Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers: Career Profile
Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.
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The Daily Work of Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Take On?
The core tasks performed by radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers include:
- Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
- Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
- Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
- Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
- Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
- Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
- Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
- Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Avionics Repair Technician (Avionics Repair Tech)
- Broadcasting Equipment Mechanic
- Cell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech)
- Cellular Equipment Installer (Cell Equipment Installer)
- Cellular Equipment Repairer (Cell Equipment Repairer)
- Cellular Tower Climber (Cell Tower Climber)
- Certified Tower Climber
- Communications Security Repairer
Job Outlook
There are about 364,432 radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +11.3% over the projection horizon.
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $37,281 |
| Hourly median | $17.92 |
| 10th percentile | $25,866 |
| 25th percentile | $31,574 |
| 75th percentile | $42,989 |
| 90th percentile | $48,696 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $103,010 |
| Wisconsin | $102,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,400 |
| Maryland | $98,360 |
| Connecticut | $96,990 |
| Arizona | $95,350 |
| Utah | $86,040 |
| Alabama | $85,750 |
| Nevada | $84,540 |
| New Jersey | $83,420 |
| California | $79,340 |
| New Mexico | $77,880 |
| South Carolina | $77,100 |
| Washington | $74,130 |
| Minnesota | $72,950 |
| Ohio | $68,640 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 |
| Georgia | $67,070 |
| Michigan | $64,650 |
| Virginia | $64,400 |
| Massachusetts | $64,210 |
| Kansas | $63,750 |
| Nebraska | $62,870 |
| Indiana | $62,540 |
| Kentucky | $62,310 |
| Oklahoma | $60,690 |
| Illinois | $59,690 |
| Texas | $59,500 |
| Iowa | $59,450 |
| Delaware | $58,320 |
| New Hampshire | $58,240 |
| Colorado | $57,700 |
| Oregon | $56,860 |
| Vermont | $55,200 |
| Tennessee | $52,080 |
| South Dakota | $51,550 |
| Florida | $51,260 |
| Louisiana | $51,240 |
| Maine | $50,610 |
| West Virginia | $48,260 |
| Missouri | $47,310 |
| North Carolina | $45,970 |
| Montana | $38,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,980 |
| Guam | $36,660 |
Where Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Earn the Most
Earnings for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $92,461 | 16.1% | 1.42 |
| Far Western US | $72,555 | 18.0% | 1.48 |
| Great Lakes | $68,972 | 8.6% | 0.86 |
| Southwest | $67,770 | 10.3% | 1.10 |
| New England | $58,772 | 7.5% | 2.52 |
| Plains States | $58,280 | 6.2% | 1.11 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,651 | 5.7% | 2.05 |
| Southeast | $57,335 | 26.7% | 1.40 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $102,550 | 110 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $102,550 | 60 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $102,550 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $102,050 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $101,390 | 570 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | PA | $100,930 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $98,250 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $85,790 | 210 |
Top Industries Employing Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
Most radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 3,480 | $81,430 |
| Construction | 2,260 | $58,490 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,060 | $49,760 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,040 | $48,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 680 | $66,640 |
| Retail Trade | 480 | $61,070 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 400 | $96,130 |
| Manufacturing | 180 | $64,530 |
Below are examples of industries where radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers work:
Software Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Typical radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Broadcast Technicians (Supplemental)
- Lighting Technicians (Supplemental)
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (Primary-Short)
- Avionics Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers typically earn programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-2021.00 (Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers).
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