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Salary comparison

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers out-earn Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers land at $63,890 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at $50,620. The education gap is real: telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers is Alaska ($95,850); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics it's District of Columbia ($68,660).

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median salary
$63,890
$50,620
Hourly rate
$30.72/hr
$24.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$44,240
$34,660
Senior level (90th %)
$96,730
$81,790
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
140,920
704,640
Job growth (10-year)
-4.2%
4.2%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Alaska
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers median pay.

State
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Alaska
$95,850
$60,840
North Dakota
$90,890
$57,360
New Hampshire
$85,240
$59,020
Washington
$77,610
$57,270
California
$76,630
$64,980
Massachusetts
$76,500
$60,760
Colorado
$76,410
$61,280
Oregon
$75,270
$58,520
Connecticut
$75,200
$60,220
Minnesota
$75,150
$58,390
Montana
$73,970
$58,740
District of Columbia
$73,130
$68,660
Delaware
$66,670
$58,410
Maryland
$63,050
$57,520
Virginia
$61,340
$59,330

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers earn more nationally. The median is $63,890 for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to -4.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers at $95,850/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers earn $95,850 vs. $60,840 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers salary breakdownView →Full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary breakdownView →Best cities for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by take-home payExplore →How to become a telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersGuide →How to become a automotive service technicians and mechanicsGuide →