Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn a median of $74,330 per year ($35.73/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.4% through 2035, with about 8,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9052
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $74,330a year, or $35.73/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $45KTop 10% $104K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.4%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8,000103,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025103.4K
- Projected 203599.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 103.4K Projected 2035 99.9K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Cable Splicer, Cable Tech (Cable Technician), Cable TV Tech (Cable Television Technician), Combination Technician (Combination Tech), Fiber Optic Splicer, Field Service Technician.
Pay
How much do Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers make?
Every telecommunications line installer and repairer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$74,330
Middle half earn $54,310 to $95,850
- 10th
- $45,310
- 25th
- $54,310
- 75th
- $95,850
- 90th
- $103,680
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,310 |
| 25th | $54,310 |
| Median | $74,330 |
| 75th | $95,850 |
| 90th | $103,680 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $74,330
- Median hourly wage
- $35.73/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $73,940
- People employed
- 97,720
Versus all US occupations
At $74,330, Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn 46% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $23,350 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 22% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $103,680 or more while the bottom 10% earn $45,310, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 49% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Rhode Island pays the most at $103,810, and still leads at $101,496 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rhode Island | $103,810 | $101,496 | 490 |
| 2Massachusetts | $103,410 | $97,781 | 2,230 |
| 3New Jersey | $102,090 | $93,828 | 2,540 |
| 4New York | $100,960 | $93,550 | 8,530 |
| 5California | $97,980 | $88,493 | 8,810 |
| 6District of Columbia | $97,600 | $88,807 | 500 |
| 7Alaska | $97,450 | $95,204 | 390 |
| 8Connecticut | $97,140 | $93,755 | 500 |
| 9Delaware | $93,850 | $94,031 | 310 |
| 10Maine | $92,120 | $94,920 | 680 |
Job outlook
Is Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | −3.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers to change -3.4% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 3,500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 8,000 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 103,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of telecommunications technicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
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.
Projected employment of telecommunications technicians varies by occupation (see table).
Demand for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers is expected to increase due to continued growth in the construction of power and communications line and related structures.
Getting in
How to become a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer
Telecommunications technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a certificate or associate’s degree. These workers also receive on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer do?
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Telecommunications technicians, also known as telecom technicians, install and maintain telecommunications infrastructure. They set up and fix different types of devices or equipment that carry communications signals, such as internet routers and fiber optic lines.
Day-to-day tasks
- Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
- Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
- Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
- Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
- Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
- Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
- Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
- Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment, such as digital subscriber line modems.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most telecom technicians work full time. Telecom technicians may be required to work night or weekend shifts to maintain or upgrade telecommunications equipment. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergency.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Active Learning2.6
- Writing2.5
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Installation3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Operation and Control3.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Repairing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Installation | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Facilities management software
- Internet browser software
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software
- Operating system software
- Transaction security and virus protection software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional4.2
- Investigative2.5
- Enterprising2.0
- Social1.6
- Artistic1.0
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer, Except Line Installers
$63,890median a year
Most earn $44K to $97K
−3.3%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
$95,320median a year
Most earn $51K to $129K
+10.3%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installer and Repairer
$63,520median a year
Most earn $44K to $104K
+1.2%Associate's - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer
$52,600median a year
Most earn $37K to $84K
+4.8%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer, Transportation Equipment
$84,890median a year
Most earn $51K to $117K
+5.4%Certificate - Construction and Extraction
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with telecommunications line installers and repairers highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer$74,330
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer | $74,330 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within telecommunications line installer and repairer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer appears on
Questions
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer: frequently asked questions
How much do Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers make?
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn a median of $74,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 46% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.73/hr. The middle half earn between $54,310 and $95,850. The top 10% earn $103,680 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.4% over 2025–2035, a loss of 3,500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 8,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer do?
Telecommunications technicians, also known as telecom technicians, install and maintain telecommunications infrastructure. A core O*NET task: clean or maintain tools or test equipment. Employers most often ask for Cloud-based data access and sharing software, Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers are Rhode Island ($103,810), Massachusetts ($103,410), New Jersey ($102,090) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer?
O*NET scores Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. 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 1,731 careers in the bank.