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The differences between line technicians and fiber technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fiber technologist has an average salary of $51,824, 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 technologist are OTDR, OSP, and fiber optic cables.
| Line Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,124 | $51,824 |
| Hourly rate | $18.81 | $24.92 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 152,694 | 128,496 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| 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.
Fiber Technologists are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintenance of fiber optic cables. Their duties include organizing maintenance schedules, conducting fiber optic system installation, replacing old fiber optics cables, troubleshoot fiber optic issues, and manage fiber splicing. They are responsible for undertaking fiber optic inspection, creating sensor indicators, fulfilling cable requirements, and implementing cabling for premises. Fiber Technologists also manage system records as well as track devices' signal strengths.
Line technicians and fiber technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Average salary | $39,124 | $51,824 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $52,000 | Between $36,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Rocklin, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a line technician and a fiber technologist in terms of educational background:
| Line Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between line technicians' and fiber technologists' demographics:
| Line Technician | Fiber Technologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |