Communications Systems

Types of Degrees Communications Systems Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many communications systems installation & repair technology graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

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

What Communications Systems Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to communications systems installation and repair technology and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology Majors

Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology majors often go into careers in which the following 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

A major in communications systems installation and repair technology prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• 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

As a communications systems installation and repair technology major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

• 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 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?

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 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 you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

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

Some careers associated with communications systems installation and repair technology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to communications systems installation and repair technology have obtained the following education levels.

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 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 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

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.