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The differences between satellite installation technicians and service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a satellite installation technician, becoming a service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a service technician has an average salary of $40,379, which is higher than the $36,826 average annual salary of a satellite installation technician.
The top three skills for a satellite installation technician include work ethic, customer service and strong customer service. The most important skills for a service technician are plumbing, customer service, and preventative maintenance.
| Satellite Installation Technician | Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,826 | $40,379 |
| Hourly rate | $17.70 | $19.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 105,288 | 254,533 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A satellite installation technician is responsible for installing and repairing network cables and satellite products, conducting regular maintenance, and resolving network issues. Satellite installation technicians operate various installation tools and equipment to perform tasks efficiently and ensure that the services provided work according to the clients' best interests. They also offer instructional guides and manuals for the clients, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and escalate their requests to the management. A satellite installation technician must have excellent technical and mechanical skills to analyze schematics and blueprints to manage and connect installation components properly.
Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.
Satellite installation technicians and service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Satellite Installation Technician | Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,826 | $40,379 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $28,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Phoenix, AZ | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | UniTek Global Services | IBM |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a satellite installation technician and a service technician in terms of educational background:
| Satellite Installation Technician | Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between satellite installation technicians' and service technicians' demographics:
| Satellite Installation Technician | Service Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 4.3% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 1% |