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Life As a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer
Job Description: Install, set-up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers’ property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings.
Daily Life Of a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer
- Analyze test readings, computer printouts, and trouble reports to determine equipment repair needs and required repair methods.
- Test connections to ensure that power supplies are adequate and that communications links function.
- Collaborate with other workers to locate and correct malfunctions.
- Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation.
- Designate cables available for use.
- Measure distances from landmarks to identify exact installation sites for equipment.
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Things a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer Should Know How to Do
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Other Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer Job Titles
- Exchange Trouble Shooter
- Cable Technician
- PBX Mechanic (Private Branch Exchange Mechanic)
- Equipment Mechanic
- PBX Wire Chief (Private Branch Exchange Wire Chief)
Job Outlook for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 237,600 jobs in the United States for Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer. The BLS estimates 21,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer are Utah, Nevada, and Rhode Island. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Vermont, or Alabama. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers Salary
The salary for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers ranges between about $32,440 and $82,860 a year.
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,270 |
| Alaska | $73,620 |
| Arizona | $59,080 |
| Arkansas | $45,830 |
| California | $60,110 |
| Colorado | $64,050 |
| Connecticut | $68,300 |
| Delaware | $58,350 |
| District of Columbia | $83,370 |
| Florida | $52,190 |
| Georgia | $53,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,610 |
| Idaho | $54,140 |
| Illinois | $60,840 |
| Indiana | $52,610 |
| Iowa | $52,470 |
| Kansas | $51,580 |
| Kentucky | $50,670 |
| Louisiana | $55,130 |
| Maine | $57,510 |
| Maryland | $57,820 |
| Massachusetts | $74,930 |
| Michigan | $54,520 |
| Minnesota | $57,650 |
| Mississippi | $51,230 |
| Missouri | $51,760 |
| Montana | $61,290 |
| Nebraska | $52,210 |
| Nevada | $53,230 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 |
| New Jersey | $66,170 |
| New Mexico | $51,410 |
| New York | $69,980 |
| North Carolina | $54,390 |
| North Dakota | $63,360 |
| Ohio | $54,390 |
| Oklahoma | $48,010 |
| Oregon | $58,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,750 |
| Rhode Island | $66,070 |
| South Carolina | $54,340 |
| South Dakota | $62,300 |
| Tennessee | $53,750 |
| Texas | $51,360 |
| Utah | $57,590 |
| Vermont | $52,440 |
| Virginia | $61,430 |
| Washington | $63,970 |
| West Virginia | $54,810 |
| Wisconsin | $51,610 |
| Wyoming | $59,160 |
What Tools do Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Data entry software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- IBM Domino
- Apache Struts
- Voice over internet protocol VoiP system software
- Cisco IOS
How to Become a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer
Individuals working as a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as a Telecommunications Equipment Installer or Repairer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Alexis P. Docherty, 49th Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.