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Data communications technician vs field technician

The differences between data communications technicians and field technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a data communications technician and a field technician. Additionally, a data communications technician has an average salary of $51,843, which is higher than the $37,520 average annual salary of a field technician.

The top three skills for a data communications technician include POS, computer screens and RF. The most important skills for a field technician are customer service, ladders, and test equipment.

Data communications technician vs field technician overview

Data Communications TechnicianField Technician
Yearly salary$51,843$37,520
Hourly rate$24.92$18.04
Growth rate7%8%
Number of jobs111,703123,149
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3844
Years of experience1212

Data communications technician vs field technician salary

Data communications technicians and field technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Data Communications TechnicianField Technician
Average salary$51,843$37,520
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $82,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-DCP Midstream
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between data communications technician and field technician education

There are a few differences between a data communications technician and a field technician in terms of educational background:

Data Communications TechnicianField Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringBusiness
Most common collegeNortheastern University-

Data communications technician vs field technician demographics

Here are the differences between data communications technicians' and field technicians' demographics:

Data Communications TechnicianField Technician
Average age3844
Gender ratioMale, 90.9% Female, 9.1%Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%1%

Differences between data communications technician and field technician duties and responsibilities

Data communications technician example 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).
  • Introduce BGP for connectivity to the corporate network.
  • Wire pots lines and T1 lines to main distribution frame.
  • Show more

Field technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead training, operations, user hardware and software support, and logbook oversight.
  • Manage network reliability, capacity and performance in conjunction with RF engineering establish guidelines.
  • Install cable to data network, pulling cat5, cat6 to racks, patch panel patch cords.
  • Provide desktop support and troubleshoot network communications issue at customer homes.
  • Install AWS and LTE Equiptment.
  • Work with NOC's for trouble issues.
  • Show more

Data communications technician vs field technician skills

Common data communications technician skills
  • POS, 12%
  • Computer Screens, 12%
  • RF, 11%
  • Test Equipment, 10%
  • Phone System, 10%
  • Technical Manuals, 9%
Common field technician skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • Test Equipment, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Smartphones, 4%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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