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Telecom technician vs electronics technician

The differences between telecom technicians and electronics technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecom technician has an average salary of $54,352, which is higher than the $46,660 average annual salary of an electronics technician.

The top three skills for a telecom technician include fiber optic cables, voip and switches. The most important skills for an electronics technician are hand tools, RF, and ladders.

Telecom technician vs electronics technician overview

Telecom TechnicianElectronics Technician
Yearly salary$54,352$46,660
Hourly rate$26.13$22.43
Growth rate8%-
Number of jobs111,86583,284
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Associate Degree, 52%
Average age4550
Years of experience-12

What does a telecom technician do?

A telecom technician is responsible for overseeing and maintaining telecommunication systems. They are usually in charge of planning and conceptualizing systems, performing installations and adjustments, troubleshooting problems, and conducting repairs. Through extensive research and analysis, they also develop and implement test structures that ensure the safety and efficiency of systems, create strategies to optimize workflow, and implement solutions against areas needing improvement. Moreover, aside from providing technical support, a telecom technician may also establish guidelines and recommend technical practices.

What does an electronics technician do?

An electronics technician is responsible for the maintenance of the technology and electrical equipment to ensure its performance with the highest quality standards. Electronics technicians' duties include troubleshooting, replacing malfunction equipment components, upgrading technology and software systems, operating machines, diagnosing defects, analyzing blueprints, conducting system installations, and creating reports for technological procedures. An electronics technician must have excellent attention to detail and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to multi-task in performing tasks accurately and efficiently to deliver the best services to clients.

Telecom technician vs electronics technician salary

Telecom technicians and electronics technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Telecom TechnicianElectronics Technician
Average salary$54,352$46,660
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $89,000Between $32,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Montana
Best paying company-Jacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between telecom technician and electronics technician education

There are a few differences between a telecom technician and an electronics technician in terms of educational background:

Telecom TechnicianElectronics Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Associate Degree, 52%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeInter American University of Puerto Rico BayamonNortheastern University

Telecom technician vs electronics technician demographics

Here are the differences between telecom technicians' and electronics technicians' demographics:

Telecom TechnicianElectronics Technician
Average age4550
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between telecom technician and electronics technician duties and responsibilities

Telecom technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and report on SLA's and work with vendors for any corrections or necessary actions.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Pull CAT5e, CAT6, coax cable, install patch panels and connect network devices including routers and switches.
  • Work with passive equipment such as: RF cable, connectors, twist pair cable, CAT5 and CAT6.
  • Create new, augmenting, or deleting trunks in the Nortel DMS switch.
  • Install and repair coax cable, CatV, and fiber optic and copper lines.
  • Show more

Electronics technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions in electrical and electronic components.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot and repair professional electronic test equipment: oscilloscopes, oscillators and pulse generators.
  • Utilize a wide array of test equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, and communications monitors.
  • Assemble electronic components onto print circuit boards with aid of PCB component location prints and engineer assembly documentation.
  • Help tutor other students in writing, math and electronics.
  • Show more

Telecom technician vs electronics technician skills

Common telecom technician skills
  • Fiber Optic Cables, 7%
  • VoIP, 7%
  • Switches, 6%
  • IP, 6%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Technical Support, 5%
Common electronics technician skills
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • RF, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 4%
  • Oscilloscopes, 4%
  • PLC, 4%

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