Okay, so David has 18 years of experience in lighting design and training. His education in Theatrical Design from a reputable university like UT Austin adds value. He's worked in the industry for over a decade and a half, which is a significant amount of time. Considering his skills in design, lighting, and training, I'd place him in the mid-to-high range for his experience level. Looking at national averages for lighting designers, he might be on the lower end, but his training experience and education bring him closer to the higher end. Let’s assume a range of $100–$200 per hour for experienced designers, with the average being around $125. Considering his 18 years of experience, I’d estimate his hourly rate to be around $125.