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Cable installer vs outside plant technician

The differences between cable installers and outside plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an outside plant technician has an average salary of $42,451, which is higher than the $41,581 average annual salary of a cable installer.

The top three skills for a cable installer include broadband, ladders and TV. The most important skills for an outside plant technician are ladders, outside plant, and CDL.

Cable installer vs outside plant technician overview

Cable InstallerOutside Plant Technician
Yearly salary$41,581$42,451
Hourly rate$19.99$20.41
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs72,46567,234
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Cable installer vs outside plant technician salary

Cable installers and outside plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cable InstallerOutside Plant Technician
Average salary$41,581$42,451
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $48,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CityFargo, ND-
Highest paying stateNew Jersey-
Best paying companyHenkels & Mccoy Group Inc-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between cable installer and outside plant technician education

There are a few differences between a cable installer and an outside plant technician in terms of educational background:

Cable InstallerOutside Plant Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNew York UniversityStanford University

Cable installer vs outside plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between cable installers' and outside plant technicians' demographics:

Cable InstallerOutside Plant Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 95.4% Female, 4.6%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 14.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between cable installer and outside plant technician duties and responsibilities

Cable installer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and lead training programs in preparation for combat.
  • Keep, organize and manage detail DPR's (daily progress reports) for self and crew.
  • Install telephone lines, data lines, and switchboards for major hotels
  • Ensure PMCS and maintenance functions are perform in accordance with publish schedules.
  • Install digital, CATV, telephone and internet services to residential homes and apartments.
  • Install and repair CATV, high-speed Internet, VoIP, basic LAN, and support software/hardware.
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Outside plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and administer documentation of OSP fiber optic plant in support of customer projects, network planning, and municipality requirements.
  • Move and/or lift items such as ladders, tools, air tanks, cable reels, and test equipment
  • Install residential and business telephone lines, including premise CAT5 wiring and jack work.
  • Perform construction work such as digging holes, installing inner duct in various types of conduit systems and open excavations.
  • Organize projects that include open excavations, placing cables, air pipes and inner duct in various types of conduit systems.
  • Install and repair T1 and T3 systems.
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Cable installer vs outside plant technician skills

Common cable installer skills
  • Broadband, 38%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • TV, 7%
  • Fiber Optic Cables, 6%
  • Trouble Calls, 3%
  • Cable Lines, 2%
Common outside plant technician skills
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Outside Plant, 10%
  • CDL, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

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