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What is a data communications technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a data communications technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $24.92 an hour? That's $51,843 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 1,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreData Communications TechnicianUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $51,843

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.5

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.02%

Asian 10.41%

Black or African American 9.67%

Hispanic or Latino 17.08%

Unknown 5.81%

White 56.01%

Gender

female 9.11%

male 90.89%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress level
6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Data communications technician career paths

Key steps to become a data communications technician

  1. Explore data communications technician education requirements

    Most common data communications technician degrees

    Associate

    41.4 %

    Bachelor's

    35.1 %

    High School Diploma

    14.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific data communications technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    POS12.22%
    Computer Screens11.80%
    RF11.20%
    Test Equipment10.01%
    Phone System9.77%
  3. Complete relevant data communications technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New data communications technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a data communications technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real data communications technician resumes.
  4. Research data communications technician duties and responsibilities

    • Manage DSL service to remote users through NAS.
    • Manage the day-to-day operations of telecommunication services utilize by DuPont.
    • Run cable, terminate cat5, cat6 and voice cable.
    • Install and label network cabling from cat5e, Cat6, fiber cable, and coaxial cabling (DS3).
  5. Prepare your data communications technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your data communications technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a data communications technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable data communications technician resume templates

    Build a professional data communications technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your data communications technician resume.
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
    Data Communications Technician Resume
  6. Apply for data communications technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a data communications technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first data communications technician job

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Average data communications technician salary

The average data communications technician salary in the United States is $51,843 per year or $25 per hour. Data communications technician salaries range between $32,000 and $82,000 per year.

Average data communications technician salary
$51,843 Yearly
$24.92 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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