Career comparison
Network Technician vs. Telecommunications Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Network technicians earn more at the median ($76,220 vs. $63,890), while telecommunications technicians usually get to work faster (3–12 months of training). Network technicians install, monitor and troubleshoot the networks that connect computers and people. Telecommunications technicians install and repair internet, phone and cable systems for homes and businesses.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Network Technician | Telecommunications Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $76,220 ($36.64/hr) | $63,890 ($30.72/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,120 – $127,780 | $44,240 – $96,730 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.2% (slower than average) | -3.3% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 9,000 | 11,300 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 6 months–2 years | 3–12 months |
| Key credential | CompTIA Network+ | Fiber Optic Association CFOT |
| Work setting | Technicians work in offices, data centers, wiring closets and network operations centers. | Technicians work in homes, businesses, utility cabinets, central offices and outdoors, climbing ladders and working in attics and crawl spaces.. |
What each job does
Network Technician
- Install and configure network equipment
- Monitor network performance and alerts
- Troubleshoot connectivity problems
- Install and test network cabling
- Maintain network documentation
Telecommunications Technician
- Install internet, phone and TV service
- Run and terminate copper, coax and fiber cabling
- Splice and test fiber optic lines
- Configure modems, routers and phone systems
- Troubleshoot signal and connectivity problems
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, hands-on work, and indoor work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose network technician if…
- I like figuring out why things aren’t working
- I enjoy hands-on tech work
- I can stay calm during outages
Choose telecommunications technician if…
- I like electronics and networks
- I enjoy hands-on troubleshooting
- I’m comfortable on ladders
Still torn? Take the Network Technician fit quiz and the Telecommunications Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, network technician or telecommunications technician?
Network Technicians earn more at the median: $76,220 versus $63,890 for telecommunications technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Telecommunications Technicians typically train faster (3–12 months) than network technicians (6 months–2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects network technicians to grow +1.2% from 2025–35, compared with -3.3% for telecommunications technicians.