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Cable splicer: 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.

$74,330median pay per year, or $35.73 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,310lowest 10% earn less
  2. $54,31025th percentile
  3. $74,330median
  4. $95,85075th percentile
  5. $103,680top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Telecommunications line installers and repairers, the official category that includes a cable splicer, had a median wage of $74,330 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.4%[2]
Openings per year
8,000[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do cable splicers make?

The median wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers was $74,330 a year, or $35.73 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $73,940 a year, or $35.55 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. So the typical worker in this group earned well above the typical US worker.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,310 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $103,680[3]. BLS says a percentile is a boundary and does not publish a starting salary[8].

Annual wage point Amount
10th percentile[3] $45,310
25th percentile[3] $54,310
Median[1] $74,330
75th percentile[3] $95,850
90th percentile[3] $103,680

Per hour, the same points run from $21.79 to $49.85[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or some bonuses[10].

Pay by state and city

Rhode Island had the highest state median at $103,810, followed by Massachusetts at $103,410 and New Jersey at $102,090[11]. Louisiana ($48,770) and Oklahoma ($48,900) had the lowest medians[11].

Texas had the most jobs (9,700), followed by California (8,810), New York (8,530), Florida (5,760) and Virginia (4,120)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($107,310), Springfield, MA ($105,220) and Providence-Warwick ($103,810)[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 7,340[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Rhode Island[11]$103,810490
Massachusetts$103,4102,230
New Jersey$102,0902,540
New York$100,9608,530
California$97,9808,810
District of Columbia$97,600500
Alaska$97,450390
Connecticut$97,140500
Delaware$93,850310
Maine$92,120680
West Virginia$89,6901,270
New Hampshire$86,370540
Maryland$82,3802,400
Pennsylvania$81,0203,890
Hawaii$79,880680
Virginia$79,0904,120
Washington$76,0701,510
Texas$75,7409,700
Montana$75,720530
Michigan$74,3602,780
Minnesota$73,7101,130
Nevada$72,230730
Illinois$70,7002,460
Colorado$66,0201,630
Kentucky$64,0101,870
Wyoming$63,660160
Kansas$63,560530
Wisconsin$63,560950
Tennessee$63,5102,620
Ohio$62,8603,920
Vermont$61,970310
Florida$61,7405,760
Alabama$60,8901,530
Iowa$60,890820
Arkansas$60,8401,690
Oregon$60,330920
Utah$60,090800
South Carolina$59,7901,310
North Dakota$59,280300
Missouri$59,0802,710
Indiana$58,9201,580
Georgia$58,7603,530
Arizona$58,600790
New Mexico$58,130350
North Carolina$56,6802,610
Idaho$56,340300
Nebraska$50,070390
South Dakota$49,560590
Mississippi$49,360700
Oklahoma$48,9001,410
Louisiana$48,770960

How to become a cable splicer

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers a wider group of telecommunications technicians, not only line installers[15]. With that in mind, the path looks like this.

Some telecom technicians may need a driver's license to reach jobsites, and those who drive heavy vehicles usually need a commercial driver's license[19]. Some employers prefer or require first aid or CPR certification[19]. Manufacturer or employer certification may help for some workers[20].

The work calls for comfort at heights, the ability to tell color-coded wires apart, and good hand-eye coordination[21][22][23].

What cable splicers do

O*NET describes the job as installing and repairing telecommunications cable, including fiber optics[24]. Common tasks include[25]:

Workers report job titles such as cable technician, fiber optic splicer and field service technician[26].

Where they work

For the wider group of telecom technicians, some work indoors in homes, businesses or central offices, and others work outdoors installing cables and equipment[27]. The work can involve climbing onto roofs, ladders, poles and towers, and sometimes working in cramped spaces or lifting heavy parts[28].

BLS notes that the work can be dangerous. Telecommunications line installers and repairers are among the occupations with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses, and falls and strains are common[29]. Workers use hardhats and harnesses, and may switch off power to equipment before repairs[30].

Full-time work is typical, and some technicians work nights or weekends or are on call around the clock[31]. In 2025, 61% of telecom technicians worked in the telecommunications industry[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of telecommunications line installers and repairers to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 103,400 to 99,900 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[33].

Even so, about 8,000 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, about 2.9% of workers leave the labor force and 5.3% move to a different occupation[34].

The wage data counted about 97,720 jobs[35], while the projection starts from about 103,400[2]. The first counts wage and salary jobs only, and the second includes the self-employed[35][2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that pays well above the all-occupations median[1][4] and does not require a college degree to enter[6]. Training is long-term[6], the work happens at heights and carries injury risk[21][29], and the number of jobs is projected to shrink[2]. Openings from retirements and job changes are still expected each year[5]. Pay also varies a lot by state[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cable splicer make an hour?
The median wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers was $35.73 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $26.11 and $46.08 an hour[9].
What education do you need to be a cable splicer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related experience and long-term on-the-job training[6].
How long does it take to become a cable splicer?
BLS lists long-term on-the-job training[6]. For the wider group of telecom technicians, training lasts from several months to several years[18].
Is cable splicing in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][33]. About 8,000 openings a year are still projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for cable splicers?
Rhode Island had the highest median annual wage at $103,810 in May 2025, followed by Massachusetts and New Jersey[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in the US was $74,330 per year and $35.73 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers is projected to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 103,400 to 99,900 jobs (a change of -3,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: 10th percentile $45,310, 25th percentile $54,310, 75th percentile $95,850, 90th percentile $103,680. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 8,000 openings for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers was $73,940 per year and $35.55 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. 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
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: 10th percentile $21.79, 25th percentile $26.11, 75th percentile $46.08, 90th percentile $49.85. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. Median annual wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers jobs: Texas 9,700; California 8,810; New York 8,530; Florida 5,760; Virginia 4,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $107,310; Springfield, MA $105,220; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $103,810; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $103,650; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $103,500; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $103,090; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $102,550; Worcester, MA $102,070. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,340 (median $102,550); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,030 (median $78,580); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,860 (median $95,560); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,780 (median $96,780); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,110 (median $58,130); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,040 (median $76,950). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Telecommunications Technicians" covers Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 49-9052.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cable Splicer, Cable Tech (Cable Technician), Cable TV Tech (Cable Television Technician), Combination Technician (Combination Tech), Fiber Optic Splicer, Field Service Technician, I and R Technician (Installation and Repair Technician), Installer. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of telecommunications technicians in 2025: Telecommunications 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: 2.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 97,720 people were employed as Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. 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.