<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                     AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                    BETWEEN

                   RICHARD L. DUNN AND DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.


         WHEREAS, effective as of January 28, 2000, Richard L. Dunn and Dycom
Industries, Inc. entered into an employment agreement (the "EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Employment Agreement, the
Employment Agreement may be amended by a written instrument exercised by the
undersigned paries;

         WHEREAS, the undersigned parties desire to amend the Employment
Agreement to extend the Employment Term; and

         WHEREAS, the undersigned parties represent and warrant that the
execution and delivery of this amendment has been duly and validly executed and
delivered and is valid and binding.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Employment Agreement is hereby amended, effective
as of January 28, 2003, as follows:

         1. Paragraph 2 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended in its
entirety to read as follows:

                  "The Employee's employment pursuant to the
                  Employment Agreement shall commence on the
                  Effective Date and shall terminate upon
                  the earlier to occur of (i) termination
                  pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof or (ii) the
                  third anniversary of the Effective Date;
                  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the term of the
                  Employee's employment hereunder shall be
                  automatically extended without further
                  action of either party for additional one
                  year periods, unless written notice of
                  either party's intention not to extend has
                  been given to the other party hereto at
                  least 60 days prior to the expiration of
                  the then effective term. The period
                  commencing as of the Effective Date and
                  ending on the third anniversary of the
                  Effective Date or such later date to which
                  the term of the Executive's employment
                  under this Agreement shall have been
                  extended is hereinafter referred to as the
                  'EMPLOYMENT TERM'."

         2. Except as otherwise expressly amended by this amendment, the
Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

<PAGE>
         3. This amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which when executed shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this amendment as of
the date set forth above.


                                               DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                               By: /s/ STEVEN E. NIELSEN
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Name:  Steven E. Nielsen
                                                  Title: President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer


Acknowledged and Agreed:


/s/ RICHARD L. DUNN
-----------------------------------
Name: Richard L. Dunn, Individually




                                       2