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The differences between line technicians and fiber optic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fiber optic technician has an average salary of $40,661, which is higher than the $39,124 average annual salary of a line technician.
The top three skills for a line technician include customer service, safety procedures and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a fiber optic technician are fiber optic cables, ladders, and power meters.
| Line Technician | Fiber Optic Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,124 | $40,661 |
| Hourly rate | $18.81 | $19.55 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 152,694 | 103,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A line technician is responsible for conducting routine maintenance checks to ensure the operational efficiency of machines and equipment production. Line technicians monitor the control processes, running diagnostic tests with products and equipment, and create a comprehensive report for resolution methods. They inspect high-level machinery and observe for possible inconsistencies that may cause delays and hazards in the production, immediately notifying the management for action. A line technician must have excellent knowledge with industrial machines and the mechanical industry, as their expertise is crucial in keeping the safety and security of all production staff.
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.
Line technicians and fiber optic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Technician | Fiber Optic Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,124 | $40,661 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $52,000 | Between $31,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a line technician and a fiber optic technician in terms of educational background:
| Line Technician | Fiber Optic Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between line technicians' and fiber optic technicians' demographics:
| Line Technician | Fiber Optic Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |