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The differences between cable technicians and telecom technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecom technician has an average salary of $54,352, which is higher than the $47,289 average annual salary of a cable technician.
The top three skills for a cable technician include broadband, customer service and ladders. The most important skills for a telecom technician are fiber optic cables, voip, and switches.
| Cable Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,289 | $54,352 |
| Hourly rate | $22.74 | $26.13 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 120,249 | 111,865 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A telecom technician is responsible for overseeing and maintaining telecommunication systems. They are usually in charge of planning and conceptualizing systems, performing installations and adjustments, troubleshooting problems, and conducting repairs. Through extensive research and analysis, they also develop and implement test structures that ensure the safety and efficiency of systems, create strategies to optimize workflow, and implement solutions against areas needing improvement. Moreover, aside from providing technical support, a telecom technician may also establish guidelines and recommend technical practices.
Cable technicians and telecom technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cable Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average salary | $47,289 | $54,352 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $33,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jackson, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Baker Hughes | - |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a cable technician and a telecom technician in terms of educational background:
| Cable Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between cable technicians' and telecom technicians' demographics:
| Cable Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| 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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |