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The differences between telecom technicians and installation 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 $38,043 average annual salary of an installation technician.
The top three skills for a telecom technician include fiber optic cables, voip and switches. The most important skills for an installation technician are customer service, ladders, and hand tools.
| Telecom Technician | Installation Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,352 | $38,043 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 111,865 | 129,534 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Installation technicians are responsible for handling and installing all types of electronic systems and equipment. An installation technician should be well-knowledgeable about the equipment complexity to conduct troubleshooting for system malfunction or provide necessary instructions for the customers. In some cases, installation technicians are required to conduct regular checks and maintenance to ensure that the system functions properly, upgrading, or replacing equipment for improvement. Installation technicians usually handle customer queries for the system and are expected to resolve issues through remote work or area visit.
Telecom technicians and installation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecom Technician | Installation Technician | |
| Average salary | $54,352 | $38,043 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $89,000 | Between $29,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Pella |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a telecom technician and an installation technician in terms of educational background:
| Telecom Technician | Installation Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | New York University |
Here are the differences between telecom technicians' and installation technicians' demographics:
| Telecom Technician | Installation Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 12.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |