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The differences between telecommunications technicians and telecom 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 $41,935 average annual salary of a telecommunications technician.
The top three skills for a telecommunications technician include broadband, customer service and fiber optic cables. The most important skills for a telecom technician are fiber optic cables, voip, and switches.
| Telecommunications Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,935 | $54,352 |
| Hourly rate | $20.16 | $26.13 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 70,494 | 111,865 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A telecommunications technician is responsible for maintaining the company's telecommunication networks, including communication systems and installation of internet lines and cables. Telecommunications technicians inspect the efficiency of the organization's communication networks, ensuring its optimal performance to support the business' operations. They also upgrade the systems, run diagnostic tests for newly installed cables, and create detailed reports of preventive maintenance processes for reference. A telecommunications technician must have excellent knowledge of the technological industry, including the end-users' and clients' needs to determine the best procedures to maintain the reliability of existing systems.
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.
Telecommunications technicians and telecom technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunications Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,935 | $54,352 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $33,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Nebraska Public Power District | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a telecommunications technician and a telecom technician in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunications Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between telecommunications technicians' and telecom technicians' demographics:
| Telecommunications Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |