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Field installer vs cable technician

The differences between field installers and cable technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cable technician has an average salary of $47,289, which is higher than the $41,668 average annual salary of a field installer.

The top three skills for a field installer include customer satisfaction, windows and ladders. The most important skills for a cable technician are broadband, customer service, and ladders.

Field installer vs cable technician overview

Field InstallerCable Technician
Yearly salary$41,668$47,289
Hourly rate$20.03$22.74
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs73,311120,249
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 39%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Field installer vs cable technician salary

Field installers and cable technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field InstallerCable Technician
Average salary$41,668$47,289
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $48,000Between $34,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYJackson, NJ
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Jersey
Best paying companyCrown EquipmentBaker Hughes
Best paying industryRetailMedia

Differences between field installer and cable technician education

There are a few differences between a field installer and a cable technician in terms of educational background:

Field InstallerCable Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 39%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNew York UniversityNew York University

Field installer vs cable technician demographics

Here are the differences between field installers' and cable technicians' demographics:

Field InstallerCable Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 95.1% Female, 4.9%Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between field installer and cable technician duties and responsibilities

Field installer example responsibilities.

  • Retrofit security wiring in residential and commercial settings.
  • General construction including electrical repairs and installation, plumbing repair and installation, drywall and basic carpentry.
  • Install expansion and control valves, using acetylene torches and wrenches.

Cable technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage projects wiring computer networks and phone systems, using Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and fiber optics.
  • Replace every existing cat-5 data and voice drop with cat-6 cabling and corresponding material.
  • Install cable boxes for cable and modems for computer Internet along with coax cable and CAT5 for phone lines.
  • Conduct on-site installations, correction and repair of clients' broadband service, equipment troubleshooting, and customer service and education
  • Climb ladders and gaff high utility poles to a height of approximately 25 feet, lifting and moving 80 pound ladders.
  • Install cat5 and cat6 for telecommunications
  • Show more

Field installer vs cable technician skills

Common field installer skills
  • Customer Satisfaction, 22%
  • Windows, 16%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • HVAC, 7%
  • PC, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 5%
Common cable technician skills
  • Broadband, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Structured Cabling, 5%
  • TV, 5%

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