Radio and Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers

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What They Do

Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers are the workers who actually work directly with the equipment that transmits communications signals from telephones and radios. They are the workers who might come into your home or office and set up the new service you ordered and need to have set up.

Electronic switches route telephone signals to their destinations. Switchboards direct telephone calls within a single location or organization. Radio transmitters and receivers relay signals from wireless phones and radios to their destinations. Newer telecommunications equipment is computerized and can communicate a variety of information, including data, graphics, and video. These are the workers who set up and maintain this sophisticated equipment.

Central office installers set up switches, cables, and other equipment in central offices. These locations are the hubs of a telecommunications network—they contain the switches and routers that direct packets of information to their destinations.

Telephone installers and repairers or telecommunications service technicians—install and repair telephone wiring and equipment on customers’ premises. They install telephone or digital subscriber line (DSL) service by connecting customers’ telephone wires to outside service lines. These lines run on telephone poles or in underground conduits. The installer may climb poles or ladders to make the connections.

When a maintenance problem occurs, repairers test the customers’ lines to determine if the problem is located in the customers’ premises or in the outside service lines. When onsite procedures fail to resolve installation or maintenance problems, repairers may request support from their technical service center.

Radio mechanics install and maintain radio transmitting and receiving equipment. This includes stationary equipment mounted on transmission towers and mobile equipment, such as radio communications systems in service and emergency vehicles. Radio mechanics do not work on cellular communications towers and equipment. Newer radio equipment is self-monitoring and may alert mechanics to potential malfunctions. When malfunctions occur, these mechanics examine equipment for damaged components and loose or broken wires. They use electrical measuring instruments to monitor signal strength, transmission capacity, interference, and signal delay.

Employment

Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers held about 198,000 jobs in 2007. Radio mechanics worked in electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance, telecommunications, electronics and appliance stores, and many other industries.

Job Outlook

If you have an interest in this occupation, you need to be aware that fewer jobs are going to be available for several reasons. Although the need for installation work will remain as companies seek to upgrade their telecommunications networks, there will be a declining need for maintenance work performed by telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, because of increasingly reliable self-monitoring and self-diagnosing equipment.

The replacement of two-way wireless radio systems will eliminate the need in many companies for onsite radio mechanics. The increased reliability of wireless equipment and the use of self-monitoring systems also will continue to lessen the need for radio mechanics. Applicants with electronics training and computer skills should have the best opportunities for radio and telecommunications equipment installer and repairer jobs.

Station installers and repairers can expect keen competition. Pre-wired buildings and the increasing reliability of telephone equipment will reduce the need for installation and maintenance of customers’ telephones. Upgrading internal lines in businesses and the wiring of new homes and businesses with fiber optic lines should offset some of these losses. As cellular telephones have increased in popularity, the number of pay phones is declining, which also will adversely affect employment of station installers and repairers.

Education and Earnings

Most employers seek applicants with postsecondary training in electronics and a familiarity with computers. Training sources include two and four year college programs in electronics or communications, trade schools, and equipment and software manufacturers. Many equipment repairers begin working in telecommunications companies as line-installers or telephone installers before moving up to the job of central office installer and other more complex work.

Newly hired repairers usually receive some training from their employers. This may include formal classroom training in electronics, communications systems, or software. Large companies may send repairers to outside training sessions to keep them informed about new equipment and service procedures. As networks have become more sophisticated—often including equipment from a variety of companies—the knowledge needed for installation and maintenance also has increased.

Telecommunications equipment companies provide much of the training on specific equipment. With the rapid advances in switches, routers, and other equipment, repairers need to continually take courses and work to obtain manufacturers’ certifications on the latest technology.

Repairers must be able to distinguish colors, because wires are color-coded, and they must be able to hear distinctions in the various tones on a telephone system. For positions that require climbing poles and towers, workers must be in good physical shape. Repairers who handle assignments alone at a customer’s site must be able to work without close supervision. For workers who frequently contact customers, a pleasant personality, neat appearance, and good communications skills also are important.

Experienced repairers with advanced training may become specialists or troubleshooters who help other repairers diagnose difficult problems, or may work with engineers in designing equipment and developing maintenance procedures. Because of their familiarity with equipment, repairers are particularly well qualified to become manufacturers’ sales workers. Workers with leadership ability also may become maintenance supervisors or service managers. Some experienced workers open their own repair services or shops, or become wholesalers or retailers of electronic equipment.

In 2007, typical hourly earnings of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers, were $25.99.

If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!

Sources of Additional Information

For career information and links to employment resources contact:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

Occupational Information Network, O*NET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/

For information on career and training opportunities, contact:

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Telecommunications Department, 1125 15th St. NW, Room 807, Washington, D.C. 20005.

Communications Workers of America, 501 3rd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

For information on careers and schools, contact:

Electronics Technicians Association International, 5 Depot St., Greencastle, IN 46135.

For information on training and professional certifications for those already employed by cable telecommunications firms, contact:

Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, Certification Department: http://www.scte.org

For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center .