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Installer vs installation technician

The differences between installers and installation technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an installer has an average salary of $39,799, which is higher than the $38,043 average annual salary of an installation technician.

The top three skills for an installer include customer service, windows and plumbing. The most important skills for an installation technician are customer service, ladders, and hand tools.

Installer vs installation technician overview

InstallerInstallation Technician
Yearly salary$39,799$38,043
Hourly rate$19.13$18.29
Growth rate2%8%
Number of jobs30,303129,534
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4245
Years of experience12-

What does an installer do?

Installers are assigned to assemble equipment or fixtures in the client's work or home area. They should have extensive knowledge of the product they will install to ensure it works as intended. They should also be familiar with handling different tools, especially those that would help them build the product. Installers should be able to walk the client through how to use the product. They should also be able to answer any inquiries that the client may have. Installers should have quick decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and creativity.

What does an installation technician do?

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.

Installer vs installation technician salary

Installers and installation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

InstallerInstallation Technician
Average salary$39,799$38,043
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $50,000Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyPellaPella
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between installer and installation technician education

There are a few differences between an installer and an installation technician in terms of educational background:

InstallerInstallation Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common college-New York University

Installer vs installation technician demographics

Here are the differences between installers' and installation technicians' demographics:

InstallerInstallation Technician
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 95.6% Female, 4.4%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%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%
LGBT Percentage2%6%

Differences between installer and installation technician duties and responsibilities

Installer example responsibilities.

  • Manage telecommunications, data and CCTV equipment.
  • Experience with brazing, running new line set, and EPA certify.
  • Install various heating and air conditioning systems like water heaters, furnaces, heat pumps, a/c condensers.
  • Work with steel snips, brake and screw guns.
  • Train in Crestron integrate systems.
  • Schedule and run sales appointments.
  • Show more

Installation technician example responsibilities.

  • Project manage the complete installation of power and floor space of Nortel wireless switches.
  • Install, manage, and troubleshoot CAT3, CAT5, CAT6, and fiber optic infrastructures throughout the greater Tulsa area.
  • Train to build and verify customer routers, TCP/IP addresses ad gateways.
  • Inspect buildings, interpret blueprints, and laid out cable lines for telephone, internet, and cable TV.
  • Install telecommunications equipment including fire-suppression systems, switches, routers, multiplexers and cable trays.
  • Switch include 25 DMS bays , 2 PDC's and all associate cables.
  • Show more

Installer vs installation technician skills

Common installer skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Windows, 11%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Work Ethic, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 5%
  • HVAC, 4%
Common installation technician skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • Broadband, 5%
  • GPS, 5%

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