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Telecommunications Engineering

Types of Degrees Telecommunications Engineering Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Telecommunications Engineering can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	124
Doctor’s Degree	5

What Telecommunications Engineering Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Telecommunications Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 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 Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Telecommunications Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Telecommunications Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Telecommunications Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Petroleum Engineering Teacher
• Mining Teacher
• Drawing Instructor
• Aeronautics Teacher
• Aeronautical Engineering Professor
• Lecturer
• Aeronautical Engineering Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Manufacturing Engineering Professor
• Associate Professor
• Television Engineering Teacher
• Mechanical Engineering Teacher
• Civil Engineering Professor
• Engineering Faculty Member

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Telecommunications Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	31.9%
Doctoral degree	29.2%
Master’s degree	11.5%
Post-doctoral training	7.7%
Post-master’s certificate	7.1%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.3%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.2%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Some college courses	1.6%
First professional degree	1.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.8%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Telecommunications Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 83% of Telecommunications Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	33	17.0%
Men	161	83.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	56	28.9%
Asian	8	4.1%
Hispanic or Latino	23	11.9%
Black or African American	15	7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	5	2.6%
Two or More Races	5	2.6%
Race Unknown	4	2.1%
International Students	78	40.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Telecommunications Engineering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Telecommunications Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$82,923
4 years	$94,702
5 years	$107,414

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $107,414 — roughly 30% above the 1-year mark.

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

Online Telecommunications Engineering Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Telecommunications Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	2	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Telecommunications Engineering Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Telecommunications Engineering graduates earn a median of $94,702 four years after completion — roughly 149% 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, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	14.10
Electrical and Electronics Engineering	14.1001
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other	14.1099
Laser and Optical Engineering	14.1003
Architectural Engineering	14.0401
Biochemical Engineering	14.4301
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	14.4501
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering	14.0702
Construction Engineering	14.3301
Electrical and Computer Engineering	14.4701
Electromechanical Engineering	14.4101
Energy Systems Engineering, General	14.4801

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.