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The differences between telecom technicians and telecommunication engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunication engineer has an average salary of $80,789, 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 telecommunication engineer are telecommunication, voip, and RF.
| Telecom Technician | Telecommunication Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,352 | $80,789 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $38.84 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 111,865 | 28,331 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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 telecommunication engineer is responsible for installing, testing, and repairing telecommunication systems including mobile telephone networks and fiber optic and digital satellite systems. Your day-to-day duties include diagnosing and troubleshooting systems faults, installing static and mobile antennae on masts and buildings, and designing, developing, and testing telecommunications equipment and components. As a telecommunication engineer, you are also required to provide guidance and support to telecommunication installers to ensure quality. You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.
Telecom technicians and telecommunication engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecom Technician | Telecommunication Engineer | |
| Average salary | $54,352 | $80,789 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $89,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a telecom technician and a telecommunication engineer in terms of educational background:
| Telecom Technician | Telecommunication Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between telecom technicians' and telecommunication engineers' demographics:
| Telecom Technician | Telecommunication Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |