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The differences between telecom technicians and network technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a network technician has an average salary of $68,938, which is higher than the $54,352 average annual salary of a telecom technician.
The top three skills for a telecom technician include fiber optic cables, voip and switches. The most important skills for a network technician are customer service, switches, and troubleshoot.
| Telecom Technician | Network Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,352 | $68,938 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $33.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 111,865 | 79,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations. Other duties include assisting customers with technical issues, ensuring computer systems' privacy, creating documents of network issues and resolutions, and suggesting alternative equipment for network backups. A network technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and mechanical processes, plus the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
Telecom technicians and network technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecom Technician | Network Technician | |
| Average salary | $54,352 | $68,938 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $89,000 | Between $51,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a telecom technician and a network technician in terms of educational background:
| Telecom Technician | Network Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between telecom technicians' and network technicians' demographics:
| Telecom Technician | Network Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% |
| 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, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |