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Communications technician lead vs outside plant technician

The differences between communications technician leads and outside plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications technician lead has an average salary of $113,656, which is higher than the $42,451 average annual salary of an outside plant technician.

The top three skills for a communications technician lead include troubleshoot, hand tools and communications plan. The most important skills for an outside plant technician are ladders, outside plant, and CDL.

Communications technician lead vs outside plant technician overview

Communications Technician LeadOutside Plant Technician
Yearly salary$113,656$42,451
Hourly rate$54.64$20.41
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs111,15467,234
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Communications technician lead vs outside plant technician salary

Communications technician leads and outside plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications Technician LeadOutside Plant Technician
Average salary$113,656$42,451
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $165,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between communications technician lead and outside plant technician education

There are a few differences between a communications technician lead and an outside plant technician in terms of educational background:

Communications Technician LeadOutside Plant Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Communications technician lead vs outside plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between communications technician leads' and outside plant technicians' demographics:

Communications Technician LeadOutside Plant Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 85.9% Female, 14.1%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 14.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between communications technician lead and outside plant technician duties and responsibilities

Communications technician lead example responsibilities.

  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Train soldiers on the procedures for secure radio and PC communications.
  • Assist in design and installation of this business's LAN system, expand network for VoIP, and wireless access points.
  • Conduct analysis in determining business process improvements for corporate telecommunication infrastructure.
  • Assist with and refer troubles on DS3 and OC3 level issues to fiber technicians.
  • Perform as liaison with Verizon for installation of T1s, DS3 circuits, and respond to requests for proposals.
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Outside plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and administer documentation of OSP fiber optic plant in support of customer projects, network planning, and municipality requirements.
  • Move and/or lift items such as ladders, tools, air tanks, cable reels, and test equipment
  • Install residential and business telephone lines, including premise CAT5 wiring and jack work.
  • Perform construction work such as digging holes, installing inner duct in various types of conduit systems and open excavations.
  • Organize projects that include open excavations, placing cables, air pipes and inner duct in various types of conduit systems.
  • Install and repair T1 and T3 systems.
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Communications technician lead vs outside plant technician skills

Common communications technician lead skills
  • Troubleshoot, 37%
  • Hand Tools, 34%
  • Communications Plan, 8%
  • RF, 3%
  • Technical Support, 2%
  • Test Equipment, 2%
Common outside plant technician skills
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Outside Plant, 10%
  • CDL, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

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