Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

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.

Also Known As:

Communications Systems Technician Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech) Field Technician (Field Tech) Installation Technician (Installation Tech) Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech) Radio Repairman Radio Technician (Radio Tech) Tower Technician (Tower Tech) Two-Way Radio Technician (Two-Way Radio Tech)

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers in United States

Job Outlook Bright

New job opportunities are very likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

12,900

7% Change From 2023

Explore Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
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.
Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.
Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers.
Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.
Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.
Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.
Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.
Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras.
Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.
Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.
Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
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.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
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.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
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.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.

Strengths you may need in this role.

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