Pipeline technician vs surveillance technician

The differences between pipeline technicians and surveillance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a pipeline technician and a surveillance technician. Additionally, a surveillance technician has an average salary of $41,279, which is higher than the $40,614 average annual salary of a pipeline technician.

The top three skills for a pipeline technician include DOT, safety equipment and excavations. The most important skills for a surveillance technician are ladders, CCTV, and construction sites.

Pipeline technician vs surveillance technician overview

	Pipeline Technician	Surveillance Technician
Yearly salary	$40,614	$41,279
Hourly rate	$19.53	$19.85
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	11,313	13,099
Job satisfaction	-	1
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a pipeline technician do?

A pipeline technician specializes in the maintenance of pipeline systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include liaising with clients and traveling to their locations, assessing the site conditions, performing tests and inspections using special equipment and computer programs, and repairing leaks and other detected issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a pipeline technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with team members, coordinating with them every step of the way for a safe and effective service.

What does a surveillance technician do?

A man without specific skills can't be the perfect man. Surveillance Technician, thus, needs to be tactful. He/She has to possess a wide range of exposure such as technical skills like electrical and video installation knowledge, maintenance skills such as drilling, wiring, cabling, and network administration skills.

Pipeline technician vs surveillance technician salary

Pipeline technicians and surveillance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pipeline Technician	Surveillance Technician
Average salary	$40,614	$41,279
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $63,000	Between $30,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between pipeline technician and surveillance technician education

There are a few differences between a pipeline technician and a surveillance technician in terms of educational background:

	Pipeline Technician	Surveillance Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Pipeline technician vs surveillance technician demographics

Here are the differences between pipeline technicians' and surveillance technicians' demographics:

	Pipeline Technician	Surveillance Technician
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between pipeline technician and surveillance technician duties and responsibilities

Pipeline technician example responsibilities.

Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
Establish and maintain spatial databases using ESRI ArcGIS.
Receive training in management, civil rights, computer security, and ArcGIS.
Monitor the gas flow rates from the meter to assure the pigs will launch and be receive.
Keep general area clean per OSHA regulations wear the basic, PPE on pipeline construction site hard hat.
Perform daily, weekly and annual maintenance on pumps, compressors, generators, boosters, flanges and pigs.

Surveillance technician example responsibilities.

Manage implementation and networking of multi-million dollar tactical datalink architecture consisting of windows base and proprietary systems.
Manage numerous outdoor storage locations for government ammunition stockpiles while simultaneously providing rapid logistical support to facilitate employee training.
Switch over to digital recording which involve IP addressing cameras, video encoders, hard drive arrays, and Cisco switches.
Maintain hardware and software systems and manual records require to successfully perform stock control accounting procedures for ammunition and explosives.
Maintain physical control over all entrances to the SCIF.
Use of DoD equipment and technologies for surveillance monitoring.

Pipeline technician vs surveillance technician skills

Common pipeline technician skills

DOT, 7%
Safety Equipment, 6%
Excavations, 6%
Pump Stations, 6%
Pipeline Operations, 4%
Routine Maintenance, 4%

Common surveillance technician skills

Ladders, 10%
CCTV, 8%
Construction Sites, 7%
Surveillance Equipment, 7%
CST, 6%
Security Integrity, 5%

Pipeline Technician vs. similar jobs

Pipeline Technician related careers

Pipeline Technician related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Pipeline Technician
Pipeline Technician vs Surveillance Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs