Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology

Types of Degrees Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many communications systems installation & repair technology graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate	52
Associate Degree	43
Basic Certificate	22

What Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to communications systems installation and repair technology were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Skills for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors

When studying communications systems installation and repair technology, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

• 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.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Abilities for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors

Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with communications systems installation and repair technology:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Radio Mechanics	5.5%	$54,890
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers	5.5%	$54,890
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	1.5%	$58,280

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology?

This major attracts more men than women. About 93% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of communications systems installation and repair technology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	0
Black or African American	3
Hispanic or Latino	22
White	17
International Students	0
Other Races/Ethnicities	1

How Much Do Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $44,710 to $57,080 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology

Some careers associated with communications systems installation and repair technology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for communications systems installation and repair technology careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	3.8%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	40.6%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	29.6%
Some College Courses	9.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	8.7%
Bachelor’s Degree	5.5%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.3%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	2.7%

Online Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	8	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	2	0
Associate’s Degree	15	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Worth It?

The median salary for a communications systems installation and repair technology grad is $56,340 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 41% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $328,800 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to communications systems installation and repair technology.

Major	Number of Grads
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician	2,557
Computer Installation & Repair Technology/Technician	2,328
General Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair	2,262
Other Electrical/Electronics Maintenance & Repair Technology	741
Appliance Installation & Repair Technology/Technician	80
Security System Installation, Repair, & Inspection Technology/Technician	42
Business Machine Repair	0

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.