Life As a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer
Job Description: Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Life As a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer: What Do They Do?
- Place insulation over conductors or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
- Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
- Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
- Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
- Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
- Access specific areas to string lines or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, or by climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
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What a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer
- Installation and Repair Technician (I & R Technician)
- Telecommunications Installer
- Fiber Optic Splicer
- Line Mechanic
- Toll Patrolman
Is There Going to be Demand for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 106,100 jobs in the United States for Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer by 2026. There will be an estimated 10,700 positions for Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer are Nevada, Utah, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Vermont, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers Salary
The salary for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers ranges between about $30,950 and $92,440 a year.

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers who work in New Jersey, Massachusetts, or New York, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $42,940 |
Alaska | $70,140 |
Arizona | $50,800 |
Arkansas | $56,520 |
California | $66,200 |
Colorado | $51,790 |
Connecticut | $68,460 |
Delaware | $73,920 |
District of Columbia | $74,360 |
Florida | $40,860 |
Georgia | $43,120 |
Hawaii | $66,430 |
Idaho | $46,410 |
Illinois | $57,400 |
Indiana | $42,450 |
Iowa | $52,460 |
Kansas | $60,160 |
Kentucky | $47,930 |
Louisiana | $40,200 |
Maine | $60,600 |
Maryland | $65,060 |
Massachusetts | $81,030 |
Michigan | $46,280 |
Minnesota | $45,420 |
Mississippi | $49,370 |
Missouri | $50,950 |
Montana | $53,970 |
Nebraska | $43,360 |
Nevada | $41,700 |
New Hampshire | $62,570 |
New Jersey | $84,130 |
New Mexico | $46,210 |
New York | $72,840 |
North Carolina | $44,740 |
North Dakota | $62,740 |
Ohio | $43,740 |
Oklahoma | $56,350 |
Oregon | $55,670 |
Pennsylvania | $69,530 |
Rhode Island | $60,040 |
South Carolina | $54,320 |
South Dakota | $49,710 |
Tennessee | $44,290 |
Texas | $52,220 |
Utah | $48,620 |
Vermont | $63,520 |
Virginia | $61,070 |
Washington | $64,440 |
West Virginia | $59,350 |
Wisconsin | $54,430 |
Wyoming | $55,100 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Cisco IOS
How do I Become a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer?
Individuals working as a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer?

Where Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers Work

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer might also be interested in the following careers:
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Motorboat Operators
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Those who work as a Telecommunications Line Installer or Repairer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Alexis P. Docherty, 49th Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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