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The differences between installation technicians and telecommunications technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunications technician has an average salary of $41,935, which is higher than the $38,043 average annual salary of an installation technician.
The top three skills for an installation technician include customer service, ladders and hand tools. The most important skills for a telecommunications technician are broadband, customer service, and fiber optic cables.
| Installation Technician | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,043 | $41,935 |
| Hourly rate | $18.29 | $20.16 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 129,534 | 70,494 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Installation technicians are responsible for handling and installing all types of electronic systems and equipment. An installation technician should be well-knowledgeable about the equipment complexity to conduct troubleshooting for system malfunction or provide necessary instructions for the customers. In some cases, installation technicians are required to conduct regular checks and maintenance to ensure that the system functions properly, upgrading, or replacing equipment for improvement. Installation technicians usually handle customer queries for the system and are expected to resolve issues through remote work or area visit.
A telecommunications technician is responsible for maintaining the company's telecommunication networks, including communication systems and installation of internet lines and cables. Telecommunications technicians inspect the efficiency of the organization's communication networks, ensuring its optimal performance to support the business' operations. They also upgrade the systems, run diagnostic tests for newly installed cables, and create detailed reports of preventive maintenance processes for reference. A telecommunications technician must have excellent knowledge of the technological industry, including the end-users' and clients' needs to determine the best procedures to maintain the reliability of existing systems.
Installation technicians and telecommunications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Installation Technician | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,043 | $41,935 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $49,000 | Between $31,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Pella | Nebraska Public Power District |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an installation technician and a telecommunications technician in terms of educational background:
| Installation Technician | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between installation technicians' and telecommunications technicians' demographics:
| Installation Technician | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |