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Structured cabling technician vs outside plant technician

The differences between structured cabling technicians and outside plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an outside plant technician has an average salary of $42,451, which is higher than the $37,985 average annual salary of a structured cabling technician.

The top three skills for a structured cabling technician include structured cabling, fiber optic and hand tools. The most important skills for an outside plant technician are ladders, outside plant, and CDL.

Structured cabling technician vs outside plant technician overview

Structured Cabling TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Yearly salary$37,985$42,451
Hourly rate$18.26$20.41
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs89,73967,234
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Structured cabling technician vs outside plant technician salary

Structured cabling technicians and outside plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Structured Cabling TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average salary$37,985$42,451
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $58,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between structured cabling technician and outside plant technician education

There are a few differences between a structured cabling technician and an outside plant technician in terms of educational background:

Structured Cabling TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeInter American University of Puerto Rico BayamonStanford University

Structured cabling technician vs outside plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between structured cabling technicians' and outside plant technicians' demographics:

Structured Cabling TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 94.4% Female, 5.6%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 14.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between structured cabling technician and outside plant technician duties and responsibilities

Structured cabling technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage MDF for all incoming, outbound circuits, cross connects and patches
  • Install ladder racks, patch panels, switches, and cable management in communication closets.
  • Pull cable to IDF, and MDF closets.
  • Install telecom cables data, voice, and CCTV.
  • Hold certifications of NEC and OHSA.
  • Install structure cable CAT5 Cat6 cat6e fiber.
  • Show more

Outside plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and administer documentation of OSP fiber optic plant in support of customer projects, network planning, and municipality requirements.
  • Move and/or lift items such as ladders, tools, air tanks, cable reels, and test equipment
  • Install residential and business telephone lines, including premise CAT5 wiring and jack work.
  • Perform construction work such as digging holes, installing inner duct in various types of conduit systems and open excavations.
  • Organize projects that include open excavations, placing cables, air pipes and inner duct in various types of conduit systems.
  • Install and repair T1 and T3 systems.
  • Show more

Structured cabling technician vs outside plant technician skills

Common structured cabling technician skills
  • Structured Cabling, 15%
  • Fiber Optic, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • OSHA, 6%
  • Test Equipment, 5%
Common outside plant technician skills
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Outside Plant, 10%
  • CDL, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

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