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Central office technician vs communications technician

The differences between central office technicians and communications technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications technician has an average salary of $52,222, which is higher than the $39,043 average annual salary of a central office technician.

The top three skills for a central office technician include fiber optic cables, switches and T1. The most important skills for a communications technician are customer service, rehabilitation, and hand tools.

Central office technician vs communications technician overview

Central Office TechnicianCommunications Technician
Yearly salary$39,043$52,222
Hourly rate$18.77$25.11
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs79,138125,698
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 35%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Central office technician vs communications technician salary

Central office technicians and communications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Central Office TechnicianCommunications Technician
Average salary$39,043$52,222
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $63,000Between $29,000 And $91,000
Highest paying City-Tualatin, OR
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Pacifi
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between central office technician and communications technician education

There are a few differences between a central office technician and a communications technician in terms of educational background:

Central Office TechnicianCommunications Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 35%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Central office technician vs communications technician demographics

Here are the differences between central office technicians' and communications technicians' demographics:

Central Office TechnicianCommunications Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 79.5% Female, 20.5%Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 7.3% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between central office technician and communications technician duties and responsibilities

Central office technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage assigned Ericsson AXE patch upgrades and retrofits for all AXE sites.
  • Assist in managing CDMA network, Voice/EVDO circuit's layouts, CDM circuit inventory and roll over's for cell sites.
  • Install all Nortel DMS series equipment.
  • Operate power-meters, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and various RF test equipment.
  • Install and troubleshoot telecommunications circuits and devices including legacy, asynchronous, SONET, and Ethernet equipment.
  • Associate duties include running cable, lacing, stitching, wire wrapping, mounting bays, etc.
  • Show more

Communications technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain communications for users on FMC's IBM SNA network.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Complete installs and ensure that they are up to code base on current NEC, NESC, and OSHA regulations.
  • Install and configure Cisco routers.
  • Perform installations of Safeway POS systems.
  • Test cable lines and equipment to NEC standards.
  • Show more

Central office technician vs communications technician skills

Common central office technician skills
  • Fiber Optic Cables, 8%
  • Switches, 7%
  • T1, 5%
  • Provisioning, 5%
  • DS3, 4%
  • IP, 4%
Common communications technician skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Fiber Optic, 9%
  • Patch Panels, 5%
  • Telephone Systems, 4%

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