$117,424 / year
Salary Range: $100,027 - $135,097
Creative Arts
$81,346 / year
Salary Range: $71,483 - $91,873
-
$63,738 / year
Salary Range: $58,353 - $68,339
Product Management
$61,635 / year
Salary Range: $51,538 - $77,024
Retail
$27,918 / year
Salary Range: $25,132 - $30,707
Retail
| Competitor / Benchmark | Avg. Salary | Variance | Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Keith's Jewelry Inc | $80,829 |
-7.0%
|
J Keith's Jewelry Inc operates with a leaner overhead structure, impacting base wage offers. |
| SHAiR Your Car Inc | $99,415 |
+14.4%
|
Supported by SHAiR Your Car Inc's high-margin contracts allowing higher overhead. |
| Ascend Foods | $86,483 |
-0.5%
|
Aligns perfectly with prevailing regional benchmarks for this specific job family. |
| Thibodeau's Ice Cream Dist Co Inc | $88,962 |
+2.4%
|
Confirms Thibodeau's Ice Cream Dist Co Inc is a direct competitor vying for the exact same talent pool. |
| Retail & Wholesale Industry | $123,318 |
+41.9%
|
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors. |
$80,829 / year
Salary Range: $71,091 - $91,405
Lubbock, TX
$99,415 / year
Salary Range: $87,429 - $112,416
Costa Mesa, CA
$86,483 / year
Salary Range: $76,057 - $97,795
Charleston, SC
$88,962 / year
Salary Range: $78,238 - $100,600
Saco, ME
$86,114 / year
Salary Range: $75,727 - $97,368
Alliance, OH
$87,907 / year
Salary Range: $77,313 - $99,405
Grand Rapids, MI
$85,397 / year
Salary Range: $75,104 - $96,564
Granger, IN
$102,885 / year
Salary Range: $90,481 - $116,342
East Brunswick, NJ
$91,768 / year
Salary Range: $80,703 - $103,770
Lansing, IL
Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options.
| Expense Category | Estimated Monthly Cost | Key Considerations / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) | $1,500 - $2,300+ | A significant portion of Light Years salary. Location choices impact this heavily. |
| Utilities (Basic) | $140 - $230 | Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc. |
| Public Transportation | Free local bus (Chapel Hill Transit) | Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly. |
| Groceries (Single Person) | $430 - $640 | Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores. |
| Personal & Leisure | $450 - $800+ | Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable. |
| Healthcare (Individual) | $390 - $720+ | Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution. |
| Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) | $2,910 - $4,690+ | This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay. |
Light Years pays its employees an average of $86,894 per year. The average salary at Light Years range from $76,424 to $98,258 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.
The salary at Light Years is higher than the similar company. The average annual salary at Light Years is $86,894, or an hourly wage of $42, in comparison to J Keith's Jewelry Inc which pays $80,829 per year or $39 per hour.
A Creative Director at Light Years typically earns an average annual base salary of around $117,424, with a general range of $100,027 to $135,097.
In many roles at Light Years, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge or research capabilities (e.g., certain engineering, scientific, or financial roles), an advanced degree like a Master's or PhD can lead to a higher starting salary and faster career progression, thus higher earnings. However, for some roles, direct experience and skills might be valued as much or more than an advanced degree. The impact varies by field and specific job requirements.
Chapel Hill's Cost of Living Index is approximately 117.3 (17.3% more expensive than US average; 22.2% more than NC average). This significantly impacts the purchasing power of a salary from Light Years based there. Our "Cost of Living Insights for Chapel Hill" module details this impact, helping you assess the 'real feel' value of your compensation.
Light Years generally offers a range of employee benefits designed to support their workforce's health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) retirement savings plan (often with a company match), paid time off (PTO), and potentially disability and life insurance are included. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at Light Years" section on this page.
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