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Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they 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.

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.

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 $63,890 Median per year · $30.72/hr Most earn $44,240–$96,730

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Provide input into the design and manufacturing of new equipment.
  • Perform database verifications, using computers.
  • Place intercept circuits on terminals to handle vacant lines in central office installations.
  • Review manufacturer's instructions, manuals, technical specifications, building permits, and ordinances to determine communication equipment requirements and procedures.
  • Perform routine maintenance on equipment, including adjusting and lubricating components and painting worn or exposed areas.
  • Examine telephone transmission facilities to determine requirements for new or additional telephone services.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 11,300 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

  • Telecommunications64.8%
  • Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors12.9%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods3.7%
  • Computer systems design and related services3.4%
  • Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance2.6%

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

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

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: 6 months to 1 year

You can often start in this job after a certificate or apprenticeship in electronics or telecommunications, plus a short stretch of on-the-job training. Most people spend about 1-2 years getting ready, including school and their first months on the job.

  1. High school diploma with math and electronics or shop classes

    4 years

    Strong math and basic electronics build the foundation you need for reading wiring diagrams and understanding how equipment works.

  2. Telecommunications or electronics certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 2 years

    Hands-on training in networking, wiring, and communications equipment teaches the skills employers look for before they hire you for real installations.

  3. Telecommunications Technician Trainee

    6 months to 1 year

    You work alongside experienced installers, learn to install and test equipment safely, and build the on-the-job experience that most employers expect.

  4. Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

    Ongoing

    You install, set up, service, and repair switching, routing, and customer communications equipment in buildings and central offices.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Telecommunications Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You handle harder repairs, train newer installers, and often lead jobs on your own with less supervision.

  2. Telecommunications Engineering Specialist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You shift toward designing, planning, and troubleshooting networks, which usually requires more technical training and deeper knowledge of how systems connect.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physics or electronics classesCircuits, measurement, and problem-solving are the core of this work and make certificate programs much easier to start.
  • Take a computer or networking classUnderstanding how devices connect over networks helps you grasp how telecom equipment is set up and fixed.
  • Join a robotics, electronics, or technology clubBuilding and fixing small devices with a team gives you hands-on practice and something to talk about in applications.
  • Look for a starter job or volunteer roleHelping with yard work, a neighbor's wiring, or a local shop shows you can work with tools and on tight schedules.
  • Talk to a school counselor about career and technical educationThey can tell you which nearby programs or apprenticeships accept students who are still in high school.

In college

  • Enroll in a telecommunications or electronics certificate programA focused certificate teaches the installation and repair skills employers look for when hiring entry-level technicians.
  • Take courses in networking, cabling, or data communicationsThese classes cover how voice, cable, and internet equipment connect, which is central to this job.
  • Apply for a campus job in IT, facilities, or media servicesHelping keep campus equipment running gives you practical troubleshooting experience and a reference.
  • Pursue an industry certificationCommon entry-level networking or cabling certifications show employers you already know the basics, even before you have much experience.
  • Look for an internship or apprenticeship with a telecom or cable companyWorking with installers in the field gives you real experience and often leads to a job offer after graduation.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local technical school, community college, or union apprenticeship office what certificate or apprenticeship options exist near you.
  • Get comfortable with computers and networking basics, since most modern communications equipment is run by software and networks.
  • Look for part-time or summer work helping an electrician, installer, or IT technician to see the job up close and build early experience.

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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