How much does a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer make?
The median radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer in the United States earns $63,520 per year, about $30.54 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 49-2021.
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer salary range
Pay for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $44,460 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $103,990. The average (mean) wage of $69,870 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.38 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 | |
| Median (50th) | $63,520 | $30.54 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $82,370 | $39.60 | |
| 90th percentile | $103,990 | $49.99 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers (SOC 49-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn the most in Idaho at $107,250 a year, and the least in Montana at $47,000. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $107,250 | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $103,010 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $100,890 | N/A |
| Maryland | $100,800 | 370 |
| Arizona | $95,040 | 100 |
| New York | $81,070 | 420 |
| Nevada | $79,380 | 60 |
| Alaska | $79,050 | 50 |
| Washington | $79,020 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $78,250 | 40 |
| Texas | $77,910 | 830 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $75,930 | 590 |
| Ohio | $72,160 | 370 |
| Virginia | $67,790 | 660 |
| Hawaii | $65,970 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $65,110 | 100 |
| Michigan | $64,130 | 410 |
| South Dakota | $63,620 | 30 |
| California | $62,840 | 1,030 |
| New Hampshire | $62,450 | 110 |
| West Virginia | $62,170 | 120 |
| Georgia | $62,010 | 190 |
| Illinois | $61,110 | 780 |
| Oregon | $61,020 | 320 |
| Massachusetts | $60,890 | N/A |
| Indiana | $60,840 | 280 |
| Delaware | $60,740 | 40 |
| Florida | $60,140 | 520 |
| Vermont | $59,290 | 60 |
| Kansas | $58,010 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $57,740 | N/A |
| Colorado | $56,110 | 530 |
| Oklahoma | $55,880 | 130 |
| Missouri | $52,450 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $52,410 | N/A |
| Maine | $51,970 | 130 |
| Iowa | $50,760 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $49,840 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $49,140 | 330 |
| Mississippi | $47,960 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $47,040 | 280 |
| Montana | $47,000 | 100 |
State median wages for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers (SOC 49-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
The BLS projects employment of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 11,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 11,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,000 openings a year for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer
The typical entry-level education for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers is an associate's degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer earns
Certifications, the type of equipment worked on, employer, and region drive most of the pay difference. Flat-rate pay and overtime can push experienced techs well above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Idaho, $107,250) and the lowest (Montana, $47,000) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 11,140 people work as radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers in the United States. At $63,520 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer salary FAQ
How much does a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer is $30.54. The middle half of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn between $24.32 and $39.60 per hour.
What is the highest radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn more than $103,990 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer make a year?
The median annual salary for a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer is $63,520. The average (mean) wage of $69,870 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer a well paid job?
At $63,520 a year, a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 11,140 people work as radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers in the United States.
Which state pays radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers the most?
Idaho has the highest median salary for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers at $107,250 a year. Pennsylvania ($103,010) and Connecticut ($100,890) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer a good career?
Employment of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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