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The differences between signal engineers and outside plant engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a signal engineer and an outside plant engineer. Additionally, a signal engineer has an average salary of $87,939, which is higher than the $85,603 average annual salary of an outside plant engineer.
The top three skills for a signal engineer include field testing, control systems and project management. The most important skills for an outside plant engineer are CAD, outside plant, and OSP.
| Signal Engineer | Outside Plant Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,939 | $85,603 |
| Hourly rate | $42.28 | $41.16 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 25,699 | 34,742 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A signal engineer holds the responsibility of conducting feasibility studies, cost estimates, planning, budgeting, and administration relating to signal issues. They manage approved work programs for traffic signals, resolve issues with existing traffic signals, and oversee members of the traffic signal staff.
The job of an outside plant engineer revolves around design, constructing, and maintaining plant infrastructure, engineering, and conducting route analysis of aerial and underground fiber-optic installations. Typical day-to-day duties include assisting clients in resolving issues when they arise, developing engineering plans, schedules, and costs relevant to the projects, and providing guidance on telecommunication issues. As an outside plant engineer, you need to ensure the proper installation of the infrastructure and the availability of fiber cable storage, access, and termination equipment.
Signal engineers and outside plant engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Signal Engineer | Outside Plant Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,939 | $85,603 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $129,000 | Between $62,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Apple | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a signal engineer and an outside plant engineer in terms of educational background:
| Signal Engineer | Outside Plant Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between signal engineers' and outside plant engineers' demographics:
| Signal Engineer | Outside Plant Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 18.8% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |