Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers Salary: $86,727 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 98,360 telecommunications line installers and repairers nationally earn a mean of $86,727. Employment in the series shown fell about 7% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 4.0% annual decline.
Key Statistics
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: what the data shows
Common questions about telecommunications line installers and repairers careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a telecommunications line installers and repairers?
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 49-9052.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 98,360 workers.
What does a telecommunications line installers and repairers do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Performing General Physical Activities, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Handling and Moving Objects, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a telecommunications line installers and repairers make?
BLS national median annual wage: $70,500 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $86,727 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,423 |
| 25th percentile | $67,163 |
| Median (50th) | $94,840 |
| 75th percentile | $103,353 |
| 90th percentile | $108,694 |
What education do you need?
For Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Speaking, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, and knowledge areas including Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Public Safety and Security. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is telecommunications line installers and repairers in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 4.0% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -18.3%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -33.2%.
Current U.S. headcount: 98,360.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do telecommunications line installers and repairerss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 117,160 | 22.5% |
| Cross-industry | 98,360 | 18.9% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 96,720 | 18.5% |
| Information | 59,290 | 11.4% |
| Construction | 31,010 | 6.0% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 15,480 | 3.0% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 174,060 | $48,790 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | 195,890 | $46,040 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | 12,630 | $67,310 |
| Public Relations Specialists | 280,590 | $69,780 |
| Public Relations Managers | 76,060 | $138,520 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 103,650 | $46,050 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | 1,390 | $49,910 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers workforce.
Employment Over Time
98,360 Workforce in 2023
The Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$86,727 Average Wage
In 2023, Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earned an average of $86,727.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Salary distribution for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Employment Growth Projections
-4.0% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
32,698 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -18.3%
26,715 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -33.2%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Wage Trends by Industry
1.2% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 10,300 employees, $84,450 avg wage
- NY: 9,780 employees, $88,840 avg wage
- TX: 8,160 employees, $69,000 avg wage
- FL: 6,400 employees, $57,160 avg wage
- VA: 4,200 employees, $77,890 avg wage
- GA: 3,830 employees, $58,950 avg wage
- PA: 3,640 employees, $78,900 avg wage
- OH: 3,260 employees, $59,040 avg wage
- NJ: 3,230 employees, $94,230 avg wage
- MD: 2,850 employees, $81,140 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 8,590 employees, $94,110 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 3,340 employees, $82,260 avg wage
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 3,160 employees, $84,360 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 2,280 employees, $60,370 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 2,230 employees, $75,550 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 1,900 employees, $66,280 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 1,870 employees, $83,470 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 1,780 employees, $95,800 avg wage
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: 1,610 employees, $61,190 avg wage
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: 1,530 employees, $58,460 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Diversity
Demographic information on Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in 2023 was 98,360 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in 2023 were Business Administration, Engineering, Business.
Common majors for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers workers.
Education level distribution for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Skills
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers need many skills, but most especially Speaking, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination.
Required skills for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers include Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics.
Knowledge areas required for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers include Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Extent Flexibility.
Required abilities for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
Daily Activities
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers spend their time on activities such as Performing General Physical Activities, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Handling and Moving Objects, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
Most important work activities for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.
About
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
The average yearly wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers was $86,727 in 2023.
SOC Code
49-9052 - Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers reports an average salary of $86,727.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 98,360 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -4.0%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.