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Lead cable technician vs outside plant technician

The differences between lead cable technicians and outside plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an outside plant technician has an average salary of $42,451, which is higher than the $38,948 average annual salary of a lead cable technician.

The top three skills for a lead cable technician include structured cabling, fiber optic and backbone. The most important skills for an outside plant technician are ladders, outside plant, and CDL.

Lead cable technician vs outside plant technician overview

Lead Cable TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Yearly salary$38,948$42,451
Hourly rate$18.73$20.41
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs43,83767,234
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Lead cable technician vs outside plant technician salary

Lead cable technicians and outside plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Cable TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average salary$38,948$42,451
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $48,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between lead cable technician and outside plant technician education

There are a few differences between a lead cable technician and an outside plant technician in terms of educational background:

Lead Cable TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNew York UniversityStanford University

Lead cable technician vs outside plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between lead cable technicians' and outside plant technicians' demographics:

Lead Cable TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 94.5% Female, 5.5%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 14.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between lead cable technician and outside plant technician duties and responsibilities

Lead cable technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage projects wiring computer networks and phone systems, using Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and fiber optics.
  • Complete new construction of IDF's and restructuring of MDF.
  • Patch panel terminations as well as IDF & MDF cable dressing.
  • Voice over IP cabling for telephone communications.
  • Install new racks and bays in relocate MDF's.
  • Voice over IP cabling installs to provide computer networking and telephone communications.
  • Show more

Outside plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and administer documentation of OSP fiber optic plant in support of customer projects, network planning, and municipality requirements.
  • Move and/or lift items such as ladders, tools, air tanks, cable reels, and test equipment
  • Install residential and business telephone lines, including premise CAT5 wiring and jack work.
  • Perform construction work such as digging holes, installing inner duct in various types of conduit systems and open excavations.
  • Organize projects that include open excavations, placing cables, air pipes and inner duct in various types of conduit systems.
  • Install and repair T1 and T3 systems.
  • Show more

Lead cable technician vs outside plant technician skills

Common lead cable technician skills
  • Structured Cabling, 26%
  • Fiber Optic, 26%
  • Backbone, 11%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • IDF, 4%
  • Patch Panels, 3%
Common outside plant technician skills
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Outside Plant, 10%
  • CDL, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

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