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The differences between cable installers and telecommunications technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunications technician has an average salary of $41,935, 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 a telecommunications technician are broadband, customer service, and fiber optic cables.
| Cable Installer | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,581 | $41,935 |
| Hourly rate | $19.99 | $20.16 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 72,465 | 70,494 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A cable installer installs and maintains telecommunication systems and equipment such as telephone lines, cable television, or internet services at homes or commercial areas. In some companies, a cable installer may also handle complaints and concerns, conduct inspections, troubleshoot problems, and fix or replace components when necessary. Their job often requires them to climb up poles or even towers to attach or repair wires, and there are times when they may perform adjustments or even disconnections. They may also assist clients by answering inquiries, providing instructions, or referring them to other services when necessary.
A telecommunications technician is responsible for maintaining the company's telecommunication networks, including communication systems and installation of internet lines and cables. Telecommunications technicians inspect the efficiency of the organization's communication networks, ensuring its optimal performance to support the business' operations. They also upgrade the systems, run diagnostic tests for newly installed cables, and create detailed reports of preventive maintenance processes for reference. A telecommunications technician must have excellent knowledge of the technological industry, including the end-users' and clients' needs to determine the best procedures to maintain the reliability of existing systems.
Cable installers and telecommunications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cable Installer | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,581 | $41,935 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $48,000 | Between $31,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fargo, ND | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Henkels & Mccoy Group Inc | Nebraska Public Power District |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cable installer and a telecommunications technician in terms of educational background:
| Cable Installer | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between cable installers' and telecommunications technicians' demographics:
| Cable Installer | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 13.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |