How Much Does a Fiber Optic Technician Earn?

The days of copper wire are over, at least for communication purposes. Modern telephony, internet and cable television systems are used in fiber optic systems, which require completely different skills. The specialized technicians who install and repair these systems provide the backbone of the modern digital economy. Your earnings are comparable to that of many other qualified merchants.

National averages

According to data published by the Statistical Office of Labor in May 2011, the average annual salary / fiber optic technician pay in the United States was $ 51,720 or $ 24.87 per hour. The highest paid 10 percent of technicians recorded revenue of $ 27,480 or less, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $ 74,890 or more. In hourly terms, it is worth $ 13.21 or less for entry-level positions and $ 36.01 for the maximum. As with most exchanges, payment also varies by location and place of work.

Geography

Some states pay more for fiber optic technicians. There are many reasons for this, including the cost of living or the simple supply and demand. The state that pays the most for fiber installers is New York, which has a high score in both cases. The average salary in that state was $ 65,550, or $ 31.51 an hour. Alaska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont were also among the highest paid states. Georgia followed the rest of the nation with an average payment of $ 35,190, or $ 16.92 per hour. South Carolina, Alabama, Wisconsin and Nebraska were also among those with the lowest average wages.

Workplace

Choosing the job of a cable technician also has an impact on potential earnings. Installers who work for retail electronics stores earned $ 62,340 on average, the highest level in the industry. Satellite service providers paid an average of $ 59,620, while companies offering commercial support services paid $ 56,540. The largest employers were cable telecommunications companies, which paid an average of $ 55,760. Construction contractors were the second largest employer, paying $ 43,710, while public services ranked third with $ 40,050. Other important employers were cable television companies for $ 44,890 and other telecommunications providers for $ 59,460.

Perspective

The Employment Outlook Handbook predicts job growth for fiber optic installers and repair technicians at a rate of 14 percent between 2010 and 2020, roughly equal to the average of all professions. The work will be constant, with the continuous growth of the Internet and the communication networks that feed the additional facilities and the continuous maintenance. Those technicians whose training includes education and formal learning should be the most employable given the increasing sophistication of the field.