Installation, maintenance and repair
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.
Median pay
$63,520
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
1,000
Time to qualify*
2.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers: 39% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
- Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
- Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
- Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
- Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
- Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
- Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
- Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Also called: Communications Systems Technician · Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech) · Field Technician (Field Tech) · Installation Technician (Installation Tech) · Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech) · Radio Repairman · Radio Technician (Radio Tech) · Tower Technician (Tower Tech)
Outlook and AI
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers held 11,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 11,400 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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