### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Telecommunications Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			telecommunications equipment installers and repairers except line installers imageTelecom technicians install and repair telecommunications equipment.							
						Quick Facts:     Telecommunications Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$62,350     per year
										$29.98     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    See How to Become OneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    299,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    18,900What Telecommunications Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Telecommunications technicians install, maintain, and repair radio, internet, and other telecommunications infrastructure.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most telecommunications technicians work full time. They may have to work night or weekend shifts to maintain or repair telecommunications networks. Technicians travel frequently to installation and repair sites.
            
                                                How to Become a Telecommunications Technician
                                                
                        
Telecommunications technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a certificate or associate’s degree. These workers also receive on-the-job training.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for telecommunications technicians was $62,350 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of telecommunications technicians is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 31,500 openings for telecommunications technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for telecommunications technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of telecommunications technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about telecommunications technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Telecommunications Technicians Do 
            

			Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersTelecom technicians inspect and service equipment and wiring.			
Telecommunications technicians, also known as *telecom technicians*, install and maintain telecommunications infrastructure. They set up and fix different types of devices or equipment that carry communications signals, such as internet routers and fiber optic lines.
Duties
Telecommunications technicians typically do the following:
Install telecommunications lines or equipment
Operate, maintain, or repair damaged or malfunctioning telecommunications lines or equipment
Test telecommunications lines or devices to ensure that they work properly
Keep records of maintenance, repairs, and installations
Explain the use and maintenance of equipment to customersTelecommunications technicians construct and maintain the infrastructure that transmits information electronically, often across great distances. They install and repair telecommunications lines and fiber optic cables. They also set up and maintain equipment that carries communications signals.
The specific tasks of telecom technicians vary with their specialization and where they work. The following are examples of types of telecommunications technicians:
***Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers***install, repair, or maintain radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment and two-way radio communications systems. These systems are used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers may test and analyze network coverage and troubleshoot solutions during network outages.
***Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers*** set up and maintain various types of devices or equipment that carry communications signals, such as telephone lines and internet routers. *Central office technicians* set up and maintain switches, fiber optic cables, and other equipment at switching hubs, called central offices. These hubs send, process, and amplify data from thousands of telephone, internet, and cable connections. Central office technicians receive alerts about equipment malfunctions from automonitoring switches and are able to correct the problems remotely. Technicians who work at distribution centers for cable and television companies may be called *headend technicians*. Headends are control centers in which technicians monitor signals for local cable networks. *Residential and business**installers and repairers* set up and repair telecommunications equipment, such as modems for internet and cable television services, in customers’ homes and businesses. They also may need to install aerial and underground wiring.
***Telecommunications line installers and repairers***install and maintain the cables used by network communications companies. Depending on the service provided—local and long-distance telephone, cable television, or internet—telecommunications companies use fiber optic and other types of cables. Telecommunications line installers and repairers use specialized tools to test and troubleshoot cables and networking equipment. Those who work with fiber optic cables must be able to splice and terminate optical cables.
 Work Environment
			Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersSome telecom technicians provide in-home installation and repair services, while others work in central offices or electronic service centers.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Telecommunications technicians held about 299,300 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up telecommunications technicians was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
                173,700Telecommunications line installers and repairers
                112,100Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
                13,500The largest employers of telecommunications technicians were as follows:
        Telecommunications
                59%Specialty trade contractors
                14Heavy and civil engineering construction
                6Professional, scientific, and technical services
                4Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
                3Some telecom technicians provide installation and repair services indoors, such as in homes, businesses, or central offices. Others work outdoors to install telecommunications cables and equipment.
Telecom technicians’ work may require them to climb onto rooftops; into attics; and up ladders, telephone poles, and telecommunications towers. They occasionally work in cramped spaces and in awkward positions, including stooping, crouching, or crawling. Other times they must reach high or lift and move heavy equipment and parts.
Injuries and Illnesses
The work of telecom technicians can be dangerous. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers and telecommunications line installers and repairers have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Common injuries include falls and strains.
To reduce the risk of injury, workers wear hardhats and harnesses when working on ladders or on elevated equipment. To prevent electrical shock, technicians may switch off power to equipment that is under repair.
Work Schedules
Most telecom technicians work full time. Telecom technicians may be required to work night or weekend shifts to maintain or upgrade telecommunications equipment. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergency.
 How to Become a Telecommunications Technician

			Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersPostsecondary education in electronics, telecommunications, or computer networking is typically needed to become a telecom technician.			
Telecommunications technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a certificate or associate’s degree. These workers also receive on-the-job training.
Education
Telecommunications technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers and radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers may prefer to hire candidates who have some postsecondary education in electronics, telecommunications, or computer networking. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have an associate’s degree.
Community colleges and technical schools offer courses in subjects such as data transmission systems, data communication, AC/DC electrical circuits, and computer programming. These courses typically are included in programs that lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree in telecommunications or related subjects.
Training
Once hired, telecommunications technicians typically receive on-the-job training that lasts from several months to several years. Training involves a combination of formal instruction and hands-on work with an experienced technician. In these settings, workers learn about the equipment’s internal parts and the tools needed for repair.
Training length and topics vary by position and employer. For example, central office technicians typically receive electrical training. Telecommunications line installers and repairers who work for telecommunications companies may benefit from additional training provided by equipment manufacturers, schools, unions, or industry organizations. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers typically learn subjects such as tower climbing and rescue, electrical skills and concepts, and radio frequency fundamentals.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Manufacturer or employer-provided certification may be helpful for some telecom technicians. For example, the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers offers the Broadband Telecom Center Specialist (BTCS) certification, and the Fiber Optic Association offers multiple fiber optic certifications for telecommunications line installers and repairers.
Telecom technicians may need a driver’s license to travel to jobsites, and workers who drive heavy vehicles usually need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Some employers prefer or require that candidates have certification in first aid or in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Important Qualities
***Ability to work at heights.***Telecom technicians must be comfortable working at heights on lifts, telecommunications towers, and other elevated surfaces.******
***Color vision.*** Telecom technicians work with color-coded wires, and they must be able to tell them apart.
***Customer-service skills.*** Telecom technicians who work in customers’ homes and offices should be friendly and polite. They must be able to explain to customers about maintaining and operating communications equipment.
***Dexterity.*** Telecom technicians’ tasks, such as connecting components and using handtools, require good hand–eye coordination to avoid injuring themselves and damaging materials.
***Mechanical skills.*** Telecom technicians must be familiar with the devices they work on and with the tools they need to install or fix those devices. They must also be able to understand manufacturers’ instructions when installing or repairing equipment.
***Physical stamina.***Telecom technicians must be able to climb ladders or towers with heavy tools or equipment, work on their feet for extended periods, and dig trenches for telecommunications cables.
***Physical strength.*** Telecom technicians must be able to lift heavy tools, cables, and equipment on a regular basis.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Telecom technicians must be able to troubleshoot and devise solutions to problems that arise when installing or repairing equipment or devices.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Telecommunications TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Telecommunications technicians$62,350  Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations$53,920  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for telecommunications technicians was $62,350 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,230, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,300.

			
                    	Median annual wages for telecommunications technicians in May 2023 were as follows:
        Telecommunications line installers and repairers
		$64,640Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
		61,310Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
		61,270In May 2023, the median annual wages for telecommunications technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Telecommunications
                $70,710Professional, scientific, and technical services
                50,420Specialty trade contractors
                50,230Heavy and civil engineering construction
                49,270Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
                48,960Most telecom technicians work full time. Telecom technicians may be required to work night or weekend shifts to maintain or upgrade telecommunications equipment. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergency.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Telecommunications TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Telecommunications technicians6%  Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of telecommunications technicians is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 31,500 openings for telecommunications technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment of telecommunications technicians is expected to grow as telecommunications providers construct new infrastructure where it did not exist previously and as existing wired telecommunications equipment is upgraded to fiber optic cable with improved capabilities. Telecom line installers will be needed to install cables, and telecom equipment installers will be needed to install devices and to connect customers’ homes and businesses.
			

                        Employment projections data for     telecommunications technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Telecommunications technicians**
			—
			299,300
			318,200
			6
			18,900
			—**Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers**
			49-2021
			13,500
			13,900
			3
			500
			Get data**Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers**
			49-2022
			173,700
			184,700
			6
			11,000
			Get data**Telecommunications line installers and repairers**
			49-9052
			112,100
			119,600
			7
			7,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
					Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
					Telecommunications line installers and repairers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of telecommunications technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians**
            Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for media programs.
            See How to Become One
            $54,160**Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers**
            Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install or repair a variety of electrical equipment.
            See How to Become One
            $67,220**Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers**
            Electrical power-line installers and repairers install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $85,420
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about career, training, and certification opportunities for telecommunications technicians, visit
Building Industry Consulting Service International
The Fiber Optic Association
National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning
Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers
Telecommunications Industry Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and RepairersTelecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersTelecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Telecommunications Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/telecommunications-equipment-installers-and-repairers-except-line-installers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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