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The differences between tower 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 $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 telecom technician are fiber optic cables, voip, and switches.
| Tower Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,471 | $54,352 |
| Hourly rate | $18.01 | $26.13 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 92,566 | 111,865 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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.
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.
Tower technicians and telecom technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tower Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,471 | $54,352 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $46,000 | Between $33,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | SPX | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a tower technician and a telecom technician in terms of educational background:
| Tower Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| 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 telecom technicians' demographics:
| Tower Technician | Telecom Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| 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, 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% |