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The differences between communications engineers and communications technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications engineer has an average salary of $83,540, which is higher than the $52,222 average annual salary of a communications technician.
The top three skills for a communications engineer include RF, unified communications and unity. The most important skills for a communications technician are customer service, rehabilitation, and hand tools.
| Communications Engineer | Communications Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $83,540 | $52,222 |
| Hourly rate | $40.16 | $25.11 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 71,942 | 125,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
The duties of a communications engineer depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around designing and developing new systems to optimize operations, performing research and assessments to identify company needs, determining the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a communications engineer, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A communications technician utilizes their expertise in electronics by diagnosing issues and repairing devices ranging from cellphones, laptops, tablets, and more. They are responsible for troubleshooting and discussing the extent of malfunction with clients. Technicians diagnose the root of the problem and determine which corrective measure to take. A communications technician may work independently or as a member of a company. Most of the time, they have to consult with the clients over the pricing and kind of repairs, and then offer replacement parts.
Communications engineers and communications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Engineer | Communications Technician | |
| Average salary | $83,540 | $52,222 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $111,000 | Between $29,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Tualatin, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Shearman & Sterling | Pacifi |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a communications engineer and a communications technician in terms of educational background:
| Communications Engineer | Communications Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications engineers' and communications technicians' demographics:
| Communications Engineer | Communications Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 Percentage | 6% | 6% |