State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Telecommunications Engineering Specialist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists is $134,050 a year ($64.45/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% through 2034, with about 11,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 15-1241Computer and MathematicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $134,050
- Projected growth
- +11.9%
- Openings a year
- 11,200
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Communications Engineer, Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, Network Engineer, Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Telecommunication Design Analyst (Telecom Design Analyst).
How much do Telecommunications Engineering Specialists make?
10th percentile$79,900
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$104,620
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$134,050
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$168,200
Upper quartile
90th percentile$202,680
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $134,050 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $64.45/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $139,580 |
| People employed | 179,740 |
Versus all US occupations
At $134,050, Telecommunications Engineering Specialists earn 163% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $83,070 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 15% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $202,680 or more while the bottom 10% earn $79,900, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($168,070), but once local prices are taken into account South Dakota leads at $173,154 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Telecommunications Engineering Specialists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $168,070 | $157,056 | 4,730 |
| New Jersey | $162,350 | $149,212 | 5,660 |
| Maryland | $159,460 | $151,926 | 5,860 |
| California | $158,870 | $143,488 | 14,870 |
| Massachusetts | $155,060 | $146,619 | 6,270 |
| South Dakota | $153,390 | $173,154 | 420 |
| Delaware | $148,390 | $148,675 | 760 |
| Connecticut | $143,890 | $138,877 | 1,570 |
| Virginia | $141,340 | $139,797 | 9,380 |
| New York | $140,390 | $130,086 | 9,800 |
Is Telecommunications Engineering Specialist a growing career?
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists11.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+11.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Telecommunications Engineering Specialists to change 11.9% over 2024–2034, roughly 3.8× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 21,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 11,200 openings are projected each year, 6.3% of the 179,200 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for computer network architects is projected to grow as firms continue to design and build new information technology (IT) networks and upgrade existing ones. Companies looking to leverage technological investments, such as artificial intelligence (AI), will need these workers to upgrade their IT infrastructure. Additionally, continued expansion of cloud computing will increase demand for these workers to ensure that networks are properly designed and that transition to the new network proceeds smoothly.
How to become a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist
Computer network architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field and experience in a related occupation, such as network and computer systems administrators.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as telecommunications engineering specialists.
- Post-Secondary Certificate23.8%
- Bachelor's Degree19.1%
- Some College Courses14.3%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)14.3%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate14.3%
What does a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist do?
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. These networks range from small connections between two offices to virtual capabilities such as a cloud infrastructure that serves multiple customers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
- Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
- Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
- Inspect sites to determine physical configuration, such as device locations and conduit pathways.
- Estimate costs for system or component implementation and operation.
- Work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices.
- Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where telecommunications engineering specialists work
| Computer systems design and related services | 25% |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 11% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9% |
| Temporary help services | 3% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.6/5
- Active Listening3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
- Writing3.3/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.5
Investigativeprimary4.3
Artistic1.9
Social2.3
Enterprising3.1
Conventionalprimary5.0
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Telecommunications Engineering Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Telecommunications Engineering Specialists make?
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists earn a median of $134,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 163% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $64.45/hr. The middle half earn between $104,620 and $168,200. The top 10% earn $202,680 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 23.8% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Telecommunications Engineering Specialist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 11,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist do?
Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. A core O*NET task: keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Telecommunications Engineering Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists are Washington ($168,070), New Jersey ($162,350), Maryland ($159,460) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, South Dakota moves to the top at $173,154.
What personality type suits a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
O*NET scores Telecommunications Engineering Specialists highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.