What Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers this way: "Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories"; "Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions"; "Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment"; "Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment"; "Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is long-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 103,400 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 99,900 in 2035, a decrease of 3,500 jobs (-3.4%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 8,000 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.7% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $74,330, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn the most
Across the 2 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $97,102 in New York to $100,875 in New Jersey, a gap of $3,773 (1.04 times). 2 of those 2 states average above the BLS national median of $74,330 and 0 average at or below it.
New York employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 9,750, which is 50.5% of the 19,300 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 9,550.
Highest-paying states
New Jersey ($100,875) and New York ($97,102) lead the ranking, while New York ($97,102) and New Jersey ($100,875) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Occupations related to Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (49-9000) include Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Maintenance and Repair Workers, General.
Frequently asked questions about Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
What is the national median wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $74,330. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $97,102 to $100,875.
Which state pays Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers the most?
New Jersey, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $100,875. New York is next at $97,102.
What is the job outlook for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers?
BLS projects employment to shrink by 3.4% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 8,000 openings a year.
What education do Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and long-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.