Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9052) earn a median $74,330 a year ($35.73 an hour) in the United States, with 97,720 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What telecommunications line installers and repairers do
Telecommunications line installers and repairers install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics. Outside, they string cables between structures and lines from poles, towers or trenches, pull lines to the proper tension, and splice cables using hand tools, epoxy or mechanical equipment. To reach specific areas they use bucket trucks, climb poles or ladders, or enter tunnels, trenches or crawl spaces to string lines or put in terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment or appliances. They measure signal strength at utility poles with electronic test equipment, and inspect or test lines and cables, recording and analyzing the results to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions. At customers' premises they set up service by installing, connecting, testing or adjusting equipment, and install, maintain or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment and accessories. Tools and test equipment are cleaned and maintained. Broadband cable installer, buried wire technician and aerial lineman are among the listed titles. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers (49-2022) are a separate occupation, and electrical power-line installers (49-9051) are classified apart.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Aerial Installer, Aerial Lineman, Block Cableman, Broadband Cable Installer, Broadband Cable Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.79 | $26.11 | $35.73 | $46.08 | $49.85 | $35.55 | 97,720 |
| Annual | $45,310 | $54,310 | $74,330 | $95,850 | $103,680 | $73,940 | ||
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 line installers and repairers 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 | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $39.07 | $46.28 | $49.91 | $50.13 | $50.93 | $47.01 | 490 | 0.97 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $81,260 | $96,250 | $103,810 | $104,270 | $105,930 | $97,780 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $27.23 | $37.88 | $49.72 | $51.26 | $52.30 | $44.09 | 2,230 | 0.61 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $56,640 | $78,800 | $103,410 | $106,610 | $108,790 | $91,700 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $28.22 | $45.87 | $49.08 | $49.83 | $55.29 | $45.78 | 2,540 | 0.59 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $58,690 | $95,400 | $102,090 | $103,650 | $115,000 | $95,220 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.26 | $31.54 | $48.54 | $52.51 | $57.74 | $42.94 | 8,530 | 0.88 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $50,470 | $65,590 | $100,960 | $109,220 | $120,090 | $89,320 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.97 | $39.01 | $47.11 | $49.30 | $51.07 | $43.98 | 8,810 | 0.48 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $60,260 | $81,130 | $97,980 | $102,540 | $106,230 | $91,490 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.38 | $28.33 | $36.42 | $46.18 | $49.28 | $36.19 | 9,700 | 0.69 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $46,540 | $58,930 | $75,740 | $96,050 | $102,500 | $75,270 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.97 | $39.01 | $47.11 | $49.30 | $51.07 | $43.98 | 8,810 | 0.48 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $60,260 | $81,130 | $97,980 | $102,540 | $106,230 | $91,490 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.26 | $31.54 | $48.54 | $52.51 | $57.74 | $42.94 | 8,530 | 0.88 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $50,470 | $65,590 | $100,960 | $109,220 | $120,090 | $89,320 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.04 | $23.41 | $29.68 | $35.76 | $38.76 | $29.62 | 5,760 | 0.58 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $37,510 | $48,690 | $61,740 | $74,380 | $80,620 | $61,600 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $21.74 | $27.55 | $38.03 | $46.55 | $49.27 | $36.53 | 4,120 | 1.00 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $57,310 | $79,090 | $96,830 | $102,470 | $75,990 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | Hourly | $23.13 | $29.40 | $52.24 | $52.24 | $52.24 | $42.91 | 30 | 0.84 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $48,100 | $61,150 | $108,670 | $108,670 | $108,670 | $89,250 | ||||
| Barnstable Town, MA | Hourly | $39.81 | $49.82 | $51.62 | $51.62 | $51.80 | $48.51 | 60 | 0.59 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $82,800 | $103,620 | $107,380 | $107,380 | $107,740 | $100,890 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $38.30 | $49.65 | $51.59 | $57.04 | $58.27 | $50.83 | 390 | 0.34 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $79,660 | $103,280 | $107,310 | $118,630 | $121,200 | $105,730 | ||||
| Glens Falls, NY | Hourly | $19.56 | $28.68 | $51.54 | $51.54 | $51.54 | $42.45 | 30 | 0.69 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $40,670 | $59,660 | $107,210 | $107,210 | $107,210 | $88,300 | ||||
| Springfield, MA | Hourly | $30.58 | $44.64 | $50.59 | $51.26 | $51.26 | $45.74 | 130 | 0.63 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $63,600 | $92,860 | $105,220 | $106,610 | $106,610 | $95,130 | ||||
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 | $27.62 | $37.94 | $49.31 | $53.04 | $58.36 | $45.67 | 7,340 | 0.77 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $57,440 | $78,920 | $102,550 | $110,330 | $121,390 | $95,000 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $23.54 | $29.59 | $37.78 | $47.55 | $50.23 | $38.12 | 3,030 | 0.75 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $48,960 | $61,550 | $78,580 | $98,900 | $104,490 | $79,290 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $24.28 | $31.22 | $45.94 | $48.03 | $49.63 | $40.44 | 2,860 | 0.91 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $50,510 | $64,940 | $95,560 | $99,900 | $103,230 | $84,120 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.96 | $39.38 | $46.53 | $49.08 | $49.79 | $43.28 | 2,780 | 0.44 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $60,250 | $81,900 | $96,780 | $102,090 | $103,570 | $90,030 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $20.50 | $22.83 | $27.95 | $35.93 | $41.18 | $29.77 | 2,110 | 0.73 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $42,640 | $47,490 | $58,130 | $74,730 | $85,650 | $61,930 | ||||
Top industries employing telecommunications line installers and repairers
Telecommunications employ 61.4% of telecommunications line installers and repairers nationally (60,030 jobs) at a median $81,850 a year ($39.35 an hour), followed by Utility System Construction (15.4%) and Building Equipment Contractors (13.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications NAICS 517000 | 60,030 | 61.4% | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 15,040 | 15.4% | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 13,630 | 13.9% | $52,540 | $25.26 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 1,430 | 1.5% | $55,080 | $26.48 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,370 | 1.4% | $64,650 | $31.08 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (97,720). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,190 for telecommunications line installers and repairers in May 2021 and $74,330 in May 2025, with employment of 101,530 and 97,720.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,190 | $28.94 | 101,530 |
| May 2022 | $60,580 | $29.13 | 107,670 |
| May 2023 | $64,640 | $31.08 | 98,950 |
| May 2024 | $70,500 | $33.90 | 98,360 |
| May 2025 | $74,330 | $35.73 | 97,720 |
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 | Rhode Island profile | $49.91 | $103,810 | $81,260 | $105,930 | 490 | 0.97 | 1.54 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $49.72 | $103,410 | $56,640 | $108,790 | 2,230 | 0.61 | 0.97 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $49.08 | $102,090 | $58,690 | $115,000 | 2,540 | 0.59 | 0.94 |
| 4 | New York profile | $48.54 | $100,960 | $50,470 | $120,090 | 8,530 | 0.88 | 1.40 |
| 5 | California profile | $47.11 | $97,980 | $60,260 | $106,230 | 8,810 | 0.48 | 0.77 |
| 6 | District of Columbia profile | $46.92 | $97,600 | $47,330 | $99,120 | 500 | 0.71 | 1.13 |
| 7 | Alaska profile | $46.85 | $97,450 | $58,530 | $108,140 | 390 | 1.21 | 1.93 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $46.70 | $97,140 | $76,960 | $117,740 | 500 | 0.29 | 0.47 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $45.12 | $93,850 | $38,370 | $98,580 | 310 | 0.64 | 1.02 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $44.29 | $92,120 | $65,170 | $97,390 | 680 | 1.06 | 1.69 |
| 11 | West Virginia profile | $43.12 | $89,690 | $60,640 | $93,340 | 1,270 | 1.81 | 2.88 |
| 12 | New Hampshire profile | $41.53 | $86,370 | $58,210 | $100,960 | 540 | 0.79 | 1.25 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $39.60 | $82,380 | $51,160 | $102,290 | 2,400 | 0.87 | 1.38 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.95 | $81,020 | $46,280 | $100,200 | 3,890 | 0.64 | 1.02 |
| 15 | Hawaii profile | $38.40 | $79,880 | $60,630 | $119,240 | 680 | 1.09 | 1.73 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $38.03 | $79,090 | $45,220 | $102,470 | 4,120 | 1.00 | 1.59 |
| 17 | Washington profile | $36.57 | $76,070 | $49,320 | $103,360 | 1,510 | 0.43 | 0.68 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $36.42 | $75,740 | $46,540 | $102,500 | 9,700 | 0.69 | 1.10 |
| 19 | Montana profile | $36.41 | $75,720 | $48,110 | $94,680 | 530 | 1.04 | 1.66 |
| 20 | Michigan profile | $35.75 | $74,360 | $47,440 | $84,450 | 2,780 | 0.63 | 1.00 |
| 21 | Minnesota profile | $35.44 | $73,710 | $49,580 | $96,020 | 1,130 | 0.38 | 0.61 |
| 22 | Nevada profile | $34.73 | $72,230 | $46,600 | $96,110 | 730 | 0.47 | 0.75 |
| 23 | Illinois profile | $33.99 | $70,700 | $33,810 | $100,140 | 2,460 | 0.40 | 0.64 |
| 24 | Colorado profile | $31.74 | $66,020 | $46,490 | $93,930 | 1,630 | 0.57 | 0.90 |
| 25 | Kentucky profile | $30.77 | $64,010 | $42,450 | $91,420 | 1,870 | 0.93 | 1.49 |
| 26 | Wyoming profile | $30.61 | $63,660 | $38,580 | $91,240 | 160 | 0.56 | 0.89 |
| 27 | Kansas profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $38,840 | $100,400 | 530 | 0.37 | 0.58 |
| 28 | Wisconsin profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $47,710 | $91,080 | 950 | 0.32 | 0.51 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $30.53 | $63,510 | $45,720 | $83,820 | 2,620 | 0.80 | 1.27 |
| 30 | Ohio profile | $30.22 | $62,860 | $47,110 | $91,550 | 3,920 | 0.71 | 1.12 |
| 31 | Vermont profile | $29.79 | $61,970 | $50,070 | $85,170 | 310 | 1.01 | 1.61 |
| 32 | Florida profile | $29.68 | $61,740 | $37,510 | $80,620 | 5,760 | 0.58 | 0.92 |
| 33 | Alabama profile | $29.27 | $60,890 | $46,320 | $90,530 | 1,530 | 0.73 | 1.15 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $29.27 | $60,890 | $40,410 | $85,760 | 820 | 0.52 | 0.83 |
| 35 | Arkansas profile | $29.25 | $60,840 | $36,160 | $99,150 | 1,690 | 1.30 | 2.06 |
| 36 | Oregon profile | $29.00 | $60,330 | $44,900 | $83,370 | 920 | 0.47 | 0.74 |
| 37 | Utah profile | $28.89 | $60,090 | $41,630 | $78,120 | 800 | 0.46 | 0.73 |
| 38 | South Carolina profile | $28.75 | $59,790 | $39,230 | $81,710 | 1,310 | 0.57 | 0.90 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $28.50 | $59,280 | $45,460 | $96,440 | 300 | 0.70 | 1.11 |
| 40 | Missouri profile | $28.41 | $59,080 | $43,050 | $96,050 | 2,710 | 0.92 | 1.47 |
| 41 | Indiana profile | $28.33 | $58,920 | $41,600 | $80,440 | 1,580 | 0.50 | 0.79 |
| 42 | Georgia profile | $28.25 | $58,760 | $41,040 | $80,960 | 3,530 | 0.72 | 1.15 |
| 43 | Arizona profile | $28.17 | $58,600 | $39,730 | $80,410 | 790 | 0.24 | 0.39 |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $27.95 | $58,130 | $40,280 | $78,330 | 350 | 0.41 | 0.64 |
| 45 | North Carolina profile | $27.25 | $56,680 | $38,630 | $81,490 | 2,610 | 0.53 | 0.84 |
| 46 | Idaho profile | $27.09 | $56,340 | $45,070 | $77,170 | 300 | 0.35 | 0.55 |
| 47 | Nebraska profile | $24.07 | $50,070 | $41,420 | $80,780 | 390 | 0.38 | 0.60 |
| 48 | South Dakota profile | $23.83 | $49,560 | $35,370 | $74,800 | 590 | 1.29 | 2.06 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $23.73 | $49,360 | $30,760 | $79,680 | 700 | 0.60 | 0.95 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $23.51 | $48,900 | $35,230 | $96,050 | 1,410 | 0.83 | 1.32 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $23.45 | $48,770 | $38,070 | $91,920 | 960 | 0.50 | 0.79 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9050), 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 49-9052 Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
- 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 49-9052, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9052.00, 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.