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The differences between tower technicians and radio frequency technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a radio frequency technician has an average salary of $47,568, 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 radio frequency technician are test equipment, troubleshoot, and power meters.
| Tower Technician | Radio Frequency Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,471 | $47,568 |
| Hourly rate | $18.01 | $22.87 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 92,566 | 3,626 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
A radio frequency technician specializes in installing and repairing wireless communication systems. In a company setting, their responsibilities include coordinating with staff to identify needs, assessing existing facilities to learn its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions on problem areas, and performing regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures, and adjustments as needed. They may also develop upgrades on systems to optimize procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Furthermore, as a radio frequency technician, it is essential to provide technical support, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Tower technicians and radio frequency technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tower Technician | Radio Frequency Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,471 | $47,568 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $46,000 | Between $34,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | SPX | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a tower technician and a radio frequency technician in terms of educational background:
| Tower Technician | Radio Frequency Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between tower technicians' and radio frequency technicians' demographics:
| Tower Technician | Radio Frequency Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.3% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |