As you look for your first career or even a new one, fiber optics might not be the first one that pops to mind, but there are many reasons you might want to give it a second look. Or, if you’ve never heard of it before, a first one.
So, is fiber optics a good move for your career? Here are several reasons you might want to consider getting a certification.
The Pay Is Great
Happily, pay isn’t something fiber optics technicians need to worry about. According to Payscale, folks with a fiber optics certification make an average of $61,000 annually. Keep in mind that means you can earn significantly more than that if you stay in the field.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lumps technicians under the category of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, who make a similar average salary of $60,370 per year, which translates to $29.02 per hour. That’s all without a college degree, which we’ll discuss in a minute.
The Job Won’t Go Out of Style
Even better, the job market is only growing for those with fiber optics expertise. Also, according to the BLS, careers as a telecommunications equipment expert are growing at a rate of 8 percent, which means that between 2021 and 2031, a predicted 14,400 additional jobs will be created.
In a sometimes unstable market, it’s nice to know that anyone considering fiber optics is guaranteed to find a job waiting for them once they have the certification in hand. Speaking of certifications …
You Don’t Need a Degree
One of the best arguments for this career is that you don’t need to sink a ton of energy and resources into it. Unlike a job that requires four or more years of school, you can get your fiber optics technician certification in a matter of months. That way, you can test out a lucrative new career without burdening yourself with debt for life.
Moreover, the best fiber optics courses are available online and conclude with only a one-week in-person session, so you can maintain your family and work responsibilities all throughout your schooling.
You Never Stop Learning
Working as a technician brings with it all kinds of challenges. That can make for some difficult days, to be sure, but when you work for the right company, those challenges become learning opportunities that make you an increasingly knowledgeable professional. Not only does that mean you’ll get paid more over time, but it makes your job more enjoyable as well.
Another way to keep learning is to get a more specific certification. In addition to the standard Certified Fiber Optic Technician award, the Fiber Optics Association (FOA) offers four more extensive certifications as well, including:
- Certified Premises Cabling Technician
- CFOS/H: Certified Fiber to the Home Specialist
- CFOS/S: Certified Fiber Optic Specialist, Splicing
- CFOS/T: Certified Fiber Optic Specialist, Testing
Each of these knowledge areas increases your area of expertise, widens your job opportunities, and boosts your potential pay.
You Get to Work in Interesting Places
If you’ve got that classic “on the road again” mentality toward life, fiber optics is an amazing opportunity to do a job you love while getting to spend time out in the world. Fiber optics technicians travel all over, visiting homes and businesses, schools and shops, far-flung farms and factories, and more. Some people love the travel time as much as the work itself, getting to see lots of different places.
Plus, as a technician or specialist, you’ll get to see all kinds of establishments from the inside. Technicians have visited interesting places such as nuclear facilities, government offices, breweries … you name it, someone needs to wire it for the modern age. Why not you?
You Get to Play With Other Toys Too
Fiber optics isn’t the only cool technology you might get to work with if you pursue a career in optical engineering. Once you get a fiber optics certification as a technician or specialist, you can continue to advance your career by gaining skills with lasers, microscopes, and other technology that relies on the same science and technology.
Of course, if that’s not for you, no need! Many people are happily employed as fiber optics technicians for decades, helping to solve problems for businesses, residents, universities, scientific establishments, and more. You can too.
So, Is Fiber Optics a Good Career?
At the end of the day, the question of whether fiber optics is a good career for you is one nobody else can answer. The question of whether it’s a quality career overall, however, is simpler: it definitely is! If you’re not sure how you want to make a living, and you think fiber optics might be a possibility, please feel free to get in touch with us today.
Give us a call at 619-596-2766 or email us at [email protected].
