Post job

Switch technician vs outside plant technician

The differences between switch technicians and outside plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a switch technician has an average salary of $101,377, which is higher than the $42,451 average annual salary of an outside plant technician.

The top three skills for a switch technician include switches, routine maintenance and T1. The most important skills for an outside plant technician are ladders, outside plant, and CDL.

Switch technician vs outside plant technician overview

Switch TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Yearly salary$101,377$42,451
Hourly rate$48.74$20.41
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs46,43067,234
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4545
Years of experience--

Switch technician vs outside plant technician salary

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

Switch TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average salary$101,377$42,451
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $134,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between switch technician and outside plant technician education

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

Switch TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeInter American University of Puerto Rico BayamonStanford University

Switch technician vs outside plant technician demographics

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

Switch TechnicianOutside Plant Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 88.6% Female, 11.4%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.3% 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 switch technician and outside plant technician duties and responsibilities

Switch technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage LAN as an administrator for NATO HQ network.
  • Assist in managing CDMA network, Voice/EVDO circuit's layouts, CDM circuit inventory and roll over's for cell sites.
  • Configure Veraz switch for TDM and IP services.
  • Coordinate installation, testing, and troubleshooting of transmission facilities (OC48, T3, T1, and DSO).
  • Work with management team to develop a comprehensive and successful IP and TDM base network infrastructure and unify communications plan.
  • Circuit switching (DMS-250 and Alcatel DEX-600E).
  • 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

Switch technician vs outside plant technician skills

Common switch technician skills
  • Switches, 9%
  • Routine Maintenance, 7%
  • T1, 7%
  • RF, 6%
  • Technical Support, 4%
  • Trouble Tickets, 4%
Common outside plant technician skills
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Outside Plant, 10%
  • CDL, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs