What does a satellite technician do?
Satellite technicians are responsible for giving installation and repair solutions for satellite dishes, which generally deliver TV or internet signals. Primary tasks include installing, upgrading, and maintaining residential satellite products and optimizing the service they give. The technicians' duties may also include placing the dish, routing the cable where it needs to go, and making sure that the service is online and attached to the customer's devices. Additionally, they may engage in remote troubleshooting when a customer calls with a problem. These technicians can work as an independent contractor or directly for a company.
Satellite technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real satellite technician resumes:
- Install, manage, and troubleshoot CAT3, CAT5, CAT6, and fiber optic infrastructures throughout the greater Tulsa area.
- Install phone lines, satellite dishes, and run coax cable.
- Insure signal strength are to standard and run cabling to appropriate rooms for receiver installation.
- Clean tools, utensils and dishes using dishwashers.
- Develop an easy to use web interface for field technicians to configure customers' static IP information.
- Utilize volt meters, wiring diagrams and schematics to locate faulty relays, capacitors, and controls.
- Install and secure internet and telephone connections using ISP provide broadband and cable modems, routers and switches.
- Install appropriate devices, wire and wireless; dismantle and reconstruct equipment as required by customer or ADT contracts.
- Configure software and hardware for custom networks, run and terminate all wire devices to router, PC and cellphones.
- Perform all types of engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical, ac, and power steering repairs.
- Used grinders, lathes, hand tools, power tools, welding equipment, testing equipment and hoists and lifts.
- Perform complete functional testing of RF and digital assemblies to be used in the SMTS program using bread-boarding and manual techniques.
- Install, troubleshoot and repair commercial access control and CCTV surveillance systems to include computer maintenance on desktops and system integration.
- Configure back office PC for the new system upgrade (cashless), as well for the hardware installation of it.
- Perform plumbing and electrical repair.
Satellite technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 44% of Satellite Technicians are proficient in Work Ethic, Broadband, and Strong Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Manual dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Satellite Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Work Ethic, 44%
Install what the customer ordered with proficient and efficient work ethic.
- Broadband, 17%
Provided Dish Smart Home Services, placed mounts, satellite dishes and receivers while ensuring broadband connectivity.
- Strong Customer Service, 11%
Displayed strong customer service skills.
- Site Surveys, 11%
Perform site surveys and walk through to locate and plan the best place to mounting location and MPOE.
- Customer Service, 10%
Provided top level customer services by communicating to customers estimated arrival time, review order as well as troubleshooting with customer.
- Service Calls, 1%
Maintained inventory and equipment for installations and service calls.
"work ethic," "broadband," and "strong customer service" are among the most common skills that satellite technicians use at work. You can find even more satellite technician responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a satellite technician to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what satellite technicians do because "technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients’ needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations." Additionally, a satellite technician resume shows how satellite technicians use communication skills: "installed tests and repaired antennae and related equipment that received communication satellite signals. "
Computer skills. Many satellite technician duties rely on computer skills. "technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings.," so a satellite technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways satellite technician responsibilities rely on computer skills: "satellite installations wild blue internet & computer software/programming configuring hardware & software operating system parameters home security & video surveillance/setup & instalation"
Manual dexterity. satellite technicians are also known for manual dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to satellite technician responsibilities, because "some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." A satellite technician resume example shows how manual dexterity is used in the workplace: "performed complete functional testing of rf and digital assemblies to be used in the smts program using bread-boarding and manual techniques. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain satellite technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a satellite technician rely on this skill, as "technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what satellite technicians do: "lead broadband technician uses problem-solving and technical skills to install satellite dishes and related equipment. "
The three companies that hire the most satellite technicians are:
- DISH Network432 satellite technicians jobs
- PBS1 satellite technicians jobs
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Compare different satellite technicians
Satellite technician vs. Audio-video repairer
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, satellite technician responsibilities require skills like "work ethic," "broadband," "strong customer service," and "site surveys." Meanwhile a typical audio-video repairer has skills in areas such as "inbound calls," "billing inquiries," "phone system," and "cae." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that audio-video repairers earn slightly differ from satellite technicians. In particular, audio-video repairers are 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a satellite technician. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Satellite technician vs. Dish network installer
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, satellite technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "work ethic," "broadband," "strong customer service," and "strong work ethic." Meanwhile, a dish network installer has duties that require skills in areas such as "ran," "customer homes," "customer satisfaction," and "customer education." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Dish network installers tend to reach similar levels of education than satellite technicians. In fact, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Satellite technician vs. Television installer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a satellite technician is likely to be skilled in "work ethic," "broadband," "strong customer service," and "site surveys," while a typical television installer is skilled in "tv," "satellite television," "repair telephone," and "update software."
Television installers typically earn similar educational levels compared to satellite technicians. Specifically, they're 3.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Satellite technician vs. Wireless internet installer
Types of satellite technician
Updated January 8, 2025
