Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Median salary

$63,890

Average salary

$68,500

Employment

140,920

Projected growth

4.2% decline

Annual openings

13,200

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

What Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers Do

Install, set up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers' property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 1.9%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 4.4/5
Telecommunicationsimportance 4.4/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.2/5
English Languageimportance 4.0/5
Mathematicsimportance 3.5/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.3/5
Mechanicalimportance 3.2/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.2/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

E-Mail4.8/5
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment4.7/5
Telephone Conversations4.7/5
Frequency of Decision Making4.7/5
Contact With Others4.5/5
Freedom to Make Decisions4.5/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers93% skill match
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers93% skill match
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers93% skill match
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers93% skill match
Avionics Technicians92% skill match
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers92% skill match
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles92% skill match
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers91% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Troubleshootingimportance 3.9/5
Repairingimportance 3.9/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.6/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.6/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.5/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.4/5
Installationimportance 3.3/5
Operation and Controlimportance 3.3/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Apache Struts
Cisco IOS
Firewall software
Fluke ClearSight Analyzer
Fluke Networks Fluke TechEXPERT
Fluke Networks TechAdvisor Field Access System
Geographic information system GIS systems
IBM Domino

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Cautiousness
Perseverance
Cooperation
Integrity
Stress Tolerance

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).