Telecommunications line installers and repairers
SOC Code: 49-9052Also known as:
Aerial Installer, Aerial Lineman, Block Cableman, Broadband Cable Installer, Broadband Cable Specialist
Median Annual Salary
$70,500
-3.1% growth (2024-2034)
9K
Openings/Year
100K
Current Jobs
What Telecommunications line installers and repairers Do
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
💰 Salary
$70,500
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
-3.1%
Decline
🎓 Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
9K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
99,900
Projected Employment (2034)
96,800
Related Careers
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
$64,190 •
+8.6% growth
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
$62,630 •
-4.2% growth
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
$82,730 •
+6.1% growth
Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers
$50,620 •
+6.6% growth
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
$92,560 •
+6.6% growth
Top Skills Required
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
- Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
- Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
- Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
- 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.
- Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
- String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
- Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
- Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
High School Diploma
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Telecommunications line installers and repairers
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a telecommunications line installers and repairers:
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
290 degrees awarded •
14 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Telecommunications line installers and repairers
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become telecommunications line installers and repairers.
| # | College | Location | Related Degrees | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne, FL | 7 | B |
| 2 | Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver, CO | 3 | B |
| 3 | Lake Land College | Mattoon, IL | 9 | C+ |
| 4 | Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater | Clearwater, FL | 9 | C+ |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | 8 | C+ |
| 6 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA | 2 | C+ |
| 7 | Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake, WI | 1 | C+ |
| 8 | Perry Technical Institute | Yakima, WA | 31 | C |
| 9 | Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood, PA | 4 | C |
| 10 | Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester, MA | 4 | C |
| 11 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston, GA | 3 | C |
| 12 | Pinnacle Career Institute | Kansas City, MO | 146 | D |
| 13 | Fortis Institute-Wayne | Wayne, NJ | 37 | D |
| 14 | Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville | Lawrenceville, NJ | 26 | F |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do telecommunications line installers and repairers make?
The median annual salary for telecommunications line installers and repairers is $70,500.
What education do telecommunications line installers and repairers need?
Most telecommunications line installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Common degree programs include Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician.
Is becoming telecommunications line installers and repairers a good career choice?
Telecommunications line installers and repairers is projected to see -3.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which reflects some decline in the field. With approximately 8,900 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for telecommunications line installers and repairers?
Top colleges for aspiring telecommunications line installers and repairers include
Eastern Florida State College, Emily Griffith Technical College, Lake Land College, Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater, Des Moines Area Community College.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to telecommunications line installers and repairers?
Telecommunications line installers and repairers may also be known as: Aerial Installer, Aerial Lineman, Block Cableman, Broadband Cable Installer, Broadband Cable Specialist, Broadband Technician, Buried Wire Technician, Cable Assembler, Cable Inspector, Cable Installation Tech (Cable Installation Technician), Cable Installer, Cable Layer, Cable Mechanic, Cable Repairer, Cable Splicer, Cable Systems Installer, Cable Systems Maintainer, Cable Technician, Cable Television Installer (Cable TV Installer), Cable Television Technician (Cable TV Tech).
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.