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Communications Systems

Types of Degrees Communications Systems Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Communications Systems can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	216
Associate’s Degree	39
Master’s Degree	26

What Communications Systems Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Communications Systems emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Communications Systems graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Communications Systems emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Telecommunications — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Communications Systems program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Repairing — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Equipment Maintenance — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Communications Systems careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Communications Systems graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.8 / 7
Processing Information	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Communications Systems professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Operating system software	Operating system software	—
Cisco IOS	Operating system software	—
Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software	Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Geographic information system GIS systems	Geographic information system	—
IBM Domino	Communications server software	—
Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software	Industrial control software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Communications Systems graduates include:

• Installer
• Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech)
• Communications Technician
• Wireless Technician
• Electronic Systems Technician (EST)
• Satellite Installer
• Wire Technician
• Combination Technician
• Network Cabler
• Broadband Technician
• Cable Technician
• Cable Television Installer (Cable TV Installer)
• Submarine Cable Equipment Technician
• Installer Technician
• Low Voltage Technician (Low Voltage Tech)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Communications Systems graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	41.0%
Some college courses	16.4%
Postsecondary certificate	16.2%
Bachelor’s degree	10.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	10.4%
Less than a high school diploma	5.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Communications Systems?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 92.4% of Communications Systems degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	22	7.6%
Men	268	92.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Communications Systems graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	146	50.3%
Asian	5	1.7%
Hispanic or Latino	65	22.4%
Black or African American	35	12.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	8	2.8%
Two or More Races	24	8.3%
Race Unknown	6	2.1%
International Students	1	0.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Communications Systems Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Communications Systems graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$36,246
4 years	$37,373
5 years	$41,963

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $41,963 — roughly 16% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Communications Systems Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Communications Systems graduates earn a median of $37,373 four years after completion — about 2% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	9,559
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician	3,026
Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General	2,549
Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	2,471
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	1,116
Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	65
Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician	42
Business Machine Repair	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.