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The differences between telecommunicators and telecommunications 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 $39,327 average annual salary of a telecommunicator.
The top three skills for a telecommunicator include computer aided dispatch, CAD and EMS. The most important skills for a telecommunications technician are broadband, customer service, and fiber optic cables.
| Telecommunicator | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,327 | $41,935 |
| Hourly rate | $18.91 | $20.16 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 4,083 | 70,494 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A telecommunicator receives calls and obtains information from people in need of assistance. Telecommunicators, also called 911 or public safety dispatchers, use a two-way radio in dispatching the right services to police officers, first responders, and firefighters. The telecommunicators coordinate communications between emergency personnel, police, and the public. They keep detailed records as well as trace drivers and their automobiles. The skills and knowledge necessary for this job include a dispatch system, public safety, and stressful situation management.
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.
Telecommunicators and telecommunications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunicator | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,327 | $41,935 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $31,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | Nebraska Public Power District |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a telecommunicator and a telecommunications technician in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunicator | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between telecommunicators' and telecommunications technicians' demographics:
| Telecommunicator | Telecommunications Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 17% | 6% |