How much does a telecommunications line installer and repairer make?
The median telecommunications line installer and repairer in the United States earns $74,330 per year, about $35.73 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all telecommunications line installers and repairers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 49-9052.
Telecommunications line installer and repairer salary range
Pay for telecommunications line installers and repairers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $45,310 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $103,680. The average (mean) wage is $73,940, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,310 | $21.79 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $54,310 | $26.11 | |
| Median (50th) | $74,330 | $35.73 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $95,850 | $46.08 | |
| 90th percentile | $103,680 | $49.85 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for telecommunications line installers and repairers (SOC 49-9052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Telecommunications line installer and repairer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Telecommunications line installers and repairers earn the most in Rhode Island at $103,810 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $48,770. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $103,810 | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $103,410 | 2,230 |
| New Jersey | $102,090 | 2,540 |
| New York | $100,960 | 8,530 |
| California | $97,980 | 8,810 |
| District of Columbia | $97,600 | 500 |
| Alaska | $97,450 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $97,140 | 500 |
| Delaware | $93,850 | 310 |
| Maine | $92,120 | 680 |
| West Virginia | $89,690 | 1,270 |
| New Hampshire | $86,370 | 540 |
| Maryland | $82,380 | 2,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,020 | 3,890 |
| Hawaii | $79,880 | 680 |
| Virginia | $79,090 | 4,120 |
| Washington | $76,070 | 1,510 |
| Texas | $75,740 | 9,700 |
| Montana | $75,720 | 530 |
| Michigan | $74,360 | 2,780 |
| Minnesota | $73,710 | 1,130 |
| Nevada | $72,230 | 730 |
| Illinois | $70,700 | 2,460 |
| Colorado | $66,020 | 1,630 |
| Kentucky | $64,010 | 1,870 |
| Wyoming | $63,660 | 160 |
| Kansas | $63,560 | 530 |
| Wisconsin | $63,560 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $63,510 | 2,620 |
| Ohio | $62,860 | 3,920 |
| Vermont | $61,970 | 310 |
| Florida | $61,740 | 5,760 |
| Alabama | $60,890 | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $60,890 | 820 |
| Arkansas | $60,840 | 1,690 |
| Oregon | $60,330 | 920 |
| Utah | $60,090 | 800 |
| South Carolina | $59,790 | 1,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,280 | 300 |
| Missouri | $59,080 | 2,710 |
| Indiana | $58,920 | 1,580 |
| Georgia | $58,760 | 3,530 |
| Arizona | $58,600 | 790 |
| New Mexico | $58,130 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $56,680 | 2,610 |
| Idaho | $56,340 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $50,070 | 390 |
| South Dakota | $49,560 | 590 |
| Mississippi | $49,360 | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $48,900 | 1,410 |
| Louisiana | $48,770 | 960 |
State median wages for telecommunications line installers and repairers (SOC 49-9052), 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 telecommunications line installers and repairers
The BLS projects employment of telecommunications line installers and repairers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 3.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 103,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 99,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 8,000 openings a year for telecommunications line 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 telecommunications line installer and repairer
The typical entry-level education for telecommunications line installers and repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete long-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a telecommunications line 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 (Rhode Island, $103,810) and the lowest (Louisiana, $48,770) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 97,720 people work as telecommunications line installers and repairers in the United States. At $74,330 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Telecommunications line installer and repairer salary FAQ
How much does a telecommunications line installer and repairer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a telecommunications line installer and repairer is $35.73. The middle half of telecommunications line installers and repairers earn between $26.11 and $46.08 per hour.
What is the highest telecommunications line installer and repairer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of telecommunications line installers and repairers earn more than $103,680 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a telecommunications line installer and repairer make a year?
The median annual salary for a telecommunications line installer and repairer is $74,330. The average (mean) wage is $73,940, close to the median.
Is being a telecommunications line installer and repairer a well paid job?
At $74,330 a year, a telecommunications line installer and repairer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 97,720 people work as telecommunications line installers and repairers in the United States.
Which state pays telecommunications line installers and repairers the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median salary for telecommunications line installers and repairers at $103,810 a year. Massachusetts ($103,410) and New Jersey ($102,090) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a telecommunications line installer and repairer a good career?
Employment of telecommunications line installers and repairers is projected to shrink 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 8,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a telecommunications line installer and repairer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for telecommunications line installers and repairers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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