
Jul 2016 - Jan 2017
The Outreach and Admissions Counselor role may involve skills in communication and community engagement that could loosely relate to Theatre, but it does not require specific knowledge from the Technical Theatre field.

C.E. Manager
The Kennedy Center
Mar 2017 - Feb 2018
The position of C.E. Manager at The Kennedy Center may involve aspects of arts management and outreach, which could be tangentially relevant to Technical Theatre, but it is not directly tied to design or technology skills.

Life Enrichment Director
Bridges by EPOCH
Jun 2018 - Sep 2022
As a Life Enrichment Director at Bridges by EPOCH, the position may incorporate elements of creativity and program development that can connect with skills obtained in Technical Theatre, but it doesnt focus directly on theatre-related expertise.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science (M.S.)
Southern Connecticut State University
2011 - 2013
ABOUT

My name is [NAME REMOVED] E. McDaniel, My goal as a Recreation Professional is to work for an organization that makes a positive impact on the lives of the population it serves. I am comfortable communicating the mission and structure of non-for profit, educational, and recreational organizations in several different platforms. I am a confident public speaker making use of both my background in Theatre and years of giving professional presentations. I frequently utilize social media to remind program participants of deadlines and to share the fun experiences they have with the larger community. Despite my comfort with large groups I am able to engage small groups and one-to-one interactions. To put it simply, I am friendly! I truly believe in the impact that a community that focuses on a providing a supportive, creative, and empathetic environment for the people that live and grow can have on ones overall wellness.

What jobs can you get with a Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Most graduates with a degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology end up in roles that closely align with their field of study, particularly in areas such as stage management, technical directing, lighting design, and other production-related positions. A common theme among the analyzed data is the presence of jobs that directly leverage the specialized skills acquired during their education. Roles such as Lighting Designer and Master Electrician showcase how these individuals utilize their technical knowledge to oversee and implement essential elements of theatrical productions. Additionally, positions as Stage Managers and Technical Directors consistently reflect the degree’s educational emphasis on managing and coordinating live performances, ensuring their direct relevance to the field.

However, not all graduates have found their paths tightly correlated with technical theatre. Many individuals have taken on roles unrelated to their degree, such as customer service positions, administrative roles, and jobs in various industries that do not engage their technical theatre expertise. For example, roles like Office Manager or Sales Associate at retail companies do not utilize the specialized skills obtained from a Technical Theatre program. Furthermore, several positions involve general operations or support functions without a clear focus on theatre design or technology, resulting in a lack of relevance to their foundational studies. From the data, it is apparent that while there are indeed various meaningful careers stemming from a Technical Theatre degree, there’s also a significant portion of jobs that lack connection to their specialized training.

Ultimately, graduates with a degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology seem to navigate two distinct career paths: those that fully utilize their technical training, leading to satisfying roles in the performing arts, and those that veer significantly away from their field of study, necessitating a reevaluation of how their skills could be applied elsewhere. This duality illustrates the versatility of a theatre education, allowing graduates to adapt to different career landscapes while also reinforcing the importance of staying connected to the core competencies of their discipline.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology, it's clear that their paths can vary widely. Some see a strong correlation between their degrees and early career roles in the field, while others seem to drift towards unrelated careers after graduation. Generally, many graduates often start off in entry-level positions related to stage management, lighting, sound, or other technical roles within theater or event production. For instance, several graduates took on roles such as lighting designer, stage manager, or technician within just a year or two post-graduation. This kind of immediate application of their skills highlights their preparation for entering the workforce in creative and technical settings.

However, if we take a closer look, the five and ten-year marks reveal a mixed bag. While some who maintained a trajectory in theatre continued to grow into significant roles, many others shifted gears, finding themselves in jobs that are not necessarily aligned with their academic background in theatre. For instance, several graduates ended up in administrative or customer service roles, indicating a potential struggle to find sustained employment in the technical theatre field. It’s also notable to see many graduates moving into sectors like event management or project coordination, suggesting that they might be leveraging their skills in organization and execution but in different contexts away from the stage. In essence, while there's evidence of strong beginnings in theater-related jobs, the long-term stability and relevance to their degrees seem less promising for a significant portion of these graduates.

In conclusion, the career paths of technical theatre graduates suggest that while they can start strong with relevant roles right after college, many may drift into less related fields over time. This points to the reality that securing a long-term career within the highly competitive entertainment industry can be tough, forcing many to adapt and find opportunities outside of their original training.

How hard is a Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology can be a pretty challenging experience, but it really depends on your interests and skills. If you're passionate about the behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre, like lighting, set design, or sound, you might find the coursework engaging and exciting rather than overly difficult. There will definitely be a lot of hands-on learning, which can be intense at times, especially during production weeks when you're balancing classes, projects, and rehearsals. It’s often a mix of creative problem-solving, technical know-how, and teamwork, so if you enjoy being collaborative and getting your hands dirty, you'll likely thrive. Just be prepared to put in a good amount of time and effort, but if you’re really into it, it might feel more rewarding than hard!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology.

Do Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates tend to make good money?

So, when looking at the job histories of these Theatre Design and Technology graduates, it's pretty clear that their earnings could vary quite a bit. Many of the younger grads, especially those who just graduated in the last couple of years, are starting with basic entry-level jobs, which typically don’t pay super well. For instance, fresh graduates like the one from San Diego State University or Metropolitan State University are finding roles that might not offer a high salary, and they might need some time to move up the ranks in the competitive theatre world.

On the other hand, there are also several grads who have gradually climbed the ladder and taken on more advanced positions, indicating they’ve likely secured better pay. For example, someone from Clarion University has moved from being a Production Assistant to taking on high-level management roles, which typically come with a decent salary. Ultimately, while some graduates might be making good money now, it seems most start off earning lower wages and have a lot of competition ahead to secure those more lucrative roles in the theatre industry.

What buzzwords do Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Technical Theatre-Theatre Design and Technology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count