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Telecommunications Technology

Types of Degrees Telecommunications Technology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Telecommunications Technology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	40
Associate’s Degree	52
Bachelor’s Degree	12
Master’s Degree	171

What Telecommunications Technology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Telecommunications Technology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Telecommunications Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Telecommunications Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Telecommunications Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Repairing — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Telecommunications Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Telecommunications Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.0 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.9 / 7
Processing Information	3.8 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Telecommunications Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Spectrum Software Micro-Cap	Analytical or scientific software	—
PUFF	Computer aided design CAD software	—
PTC Mathcad	Analytical or scientific software	—
C++	Object or component oriented development software	—
BSVC	Analytical or scientific software	—
PTC Creo Parametric	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Adobe Acrobat	Document management software	—
CST Microwave Studio	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
C	Development environment software	—
Terminal emulation software	Network connectivity terminal emulation software	—
MAGIC software	Analytical or scientific software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Telecommunications Technology graduates include:

• Systems Technician
• Electrical Mechanical Fabrication Technician
• LEOT (Laser and Electro-Optics Technician)
• Analog Device Designer
• Instrumentation Technologist
• Computer Engineering Technician
• Prototyper
• Electronic Systems Technologist
• Generation Technician
• Generation Technologist
• Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
• Electronics Technologist
• Electrical Power Station Technician
• Electronic Specialist
• Design Technician

Who Is Earning a Degree in Telecommunications Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 86.5% of Telecommunications Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	38	13.5%
Men	244	86.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Telecommunications Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	138	48.9%
Asian	9	3.2%
Hispanic or Latino	53	18.8%
Black or African American	21	7.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	2	0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	19	6.7%
Two or More Races	6	2.1%
Race Unknown	27	9.6%
International Students	7	2.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Telecommunications Technology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Telecommunications Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$62,062
4 years	$60,768
5 years	$67,536

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $67,536 — roughly 9% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Telecommunications Technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Telecommunications Technology graduates earn a median of $60,768 four years after completion — roughly 60% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.03
Audio Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0307
Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0303
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other	15.0399
Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician	15.0306
Laser and Optical Technology/Technician	15.0304
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician	15.0406
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician	15.1201
Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician	15.1202
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians	15.0000
Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology/Technician	15.0616

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.