Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Telecom Technicians
Telecom Technicians install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Table of contents
What they do
Telecom Technicians install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
- Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
- Explain cable service to subscribers after installation and collect any installation fees that are due.
- Travel to customers’ premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
- Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Telecom Technicians clean or maintain tools or test equipment. They pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
A typical day for a Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer will also include:
- String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches and pull lines to proper tension.
- Travel to customers’ premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
- Compute impedance of wires from poles to houses to determine additional resistance needed for reducing signals to desired levels.
- Explain cable service to subscribers after installation and collect any installation fees that are due.
- Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Telecom Technicians also pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches. They may also dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Telecom Technicians place insulation over conductors or seal splices with moisture-proof covering. They might also install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
In addition, they lay underground cable directly in trenches or string it through conduits running through trenches.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them fill and tamp holes, using cement, earth, and tamping devices.
To some Telecom Technicians, it is also their responsibility to string cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches and pull lines to proper tension.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
76% said they were satisfied with their job and 59% said they found their job meaningful.
I have worked in telecommunications for the past 15 years, working for British Telecomms in the UK.
Most of my day is taken up by communicating with customers in their house or business premises whilst undertaking tests on their line or broadband equipment to diagnose faults and or issues. I mainly work on fault rectification of broadband issues, and network line faults, these can range from water getting into the lines, damage caused by trees or third parties, or general wear and tear. I would estimate I spend 40% of the time with customers/testing lines and internal equipment, 30% working in the external network, 10% doing admin and looking at prints and network records, and 20% driving.
I started in 2005, undertaking basic faulting and installation work in less complex areas such as overhead work (from the telegraph pole to the premises), work in customer and business premises, and work in the telephone exchanges.
Within 18 months, I progressed onto working in the main underground and overhead network, working on cables supplying up to 100 customers, this can include, repair, replacement, or main cables feeding dwellings, business parks, or industrial sites.
During my day I work alone 95% of the time and work on individual customer complaints or fault reports, I then usually depending on the fault, speak to the customer and or enter their premises to undertake testing of their line.
I then undertake work along the complete network to find the fault which could be numerous things such as damage to a line by a tree, third party damage, wear and tear due to age, water ingress, etc.. often the faults can be in a cable joint.
I carry all the items needed on my van and can complete 100% of the work from the stores carried on my van.
I work at height on telegraph poles and underground in manholes, as well as in the exchange, and customers and business dwellings.
I also undertake broadband, ADSL, VDSL, and FTTC fault rectification and installation, in copper lines with speeds up to 320mbps, is also undertake connection onto fiber to the cabinet lines
I also undertake digging actives for the team.
Pros
The best part of my job is working outside and speaking to customers and the technicalities of testing and locating faults.
Cons
The worst part is intermittent faulting where the issue is not present at the time of the visit and when process changes occur at the company which can add more complexity to the job.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is growing.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Telecom Technicians with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $34,180 to $41,060 per year or $16 to $20 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $97,840 | $47 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $82,030 | $39 |
| Median | $58,870 | $28 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $41,060 | $20 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $34,180 | $16 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Telecom Technicians based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $70820 | $34.05 |
| Telecommunications | $67490 | $32.45 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $62490 | $30.04 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $61830 | $29.73 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $61200 | $29.42 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $61050 | $29.35 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $60910 | $29.28 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $60840 | $29.25 |
| Local Government | $58440 | $28.10 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $57300 | $27.55 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Telecom Technicians work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Telecom Technicians including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 75820 | $67490 | $32.45 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 18100 | $52050 | $25.03 |
| Utility System Construction | 16490 | $47210 | $22.70 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 1810 | $ | $* |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | 1720 | $62490 | $30.04 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 1470 | $61200 | $29.42 |
| Employment Services | 1340 | $51060 | $24.55 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 1110 | $53010 | $25.49 |
| Local Government | 1100 | $58440 | $28.10 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 530 | $70820 | $34.05 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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