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The differences between telecommunication engineers and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a telecommunication engineer, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a telecommunication engineer has an average salary of $80,789, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a telecommunication engineer include telecommunication, voip and RF. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,789 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $38.84 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 28,331 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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 You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Telecommunication engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,789 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $109,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between telecommunication engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |