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.
What it pays
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers earn a median of $30.54/hr — about $63,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.38/hr; the top 10% earn $49.99/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers earn a median of $30.54/hr — about $63,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.38/hr; the top 10% earn $49.99/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Associate degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 1.7% of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, organized and detail-focused and analytical.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairer make?
- The median pay is $30.54 per hour — roughly $63,500 a year, with the real range running from about $21.38/hr (10th percentile) to $49.99/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairer?
- The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairer actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.