Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn a median salary of $70,500 per year, ranking in the top 33% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.1% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do telecommunications line installers and repairers earn?

The median annual wage for telecommunications line installers and repairers is $70,500. That puts telecommunications line installers and repairers at #268 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is telecommunications line installers and repairers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for telecommunications line installers and repairers is -3.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 99K positions in 2024 to 96K in 2034, a net change of -3K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do telecommunications line installers and repairers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working telecommunications line installers and repairers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
2. 2.Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
3. 3.Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
4. 4.Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
5. 5.Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
6. 6.Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
7. 7.Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
8. 8.Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.

Top skills for telecommunications line installers and repairers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become telecommunications line installers and repairer?

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
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• Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
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• Signal and Track Switch Repairers
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• Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
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• Avionics Technicians
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• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
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Common questions parents ask about telecommunications line installers and repairers