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Telecommunications technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$63,890median pay per year, or $30.72 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,240lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,83025th percentile
  3. $63,890median
  4. $81,69075th percentile
  5. $96,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers, had a median pay of $63,890 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall, while all occupations are projected to grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.3%[2]
Openings per year
11,300[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[7]

How much do telecommunications technicians make?

The median pay was $63,890 a year, or $30.72 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $68,500 a year or $32.93 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,240 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $96,730[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual pay Hourly pay
10th[4][10] $44,240 $21.27
25th[4][10] $51,830 $24.92
Median[1] $63,890 $30.72
75th[4][10] $81,690 $39.27
90th[4][10] $96,730 $46.51

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11]. About 0.8% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest median pay at $95,850 a year, followed by North Dakota at $90,890 and New Hampshire at $85,240[13]. Arkansas had the lowest published state median, at $49,740[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Anchorage, AK had the highest median at $101,020, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $92,290[14].

The most jobs were in California (14,040), Texas (13,440) and Florida (11,820)[15]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most at 5,820, with a median of $75,900[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[13]$95,850520
North Dakota$90,890470
New Hampshire$85,240550
Vermont$81,800310
Louisiana$80,2103,060
Hawaii$79,250760
New Jersey$78,0002,690
Washington$77,6103,210
California$76,63014,040
Massachusetts$76,5002,890
Colorado$76,4103,180
Oregon$75,2701,710
Connecticut$75,2001,910
Minnesota$75,1501,900
Montana$73,970630
District of Columbia$73,130300
Arizona$72,7103,320
New York$67,7106,240
Rhode Island$66,960150
Delaware$66,670440
Iowa$65,7101,780
Utah$65,6502,160
Pennsylvania$64,9605,220
Georgia$64,9006,640
Illinois$64,6305,760
North Carolina$63,9703,540
New Mexico$63,6001,100
West Virginia$63,560820
Maryland$63,0502,520
Nevada$62,800890
Idaho$62,4401,080
South Dakota$62,000520
Maine$61,720400
Michigan$61,7003,940
Ohio$61,6803,560
South Carolina$61,4802,130
Virginia$61,3403,310
Mississippi$61,2501,500
Tennessee$61,2202,480
Florida$61,03011,820
Indiana$61,0302,050
Wisconsin$60,7702,120
Nebraska$60,5201,430
Wyoming$60,250310
Alabama$59,7703,200
Kentucky$59,7002,210
Texas$59,37013,440
Kansas$58,6901,480
Missouri$57,6102,260
Oklahoma$50,3501,660
Arkansas$49,7401,320

How to become a telecommunications technician

BLS Employment Projections lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education, with no work experience needed and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from an Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers a wider group of occupations than this one[17].

Training length and topics vary by job and employer[22]. Certification from a manufacturer or employer may help for some technicians[23]. A driver's license may be needed to reach job sites, and heavy vehicles usually call for a commercial driver's license. Some employers want first aid or CPR certification[24].

O*NET places the job in a group needing medium preparation, with previous work-related skill or experience[25].

What telecommunications technicians do

They install, set up and service switching, routing and other communications equipment, including phone, cable TV and internet equipment on customers' property[26]. Common tasks include:

Workers report titles such as broadband technician, network technician and service technician[28].

Where they work

Telecommunications was the largest employer in the wider group in 2025, at 61% of jobs[29]. Some technicians work indoors in homes, businesses or central offices. Others work outdoors installing cables and equipment[30]. The work can mean climbing onto rooftops, ladders, poles and towers, and working in cramped spaces or awkward positions[31].

The work can be dangerous. These workers are among those with the highest injury and illness rates of any occupation. Falls and strains are common[32]. Hardhats and harnesses help lower the risk[33]. Most work full time, and some work nights or weekends or are on call around the clock[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 143,100 to 138,400 jobs, a change of -4,700[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

Even so, about 11,300 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 5.2% to move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want pay above the all-occupations median and are comfortable with training after high school and with heights and physical work[1][5][7][36][31]. The trade-off is a projected decline in jobs[2]. Openings from workers leaving the occupation are still projected[6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a telecommunications technician make an hour?
The median was $30.72 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $32.93[1][8].
What education do you need to be a telecommunications technician?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as typical[7]. The handbook profile for the wider group says at least a high school diploma, and some employers prefer a certificate or associate's degree[17][18].
How long is training for a telecommunications technician?
In the wider group, on-the-job training typically lasts from several months to several years[21][17].
Is telecommunications technician a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to decline 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, while about 11,300 openings a year are still projected[2][6].
What is the highest paying state for telecommunications technicians?
Alaska, with a median of $95,850 a year in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers in the US was $63,890 per year and $30.72 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers is projected to decline 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 143,100 to 138,400 jobs (a change of -4,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers: 10th percentile $44,240, 25th percentile $51,830, 75th percentile $81,690, 90th percentile $96,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,300 openings for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers was $68,500 per year and $32.93 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers: 10th percentile $21.27, 25th percentile $24.92, 75th percentile $39.27, 90th percentile $46.51. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 0.8% of Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Anchorage, AK $101,020; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $92,290; Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $90,690; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $87,950; Manchester-Nashua, NH $87,160; Burlington-South Burlington, VT $81,800; Baton Rouge, LA $81,470; New Orleans-Metairie, LA $81,090. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers jobs: California 14,040; Texas 13,440; Florida 11,820; Georgia 6,640; New York 6,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,820 (median $75,900); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,680 (median $60,340); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,360 (median $73,440); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 4,300 (median $70,790); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,810 (median $62,230); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,480 (median $69,820). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Telecommunications Technicians" covers Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 49-2022.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 49-2022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Broadband Technician (Broadband Tech), Combination Technician (Combination Tech), Customer Service Technician (CST), Installer, Network Technician (Network Tech), Outside Plant Technician (Outside Plant Tech), Repair Technician (Repair Tech), Service Technician (Service Tech). O*NET OnLine
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of telecommunications technicians in 2025: Telecommunications 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.