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Broadband technician vs tower climber

The differences between broadband technicians and tower climbers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tower climber has an average salary of $41,248, which is higher than the $41,187 average annual salary of a broadband technician.

The top three skills for a broadband technician include broadband, work ethic and TV. The most important skills for a tower climber are CPR, RF, and OSHA.

Broadband technician vs tower climber overview

Broadband TechnicianTower Climber
Yearly salary$41,187$41,248
Hourly rate$19.80$19.83
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs108,10918,165
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 49%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

What does a broadband technician do?

A broadband technician specializes in installing and maintaining telecommunication systems such as telephone lines, broadband internet, and cable television. Their job usually entails traveling to different residential areas or business establishments to perform on-site installations, inspections, or disconnections. They respond to issues and concerns, inspect systems for damages, troubleshoot problems, fix or replace components, and maintain records. Moreover, a broadband technician also assists clients by answering inquiries, providing cost estimates, educating the clients about the situation, or refer other products or services when necessary.

What does a tower climber do?

Tower Climbers are professionals who are responsible for performing comprehensive installations, inspections, and maintenance on cell towers, self-supporting towers, and other tower transmitter systems. These climbers are required to complete tower safety courses so that they can climb communication towers to assist crews in repairing and inspecting communication boxes. They must operate heavy equipment to prepare sites for the construction and erection of communication towers. Tower Climbers should also guarantee the safety of their crews during extreme weather conditions by following company policies and procedures.

Broadband technician vs tower climber salary

Broadband technicians and tower climbers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Broadband TechnicianTower Climber
Average salary$41,187$41,248
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $52,000Between $28,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-General Dynamics Mission Systems
Best paying industry-Telecommunication

Differences between broadband technician and tower climber education

There are a few differences between a broadband technician and a tower climber in terms of educational background:

Broadband TechnicianTower Climber
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNew York UniversityNew York University

Broadband technician vs tower climber demographics

Here are the differences between broadband technicians' and tower climbers' demographics:

Broadband TechnicianTower Climber
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 93.8% Female, 6.2%Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between broadband technician and tower climber duties and responsibilities

Broadband technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Audit cable lines and be in accordance to OSHA standards.
  • Respond to repair service calls to troubleshoot and resolve installation issues.
  • Install and configure communications racks with assort patch panels, routers, radios, and power assemblages.
  • Design homes and businesses up to 700 RF connections and 200 Ethernet connections plus large scale 80211 (Wi-Fi).
  • Work with coax and ethernet phone lines.
  • Show more

Tower climber example responsibilities.

  • Utilize Anritsu site master in conducting tests on sites while accomplishing tasks including lighting upgrades and troubleshooting of light systems
  • Provide multiple PIM and sweep testing troubleshooting and also change transmission lines, antennas and weatherproofing.
  • Lead a crew that build RF broadcast tower's around the state.
  • Certify climber cpr and rescuer of cell towers.
  • Climb towers to install many different RF components.
  • Perform sweep tests and PIM tests on antennas.
  • Show more

Broadband technician vs tower climber skills

Common broadband technician skills
  • Broadband, 22%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • TV, 7%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Electronic Devices, 5%
  • OSHA, 4%
Common tower climber skills
  • CPR, 31%
  • RF, 29%
  • OSHA, 27%
  • Broadband, 8%
  • Safety Equipment, 1%
  • Communication Towers, 1%

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