Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, also known as telecom technicians, set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, such as telephone lines and Internet routers.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers typically do the following:
These workers use many different tools to inspect equipment and diagnose problems. For instance, to locate distortions in signals, they may employ spectrum analyzers and polarity probes. They also commonly use hand tools, including screwdrivers and pliers, to take equipment apart and repair it.
Many telecom technicians work with computers, specialized hardware, and other diagnostic equipment. They follow manufacturers’ instructions or technical manuals to install or update software and programs on devices.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers who work at a client’s location must track hours worked, parts used, and costs incurred. Workers who set up and maintain lines outdoors are classified as line installers and repairers.
The specific tasks of telecom technicians vary with their specialization and where they work.
The following are examples of types of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers:
Central office technicians set up and maintain switches, routers, 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. Telecom technicians receive alerts about equipment malfunctions from automonitoring switches and are able to correct the problems remotely.
Headend technicians perform work similar to that of central office technicians, but work at distribution centers for cable and television companies, called headends. Headends are control centers in which technicians monitor signals for local cable networks.
Home installers and repairers—sometimes known as station installers and repairers—set up and repair telecommunications equipment in customers’ homes and businesses. For example, they set up modems to install telephone, Internet, and cable television services.
When customers have problems, home installers and repairers test the customer’s lines to determine if the problem is inside the building or outside. If the problem is inside, they try to repair it. If the problem is outside, they refer the problem to line repairers.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers held about 178,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers were as follows:
| Telecommunications | 66% |
| Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors | 13 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 |
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 3 |
| Cable and other subscription programming | 2 |
Some telecom technicians provide in-home installation and repair services, while others work in central offices or electronic service centers. Equipment installation may require climbing onto rooftops and into attics, and climbing ladders and telephone poles.
Telecom technicians occasionally work in cramped, awkward positions, in which they stoop, crouch, crawl, or reach high to do their work. Sometimes they must lift or move heavy equipment and parts. They also may work on equipment while it is powered, so they need to take necessary precautions.
The work of telecom technicians can be dangerous. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Common injuries include falls and strains.
To reduce risk of injury, workers wear hardhats and harnesses when working on ladders or on elevated equipment. To prevent electrical shocks, technicians may lock off power to equipment that is under repair.
Most telecom technicians work full time.
Some businesses offer 24-hour repair services. Telecom technicians in these companies work shifts, including evenings, holidays, and weekends. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergencies.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers typically need postsecondary education in electronics, telecommunications, or computer networking. They also receive on-the-job training.
Telecom technicians typically need postsecondary education in electronics, telecommunications, or computer networking. Generally, postsecondary programs include classes such as data transmission systems, data communication, AC/DC electrical circuits, and computer programming.
Most programs lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree in telecommunications or related subjects.
Some employers prefer to hire candidates with an associate’s degree.
Once hired, telecom technicians receive on-the-job training, typically lasting a few weeks to a few months. Training involves a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on work with an experienced technician. In these settings, workers learn the equipment’s internal parts and the tools needed for repair. Technicians who have completed postsecondary education often require less on-the-job instruction than those who have not.
Some companies may send new employees to training sessions to learn about equipment, procedures, and technologies offered by equipment manufacturers or industry organizations.
Because technology in this field constantly changes, telecom technicians must continue learning about new equipment over the course of their careers.
Color vision. Telecom technicians work with color-coded wires, and they need to 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 teach people how to maintain and operate communications equipment.
Dexterity. Telecom technicians’ tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination.
Mechanical skills. Telecom technicians must be familiar with the devices they install and repair, with their internal parts, and with the appropriate tools needed to use, install, or fix them. They must also be able to understand manufacturers’ instructions when installing or repairing equipment.
Troubleshooting skills. Telecom technicians must be able to troubleshoot and devise solutions to problems that are not immediately apparent.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers was $60,370 in May 2021. 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 $36,360, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,660.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Telecommunications | $61,070 |
| Cable and other subscription programming | 59,910 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 53,710 |
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 48,950 |
| Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors | 47,530 |
Most telecom technicians work full time.
Some businesses offer 24-hour repair services. Telecom technicians in these companies work shifts, including evenings, holidays, and weekends. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergencies.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Employment of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 22,500 openings for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers 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 is projected to increase in telecommunications, the industry that employs most of these workers. Consumers increasingly demand wireless and mobile services, which will create opportunities for telecommunications equipment installers as anticipated 5G and wireless infrastructure updates are completed.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
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Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers |
49-2022 | 178,000 | 192,300 | 8 | 14,400 | Get data | |
For information about career, training, and certification opportunities for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, visit
National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning
Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers
Telecommunications Industry Association
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers