Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between tracers and communications technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications technician has an average salary of $52,222, which is higher than the $43,913 average annual salary of a tracer.
The top three skills for a tracer include government agencies, customer service and patient accounts. The most important skills for a communications technician are customer service, rehabilitation, and hand tools.
| Tracer | Communications Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,913 | $52,222 |
| Hourly rate | $21.11 | $25.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 4,824 | 125,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The duties of a tracer primarily depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the healthcare industry, a tracer plays a vital role in minimizing the spread of contagious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Also known as a contact tracer, they are primarily in charge of identifying individuals who came in contact and were potentially exposed to a patient diagnosed with the contagious disease, reaching out to them in order to inform them about the situation, initiate isolation protocol, conduct interviews to learn any symptoms, and refer them for testing.
A communications technician utilizes their expertise in electronics by diagnosing issues and repairing devices ranging from cellphones, laptops, tablets, and more. They are responsible for troubleshooting and discussing the extent of malfunction with clients. Technicians diagnose the root of the problem and determine which corrective measure to take. A communications technician may work independently or as a member of a company. Most of the time, they have to consult with the clients over the pricing and kind of repairs, and then offer replacement parts.
Tracers and communications technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tracer | Communications Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,913 | $52,222 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $66,000 | Between $29,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Tualatin, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Chicago Public Schools | Pacifi |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a tracer and a communications technician in terms of educational background:
| Tracer | Communications Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between tracers' and communications technicians' demographics:
| Tracer | Communications Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.9% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |