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The differences between fiber optic technicians and fiber technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fiber technologist has an average salary of $51,824, which is higher than the $40,661 average annual salary of a fiber optic technician.
The top three skills for a fiber optic technician include fiber optic cables, ladders and power meters. The most important skills for a fiber technologist are OTDR, OSP, and fiber optic cables.
| Fiber Optic Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,661 | $51,824 |
| Hourly rate | $19.55 | $24.92 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 103,364 | 128,496 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A fiber optic technician is someone who works with the optical cables and fibers used in communications data transmission. Fiber optic technicians fuse fibers together, install fiber cables, and splice fibers in buildings and beneath the ground. They take responsibility for fiber optic network installation and maintenance in schools, homes, businesses, and any other organizations. They identify the solutions to issues or problems to prevent fiber optic systems from their optimal performance.
Fiber Technologists are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintenance of fiber optic cables. Their duties include organizing maintenance schedules, conducting fiber optic system installation, replacing old fiber optics cables, troubleshoot fiber optic issues, and manage fiber splicing. They are responsible for undertaking fiber optic inspection, creating sensor indicators, fulfilling cable requirements, and implementing cabling for premises. Fiber Technologists also manage system records as well as track devices' signal strengths.
Fiber optic technicians and fiber technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fiber Optic Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Average salary | $40,661 | $51,824 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $36,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Rocklin, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Virginia |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a fiber optic technician and a fiber technologist in terms of educational background:
| Fiber Optic Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between fiber optic technicians' and fiber technologists' demographics:
| Fiber Optic Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.3% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |