Occupation salary profile

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

SOC 49-2021 BLS OEWS May 2025

Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.

National median · BLS
$63,520
▼ -1.04% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$69,870
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
11,140
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$44,460
25th$50,580
Median (50th)$63,520
75th$82,370
90th — top pay$103,990

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

BLS projects employment of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
11,300 → 11,400
+100 jobs
Projected change
+1.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Repairing3.5
  • Equipment Maintenance3.4
  • Installation3.4
  • Active Listening3.3
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Reading Comprehension3.3
  • Speaking3.3
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Operations Monitoring3.1
  • Quality Control Analysis3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Computers and Electronics4.1
  • Telecommunications3.9
  • Customer and Personal Service3.9
  • Mechanical3.4
  • Administration and Management3.3
  • Engineering and Technology3.2
  • English Language3.2
  • Public Safety and Security3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WindowsAERONET calculatorBackbone.jsCaliper MaptitudeComputerized maintenance management system CMMSLocation mapping softwareMaintenance documentation softwareSweep analysis softwareZoho WebNMS Cell Tower Manager

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers do

  • Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
  • Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
  • Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
  • Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
  • Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
  • Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
  • Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
  • Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Also called
Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech)Radio Technician (Radio Tech)Tower Technician (Tower Tech)Two-Way Radio Technician (Two-Way Radio Tech)Communications Systems TechnicianField Service Technician (Field Service Tech)Field Technician (Field Tech)Installation Technician (Installation Tech)Radio Repairman
More job titles for this occupation (50)
Avionics Repair Technician (Avionics Repair Tech)Broadcasting Equipment MechanicCell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech)Cellular Equipment Installer (Cell Equipment Installer)Cellular Equipment Repairer (Cell Equipment Repairer)Cellular Tower Climber (Cell Tower Climber)Certified Tower ClimberCommunications Security RepairerCommunications TechnicianCommunications Tower ClimberElectronic Equipment RepairerFiber Optic TechnicianField Radio TechnicianInstallerLand Mobile Radio TechnicianMaintenance and Condition Assessment ForemanMicrowave Radio TechnicianMobile Radio TechnicianMobile TechnicianRadio AdjusterRadio Communications Tech (Radio Communications Technician)Radio ElectricianRadio Equipment InstallerRadio Equipment RepairerRadio MachinistRadio MaintainerRadio MechanicRadio RepairerRadio RiggerRadio Service ProgrammerRadio TesterRadio Tower Technician (Radio Tower Tech)RF Test Tech (Radio Frequency Test Technician)Small Cell TechnicianSmart Cellular Technician (Smart Cell Tech)Subscriber TechnicianTelecommunication Tower Technician (Telecommunications Tower Tech)Telecommunications Antenna ForemanTelecommunications Line ForemanTelecommunications Tower Construction ForemanTelecommunications Tower ForemanTower ClimberTower Climber Technician (Tower Climber Tech)Tower Equipment InstallerTower Equipment RepairerTower HandTwo-Way Radio InstallerVoice and Radio Technician (Voice and Radio Tech)Wireless Cellular Technician (Wireless Cell Tech)Wireless Technician

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.