Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.38 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Mean (average) | $69,870 | $33.59 |
| 90th percentile | $103,990 | $49.99 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $79,050 | $66,560 | $114,500 | 50 | 1.97 |
| Arizona | $95,040 | $51,200 | $105,300 | 100 | 0.41 |
| California | $62,840 | $48,650 | $96,600 | 1,030 | 0.79 |
| Colorado | $56,110 | $43,470 | $78,100 | 530 | 2.59 |
| Connecticut | $100,890 | $68,810 | $100,890 | ||
| Delaware | $60,740 | $43,250 | $75,380 | 40 | 1.17 |
| Florida | $60,140 | $42,830 | $100,190 | 520 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $62,010 | $53,350 | $90,810 | 190 | 0.54 |
| Guam | $37,570 | $33,020 | $60,270 | 80 | 16.43 |
| Hawaii | $65,970 | $45,590 | $103,990 | 70 | 1.64 |
| Idaho | $107,250 | $85,850 | $112,770 | ||
| Illinois | $61,110 | $48,540 | $77,630 | 780 | 1.79 |
| Indiana | $60,840 | $43,200 | $79,940 | 280 | 1.22 |
| Iowa | $50,760 | $43,710 | $93,560 | 50 | 0.41 |
| Kansas | $58,010 | $40,210 | $91,280 | 80 | 0.79 |
| Kentucky | $49,840 | $37,470 | $96,040 | 90 | 0.6 |
| Maine | $51,970 | $36,500 | $81,840 | 130 | 2.84 |
| Maryland | $100,800 | $67,080 | $180,030 | 370 | 1.89 |
| Massachusetts | $60,890 | $38,180 | $88,450 | ||
| Michigan | $64,130 | $44,030 | $74,570 | 410 | 1.31 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 | $61,560 | $92,980 | 80 | 0.39 |
| Mississippi | $47,960 | $40,520 | $91,770 | ||
| Missouri | $52,450 | $38,030 | $94,640 | 130 | 0.64 |
| Montana | $47,000 | $39,350 | $94,000 | 100 | 2.71 |
| Nebraska | $52,410 | $48,920 | $74,910 | ||
| Nevada | $79,380 | $44,730 | $97,960 | 60 | 0.55 |
| New Hampshire | $62,450 | $48,800 | $88,180 | 110 | 2.25 |
| New Jersey | $75,930 | $52,670 | $103,920 | 590 | 1.92 |
| New Mexico | $65,110 | $41,030 | $100,110 | 100 | 1.67 |
| New York | $81,070 | $48,570 | $114,560 | 420 | 0.61 |
| North Carolina | $47,040 | $37,470 | $79,090 | 280 | 0.79 |
| Ohio | $72,160 | $37,710 | $108,710 | 370 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $55,880 | $47,150 | $64,640 | 130 | 1.05 |
| Oregon | $61,020 | $40,680 | $103,570 | 320 | 2.28 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,010 | $49,780 | $108,780 | 240 | 0.54 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,640 | $22,770 | $46,970 | 210 | 3.15 |
| South Carolina | $78,250 | $61,370 | $97,170 | 40 | 0.23 |
| South Dakota | $63,620 | $52,830 | $78,000 | 30 | 1.05 |
| Tennessee | $49,140 | $43,880 | $68,710 | 330 | 1.39 |
| Texas | $77,910 | $43,700 | $98,840 | 830 | 0.82 |
| Vermont | $59,290 | $43,710 | $99,760 | 60 | 2.75 |
| Virginia | $67,790 | $48,440 | $103,310 | 660 | 2.23 |
| Washington | $79,020 | $52,780 | $110,460 | 240 | 0.93 |
| West Virginia | $62,170 | $40,890 | $105,240 | 120 | 2.34 |
| Wisconsin | $57,740 | $49,440 | $91,760 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- AERONET calculator
- Backbone.js
- Caliper Maptitude
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Location mapping software
- Maintenance documentation software
- Sweep analysis software
- Zoho WebNMS Cell Tower Manager
Transferable skills for career changers: Repairing, Installation, Equipment Maintenance, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management.
Common job titles: 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).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers make?
The national median annual wage for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers was $63,520 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,460 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $103,990. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers to change +1.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Idaho ($107,250), Pennsylvania ($103,010), Connecticut ($100,890). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.