Telecommunications Technicians

Summary

What Telecommunications Technicians Do About this section

Telecom 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 customers

Telecommunications 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 About this section

Some telecom technicians provide in-home installation and repair services, while others work in central offices or electronic service centers.

Telecommunications technicians held about 276,500 jobs in 2023. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up telecommunications technicians was distributed as follows:

The largest employers of telecommunications technicians were as follows:

Some 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 About this section

Postsecondary 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 About this section

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:

In May 2023, the median annual wages for telecommunications technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

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.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of telecommunications technicians is projected to decline 3 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 24,600 openings for telecommunications technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of telecommunications technicians varies by occupation (see table).

Demand for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers is expected to increase due to continued growth in the construction of power and communications line and related structures.

Employment of telecommunications equipment and line installers and repairers is expected to decrease as many of the recent 5G infrastructure upgrades and government-funded broadband internet expansion projects are completed, reducing the number of workers needed for new installations. In addition, newer telecommunications structures and technologies, such as fiber optic cables, require less frequent repairs and maintenance schedules.    

State & Area Data About this section

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 OEWS 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.org. 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.

Contacts for More Information About this section

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 Repairers

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers