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The differences between telecommunications technicians and tower technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunications technician has an average salary of $41,935, which is higher than the $37,471 average annual salary of a tower technician.
The top three skills for a telecommunications technician include broadband, customer service and fiber optic cables. The most important skills for a tower technician are OSHA, CPR, and RF.
| Telecommunications Technician | Tower Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,935 | $37,471 |
| Hourly rate | $20.16 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 70,494 | 92,566 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 tower technician is responsible for maintaining the performance stability of line towers to provide the best network services for the customers. Tower technicians are often out in the field to conduct repairs and installations for the customers, inspecting the area's condition, and reporting structural inconsistencies and defects. They should have excellent mechanical and electrical knowledge to resolve issues immediately and create resolution manuals to prevent reoccurrence and ensure the safeness and security of line towers.
Telecommunications technicians and tower technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunications Technician | Tower Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,935 | $37,471 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $29,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Nebraska Public Power District | SPX |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between a telecommunications technician and a tower technician in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunications Technician | Tower Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | New York University |
Here are the differences between telecommunications technicians' and tower technicians' demographics:
| Telecommunications Technician | Tower Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% |
| 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |