Communications technicians work

 Essential Information

Communications technicians work in a broad array of settings to ensure that vital communication equipment operates properly. Earning a postsecondary education credential like a certificate or associate's degree can give aspiring communications technicians a leg up in finding employment.

Required Education	Postsecondary education, such as a certificate or associate's degree
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)	-6% for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers*
Mean Annual Salary (2018)	$56,100 annually for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Description

Communications technicians maintain, construct, and repair the equipment used for electronic communications, cable televisions, satellites, wireless devices, phones, radio, and broadband equipment. They may work on fiber optic lines, transmitters, antennas, and signal processing equipment. They may also operate network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and RF generators.

Workplace

Communications technicians may be on call around-the-clock and work for telephone, cable, equipment repair, and research companies. Accordingly, some may work on new equipment in factory and manufacturing settings, while others may install or repair new or existing products in the field. Technicians may also work as cable systems installers, mobile radio technicians, electronic technicians, telecommunications specialists, wireless system supporters, and fiber optics systems specialists. To perform their duties, communications technicians may need to use ladders or bucket trucks to work on aerial lines. In some cases, these workers may also use underground equipment to complete their tasks.

Duties

Communications technician duties revolve around repairing, installing, or building communications equipment. As such, these professionals may need to operate mobile test equipment in order to detect faulty equipment and perform the necessary repairs. They may also travel to remote locations in order to work on devices like switches, distributors, routers, and dialers that may support telephones, cable televisions, Internet connections, and wireless communications.

Salary

In May 2018, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) determined that the mean annual wage for telecommunications repairers and installers was $57,080, with most of these professionals receiving salaries between $32,440 and $82,860 (the median was $56,100). Those employed in scientific research and development services earned the highest wages of all telecommunications technicians, with a mean annual salary of $71,150.