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Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $63,520 Median per year · $30.54/hr Most earn $44,460–$103,990

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.
  • Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.
  • Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
  • Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
  • Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
  • Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 1,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Telecommunications25.5%
  • Power and communication line and related structures construction13.6%
  • Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance9.2%
  • Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors8.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This is usually not a job you walk into straight from high school. Most people finish high school, then complete a certificate program or apprenticeship in electronics or telecommunications, and often spend about 1 to 2 years getting hands-on experience before working as a radio, cellular, or tower equipment installer or repairer.

  1. High school diploma with math and electronics coursework

    4 years

    Building a strong base in algebra, physics, and any electronics or shop classes prepares you for technical training that uses circuits and signals every day.

  2. Electronics or telecommunications certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    You learn how radio equipment, antennas, and wireless systems work and get supervised hands-on practice, which is the experience employers look for before hiring you for this role.

  3. Telecommunications Equipment Installer

    6 months to 1 year

    Working in the field on telecom gear builds the practical troubleshooting and installation skills you need before you specialize in radio and cellular systems.

  4. Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installer

    Career

    You install, maintain, and repair radio transmitting and receiving equipment and two-way communication systems, and you may test network coverage.

Where it can lead

  1. RF Technician

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move toward more analytical work, such as testing signal quality, analyzing network coverage, and using measurement tools to find and fix problems, which usually calls for deeper technical training.

  2. Field Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a crew, plan jobs, schedule work, and check quality, which takes strong reliability, communication skills, and a solid record of completed installations.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take algebra, physics, and any electronics or shop classesThese classes teach the math and circuit basics you will use every day when working with radio and wireless equipment.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or amateur radio clubHands-on building and troubleshooting in a club helps you learn how electronic systems behave and shows future programs you are serious about the field.
  • Look for a starter job at an electronics store, repair shop, or hardware storeWorking around tools, gadgets, and customers builds practical skills and a work record that can help when you apply for training or apprenticeships.
  • Volunteer with a community or school tech teamSetting up sound, video, or network equipment for events teaches you how to install and fix systems under real deadlines.
  • Ask a working technician or installer for an informational interviewHearing about their day-to-day work and training path will help you decide whether this career fits you and what to study next.

In college

  • Take electronics, RF or wireless communications, and physics coursesCourses on circuits, signals, and antennas build the core knowledge this career depends on, whether you are in a two-year technical program or a four-year degree.
  • Apply for an internship or co-op at a telecom, wireless, or broadcast companyReal field experience is what employers look for, and internships can count toward the hands-on background that often comes before this job.
  • Get a campus job in IT, AV, or equipment supportHelping set up, maintain, and troubleshoot equipment builds practical skills and shows you can work reliably with technical systems.
  • Join an electronics, engineering, or amateur radio student groupWorking on projects with others strengthens your hands-on skills and gives you connections in the field.
  • Look into industry certifications for wireless or tower workCertifications show employers you have specific, job-ready skills, and safety training for climbing and working at heights is a valuable addition.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local electronics shop, radio station, or telecom company whether they hire or take on helpers, even for part-time work. Any hands-on experience with equipment counts toward the 1 to 2 years employers often want.
  • Look at certificate and apprenticeship programs near you and compare what they cover, such as antennas, wireless systems, and safety training. Ask whether they include paid on-the-job training.
  • Keep a simple log of the projects you build or fix. Clear examples make it easier to show employers what you can do when you apply.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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