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The differences between cable technicians and satellite technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cable technician has an average salary of $47,289, which is higher than the $36,473 average annual salary of a satellite technician.
The top three skills for a cable technician include broadband, customer service and ladders. The most important skills for a satellite technician are work ethic, broadband, and strong customer service.
| Cable Technician | Satellite Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,289 | $36,473 |
| Hourly rate | $22.74 | $17.54 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 120,249 | 91,117 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A cable technician is responsible for managing cable systems, installing cable equipment, upgrading network systems, and troubleshooting cable issues. Cable technicians' duties include replacing defective cabling, running diagnostic tests on newly-installed cable systems, inspecting cable towers and ground cables, providing cable instructions to the customer, responding to customer's cable inquiries and requests, and ensuring the safety of cable structures. A cable technician must have a strong understanding of electrical systems and cable technology, following the established procedures and environmental policies.
Satellite technicians are responsible for giving installation and repair solutions for satellite dishes, which generally deliver TV or internet signals. Primary tasks include installing, upgrading, and maintaining residential satellite products and optimizing the service they give. The technicians' duties may also include placing the dish, routing the cable where it needs to go, and making sure that the service is online and attached to the customer's devices. Additionally, they may engage in remote troubleshooting when a customer calls with a problem. These technicians can work as an independent contractor or directly for a company.
Cable technicians and satellite technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cable Technician | Satellite Technician | |
| Average salary | $47,289 | $36,473 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $29,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jackson, NJ | Concord, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Baker Hughes | GLOBALTECH HOLDINGS |
| Best paying industry | Media | Energy |
There are a few differences between a cable technician and a satellite technician in terms of educational background:
| Cable Technician | Satellite Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between cable technicians' and satellite technicians' demographics:
| Cable Technician | Satellite Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |