Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (SOC 49-2022) earn a median $63,890 a year ($30.72 an hour) in the United States, with 140,920 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers do
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers, install, set up, rearrange or take out the switching, distribution, routing and dialing equipment in central offices or headends. They also service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet and other communications equipment at customers' premises, and may install communications equipment or wiring in buildings. They assemble and install equipment such as data and telephone lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems and networks, and run wire between components and out to the outside cable plant, tying it into wires from telephone poles or underground cable access points. Troubleshooting means testing circuits and components of malfunctioning equipment with test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes and other hand tools to isolate the fault, then testing repaired or newly installed equipment against specifications. They demonstrate equipment to customers and respond to inquiries or complaints. Field work can involve climbing poles and ladders, using truck-mounted booms and entering manholes and cable vaults. Telecommunications line installers and repairers (49-9052) are excluded and have their own code.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Antenna Installer, Automatic Equipment Technician, Broadband Installer, Broadband Specialist, Broadband Technician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.27 | $24.92 | $30.72 | $39.27 | $46.51 | $32.93 | 140,920 |
| Annual | $44,240 | $51,830 | $63,890 | $81,690 | $96,730 | $68,500 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $27.00 | $29.62 | $46.08 | $48.91 | $49.66 | $40.86 | 520 | 1.58 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $56,150 | $61,610 | $95,850 | $101,720 | $103,280 | $84,980 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $28.02 | $30.20 | $43.70 | $46.90 | $49.59 | $39.80 | 470 | 1.09 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $58,280 | $62,820 | $90,890 | $97,560 | $103,150 | $82,790 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $29.79 | $37.84 | $40.98 | $45.03 | $46.45 | $39.92 | 550 | 0.81 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $61,960 | $78,700 | $85,240 | $93,660 | $96,610 | $83,040 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $23.99 | $29.41 | $39.33 | $42.48 | $43.66 | $36.44 | 310 | 1.01 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $49,910 | $61,170 | $81,800 | $88,360 | $90,820 | $75,800 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $24.48 | $28.71 | $38.56 | $43.93 | $45.58 | $35.88 | 3,060 | 1.58 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $50,930 | $59,710 | $80,210 | $91,370 | $94,800 | $74,620 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $27.12 | $31.48 | $36.84 | $46.83 | $54.44 | $39.11 | 14,040 | 0.77 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $56,410 | $65,480 | $76,630 | $97,400 | $113,240 | $81,340 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.82 | $23.30 | $28.54 | $34.22 | $42.85 | $29.49 | 13,440 | 0.96 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $39,140 | $48,460 | $59,370 | $71,170 | $89,120 | $61,330 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.07 | $23.81 | $29.34 | $34.68 | $44.50 | $30.30 | 11,820 | 1.19 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $45,910 | $49,520 | $61,030 | $72,140 | $92,550 | $63,020 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $20.14 | $26.47 | $31.20 | $44.19 | $46.61 | $33.81 | 6,640 | 1.36 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $41,900 | $55,060 | $64,900 | $91,910 | $96,960 | $70,330 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.18 | $25.62 | $32.55 | $42.98 | $49.12 | $35.03 | 6,240 | 0.64 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $48,220 | $53,290 | $67,710 | $89,390 | $102,180 | $72,850 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $28.66 | $35.56 | $48.57 | $48.91 | $49.52 | $42.75 | 350 | 1.96 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $59,610 | $73,950 | $101,020 | $101,720 | $103,010 | $88,930 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $29.02 | $42.55 | $47.05 | $49.66 | $49.66 | $44.08 | 60 | 1.65 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $60,370 | $88,500 | $97,860 | $103,280 | $103,280 | $91,680 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.69 | $38.19 | $44.37 | $55.22 | $64.23 | $46.53 | 1,850 | 0.78 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $61,750 | $79,440 | $92,290 | $114,860 | $133,590 | $96,780 | ||||
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | Hourly | $28.99 | $29.40 | $43.60 | $44.25 | $45.32 | $38.37 | 220 | 2.22 | 2.45 |
| Annual | $60,310 | $61,150 | $90,690 | $92,040 | $94,270 | $79,820 | ||||
| Rome, GA | Hourly | $19.57 | $20.85 | $43.10 | $43.90 | $43.99 | $33.45 | 60 | 1.27 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $40,710 | $43,360 | $89,650 | $91,310 | $91,490 | $69,580 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.65 | $27.94 | $36.49 | $46.07 | $50.57 | $37.14 | 5,820 | 0.61 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $51,270 | $58,120 | $75,900 | $95,820 | $105,190 | $77,240 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.71 | $23.39 | $29.01 | $35.18 | $45.44 | $29.80 | 4,680 | 1.16 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $36,840 | $48,650 | $60,340 | $73,180 | $94,510 | $61,980 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $27.48 | $30.42 | $35.31 | $44.01 | $49.24 | $37.15 | 4,360 | 0.70 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $57,160 | $63,270 | $73,440 | $91,530 | $102,410 | $77,260 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $22.35 | $28.72 | $34.03 | $45.75 | $46.85 | $35.74 | 4,300 | 1.49 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $46,490 | $59,730 | $70,790 | $95,160 | $97,450 | $74,330 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $22.63 | $25.23 | $29.92 | $35.49 | $45.56 | $31.09 | 3,810 | 1.35 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $47,060 | $52,480 | $62,230 | $73,810 | $94,770 | $64,660 | ||||
Top industries employing telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
Telecommunications employ 65.1% of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers nationally (91,770 jobs) at a median $67,610 a year ($32.51 an hour), followed by Building Equipment Contractors (13.4%) and Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) (3.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications NAICS 517000 | 91,770 | 65.1% | $67,610 | $32.51 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 18,850 | 13.4% | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 5,240 | 3.7% | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 4,940 | 3.5% | $63,530 | $30.55 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 4,020 | 2.9% | $51,430 | $24.73 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (140,920). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,370 for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers in May 2021 and $63,890 in May 2025, with employment of 172,830 and 140,920.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,370 | $29.02 | 172,830 |
| May 2022 | $59,960 | $28.83 | 168,180 |
| May 2023 | $61,270 | $29.46 | 159,670 |
| May 2024 | $62,630 | $30.11 | 153,890 |
| May 2025 | $63,890 | $30.72 | 140,920 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $46.08 | $95,850 | $56,150 | $103,280 | 520 | 1.58 | 1.75 |
| 2 | North Dakota profile | $43.70 | $90,890 | $58,280 | $103,150 | 470 | 1.09 | 1.20 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $40.98 | $85,240 | $61,960 | $96,610 | 550 | 0.81 | 0.89 |
| 4 | Vermont profile | $39.33 | $81,800 | $49,910 | $90,820 | 310 | 1.01 | 1.12 |
| 5 | Louisiana profile | $38.56 | $80,210 | $50,930 | $94,800 | 3,060 | 1.58 | 1.74 |
| 6 | Hawaii profile | $38.10 | $79,250 | $51,530 | $96,970 | 760 | 1.22 | 1.34 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $37.50 | $78,000 | $51,590 | $104,770 | 2,690 | 0.63 | 0.69 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $37.31 | $77,610 | $50,200 | $101,630 | 3,210 | 0.90 | 1.00 |
| 9 | California profile | $36.84 | $76,630 | $56,410 | $113,240 | 14,040 | 0.77 | 0.85 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $36.78 | $76,500 | $39,610 | $106,400 | 2,890 | 0.79 | 0.88 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $36.74 | $76,410 | $51,030 | $88,660 | 3,180 | 1.11 | 1.22 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $36.19 | $75,270 | $47,750 | $103,380 | 1,710 | 0.87 | 0.96 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $36.15 | $75,200 | $47,380 | $99,460 | 1,910 | 1.13 | 1.24 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $36.13 | $75,150 | $45,040 | $89,630 | 1,900 | 0.64 | 0.71 |
| 15 | Montana profile | $35.56 | $73,970 | $50,450 | $92,410 | 630 | 1.23 | 1.35 |
| 16 | District of Columbia profile | $35.16 | $73,130 | $51,710 | $131,140 | 300 | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| 17 | Arizona profile | $34.96 | $72,710 | $38,580 | $93,720 | 3,320 | 1.02 | 1.13 |
| 18 | New York profile | $32.55 | $67,710 | $48,220 | $102,180 | 6,240 | 0.64 | 0.71 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $32.19 | $66,960 | $57,300 | $95,950 | 150 | 0.31 | 0.34 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $32.05 | $66,670 | $49,530 | $85,200 | 440 | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| 21 | Iowa profile | $31.59 | $65,710 | $45,600 | $83,620 | 1,780 | 1.14 | 1.26 |
| 22 | Utah profile | $31.56 | $65,650 | $47,110 | $89,180 | 2,160 | 1.25 | 1.37 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania profile | $31.23 | $64,960 | $41,510 | $97,800 | 5,220 | 0.86 | 0.95 |
| 24 | Georgia profile | $31.20 | $64,900 | $41,900 | $96,960 | 6,640 | 1.36 | 1.50 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $31.07 | $64,630 | $42,700 | $100,140 | 5,760 | 0.95 | 1.04 |
| 26 | North Carolina profile | $30.75 | $63,970 | $48,400 | $94,480 | 3,540 | 0.72 | 0.79 |
| 27 | New Mexico profile | $30.58 | $63,600 | $43,550 | $85,690 | 1,100 | 1.27 | 1.40 |
| 28 | West Virginia profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $41,970 | $96,960 | 820 | 1.17 | 1.29 |
| 29 | Maryland profile | $30.31 | $63,050 | $44,120 | $99,230 | 2,520 | 0.91 | 1.01 |
| 30 | Nevada profile | $30.19 | $62,800 | $46,060 | $78,820 | 890 | 0.58 | 0.63 |
| 31 | Idaho profile | $30.02 | $62,440 | $41,630 | $83,990 | 1,080 | 1.26 | 1.39 |
| 32 | South Dakota profile | $29.81 | $62,000 | $42,630 | $88,000 | 520 | 1.14 | 1.25 |
| 33 | Maine profile | $29.67 | $61,720 | $48,780 | $91,310 | 400 | 0.62 | 0.68 |
| 34 | Michigan profile | $29.66 | $61,700 | $44,650 | $85,090 | 3,940 | 0.90 | 0.99 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $29.65 | $61,680 | $43,680 | $99,550 | 3,560 | 0.64 | 0.71 |
| 36 | South Carolina profile | $29.56 | $61,480 | $43,900 | $92,910 | 2,130 | 0.93 | 1.02 |
| 37 | Virginia profile | $29.49 | $61,340 | $44,030 | $90,290 | 3,310 | 0.81 | 0.89 |
| 38 | Mississippi profile | $29.45 | $61,250 | $38,330 | $91,610 | 1,500 | 1.29 | 1.42 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $29.43 | $61,220 | $45,880 | $92,780 | 2,480 | 0.76 | 0.83 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $29.34 | $61,030 | $45,910 | $92,550 | 11,820 | 1.19 | 1.31 |
| 41 | Indiana profile | $29.34 | $61,030 | $46,020 | $77,120 | 2,050 | 0.64 | 0.71 |
| 42 | Wisconsin profile | $29.22 | $60,770 | $48,780 | $81,960 | 2,120 | 0.72 | 0.79 |
| 43 | Nebraska profile | $29.10 | $60,520 | $41,290 | $82,950 | 1,430 | 1.40 | 1.55 |
| 44 | Wyoming profile | $28.96 | $60,250 | $46,860 | $83,480 | 310 | 1.11 | 1.22 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $28.74 | $59,770 | $43,750 | $91,790 | 3,200 | 1.52 | 1.67 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $38,870 | $88,320 | 2,210 | 1.11 | 1.22 |
| 47 | Texas profile | $28.54 | $59,370 | $39,140 | $89,120 | 13,440 | 0.96 | 1.05 |
| 48 | Kansas profile | $28.22 | $58,690 | $44,140 | $80,960 | 1,480 | 1.03 | 1.13 |
| 49 | Missouri profile | $27.70 | $57,610 | $36,590 | $86,790 | 2,260 | 0.77 | 0.85 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $24.21 | $50,350 | $37,020 | $77,040 | 1,660 | 0.97 | 1.07 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $23.91 | $49,740 | $34,620 | $68,580 | 1,320 | 1.01 | 1.11 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-2020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-2022 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-2022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-2022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.