Telecommunications equipment maintainer
Also known as: telecommunications equipment maintainers, telecoms equipment maintenance technician, telecoms equipment maintenance engineer, telecoms equipment maintainer, telecom equipment maintainer, telecommunications maintenance technician
About this occupation
Telecommunications equipment maintainers repair, install or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems (cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles). They also focus on communication towers, antennas, amplifiers and connectors. They may test and analyse network coverage.
Essential skills and knowledge
- ICT network cable limitations
- maintain radio communications equipment
- install low voltage wiring
- repair wiring
- assess telecommunication infrastructure issues
- solder electronics
- operate remote broadcast equipment
- operate two-way radio systems
- calibrate electronic instruments
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (O*NET 49-2022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Note differences in wire and cable colors so that work can be performed correctly.
- Test circuits and components of malfunctioning telecommunications equipment to isolate sources of malfunctions, using test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes, and other hand tools.
- Drive crew trucks to and from work areas.
- Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks.
- Run wires between components and to outside cable systems, connecting them to wires from telephone poles or underground cable accesses.
- Inspect equipment on a regular basis to ensure proper functioning.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Installation
US median pay: US$63,890 a year (2025), 140,920 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.9)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.1)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.