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The differences between tower technicians and linemen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lineman has an average salary of $78,563, which is higher than the $37,471 average annual salary of a tower technician.
The top three skills for a tower technician include OSHA, CPR and RF. The most important skills for a lineman are safety rules, switches, and CDL.
| Tower Technician | Lineman | |
| Yearly salary | $37,471 | $78,563 |
| Hourly rate | $18.01 | $37.77 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 92,566 | 2,672 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
The primary job of a lineman is to install, repair, and maintain high-powered electrical lines and systems. They work on transmission and distribution lines from the power sources and extend to individual buildings or homes. Those working as a lineman can repair both overhead and underground electrical wires and cables. In addition, their responsibilities might also include excavating trenches to install underground lines, climbing poles to repair overhead lines, installing the meter, and inspecting power lines for possible repair or replacement.
Tower technicians and linemen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tower Technician | Lineman | |
| Average salary | $37,471 | $78,563 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $46,000 | Between $53,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Reno, NV |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | SPX | NV Energy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a tower technician and a lineman in terms of educational background:
| Tower Technician | Lineman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between tower technicians' and linemen' demographics:
| Tower Technician | Lineman | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 1.2% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 4% |