Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.

Also Known As:

Cable Splicer Cable Technician Cable Television Technician (Cable TV Tech) Combination Technician Field Service Technician Installation and Repair Technician (I and R Technician) Installer Lineman Outside Plant Technician Service Technician

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

96,800

-3% Change From 2024

Explore Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
Fill and tamp holes, using cement, earth, and tamping devices.
Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
Dig trenches for underground wires or cables.
Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
Compute impedance of wires from poles to houses to determine additional resistance needed for reducing signals to desired levels.
Install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.