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Cable splicer vs fiber technologist

The differences between cable splicers and fiber technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fiber technologist has an average salary of $51,824, which is higher than the $46,998 average annual salary of a cable splicer.

The top three skills for a cable splicer include hand tools, CDL and bucket truck. The most important skills for a fiber technologist are OTDR, OSP, and fiber optic cables.

Cable splicer vs fiber technologist overview

Cable SplicerFiber Technologist
Yearly salary$46,998$51,824
Hourly rate$22.60$24.92
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs23,159128,496
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

What does a cable splicer do?

Cable splicers are skilled employees who are responsible for installing, splicing, testing, and repairing high-voltage overhead, underground, or submarine cables or wires. To reach the location of these high-voltage cables, cable splicers are required to climb utility poles, utilize truck-mounted lift buck, and descend into underground manholes. They must use a variety of specialized test equipment, including handheld electric and non-electric hand tools when making repairs or performing cable wiring. Cable splicers must also work with other teams on splicing telephone cables.

What does a fiber technologist do?

Fiber Technologists are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintenance of fiber optic cables. Their duties include organizing maintenance schedules, conducting fiber optic system installation, replacing old fiber optics cables, troubleshoot fiber optic issues, and manage fiber splicing. They are responsible for undertaking fiber optic inspection, creating sensor indicators, fulfilling cable requirements, and implementing cabling for premises. Fiber Technologists also manage system records as well as track devices' signal strengths.

Cable splicer vs fiber technologist salary

Cable splicers and fiber technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cable SplicerFiber Technologist
Average salary$46,998$51,824
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $72,000Between $36,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City-Rocklin, CA
Highest paying state-Virginia
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between cable splicer and fiber technologist education

There are a few differences between a cable splicer and a fiber technologist in terms of educational background:

Cable SplicerFiber Technologist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Cable splicer vs fiber technologist demographics

Here are the differences between cable splicers' and fiber technologists' demographics:

Cable SplicerFiber Technologist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 94.9% Female, 5.1%Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 4.0% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between cable splicer and fiber technologist duties and responsibilities

Cable splicer example responsibilities.

  • Install UTP, STP, and T1 cabling.
  • Dig and shore up cable pits, work in manholes, wire main frames and sub frames for cable throws.
  • Follow safety procedures according to OSHA and BellSouth practices.
  • Pull cable and dig for under grind missile bores.
  • Ensure that equipment run at optimal levels, perform routine maintenance and repairs.
  • Review team members work ensuring that OSP standards are met as well as company policies and procedures.
  • Show more

Fiber technologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the OSP splicing department for the past year successfully with limit time, tools, and under train techs.
  • Open and close department independently and also assist surgical staff by managing QC and providing radiopharmaceuticals as needed for procedures.
  • Engineer broadband optical transmission systems using DWDM.
  • Used fusion splicer to repair breaks find by OTDR tests.
  • Design & build CWDM and DWDM fiber optic jumper cords.
  • Install and troubleshoot electronic cctv and access control point security systems.
  • Show more

Cable splicer vs fiber technologist skills

Common cable splicer skills
  • Hand Tools, 29%
  • CDL, 27%
  • Bucket Truck, 5%
  • DOT, 4%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • OSHA, 4%
Common fiber technologist skills
  • OTDR, 8%
  • OSP, 7%
  • Fiber Optic Cables, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • ST, 6%

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