Occupation Summary

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

O*NET 49-9052.00

Description:

Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.

Annual Wages:
$57,212.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 14.88%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
  2. Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
  3. Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
  4. Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
  5. Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
  6. Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
  7. 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.
  8. String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
  9. Install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
  10. Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
  11. Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
  12. Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
  13. Compute impedance of wires from poles to houses to determine additional resistance needed for reducing signals to desired levels.
  14. Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
  15. Dig trenches for underground wires or cables.
  16. Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
  17. Fill and tamp holes, using cement, earth, and tamping devices.
  18. Participate in the construction or removal of telecommunication towers or associated support structures.
  19. Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
  20. Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers employed Annual Growth Rate
Building equipment contractors 14.8 0.88
Utility system construction 13.3 1.15


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $27.51
2022 National average hourly wage $30.90
2020 National employment 124,400
2020 Texas employment 16,357
Texas projected employment by 2030 18,791
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 2,118




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
89.80%
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.
87.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
74.80%
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.
67.80%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
65.20%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
64.40%
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.
63.80%
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.
62.80%
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.
58.40%
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.
57.20%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
62.40%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
62.40%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
60.00%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
60.00%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
60.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
60.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
60.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
60.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
72.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
72.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
67.60%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
67.60%
Extent Flexibility
The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
67.60%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
65.00%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
65.00%
Trunk Strength
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
62.40%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
62.40%


  • Performing General Physical Activities
    -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches;

Articulating boom lift: Articulating boom lift; Bucket trucks;

Banders: Cable tie guns;

Boring machines: Borers;

Cable reels: Motorized cable reels; Cable trees;

Card key lock: Card access devices;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Derricks: Digger derricks;

Diagonal cut pliers: Dikes;

Dollies: Power dollies;

Electrical power sensors: Cable locators;

Electronic measuring probes: Probe picks;

Extension pole: Gopher poles;

Fish tape: Fish tapes;

Hacksaw: Hacksaws;

Hex keys: Hex sets;

Ladders: Extension ladders;

Leak testing equipment: Signal leakage detectors;

Level meter: Signal level meters;

Levels: Torpedo levels; Bubble levels;

Light bulb changer: Lamp extractors;

Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers;

Longnose pliers: Longnose pliers;

Metal cutters: Sheet metal cutters;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Needlenose pliers: Needlenose pliers;

Network routers: Computer network routers;

Network switches: Local area network LAN switches;

Non contact sensors: Intelligent field devices;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Ohmmeters: Volt-ohm meters VOM;

Power buffers: Polishing pucks;

Power drills: Cordless drills;

Power meters: Digital power meters;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Punchdown tools;

Reflectometers: Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR;

Resin guns: Syringes;

Saws: Drywall saws;

Screwdrivers: Flathead screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers;

Security cameras: Coaxial security cameras; IP security cameras;

Shears: Cable slitters; Duct knives;

Sheaves or pulleys: Cable sheaves;

Signal generators: Tone generators; Tone sets; Tone tracers;

Soldering iron: Soldering irons;

Specialty wrenches: Can wrenches;

Staple guns: Staple guns; Strap guns;

Stripping tools: Sheath removal tools; Fiber scribes; Cable strippers; Cable jacket strippers; Buffer strippers;

Tampers: Tampers;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Tow trucks: Winch trucks;

Trenching machines: Trenchers; Cable plows;

Two way radios: Two way radios;

Videoscopes: Inspection scopes;

Winches: Power winches;

Wire cutters: Electricians' snips;

Wire lug crimping tool: Combo crimping tools; Wire lug crimping tools;

Wire or cable cutter: Cable cutters;

Wire wrapping tool: Wire wrap guns;

WLAN wireless access network equipment and components: Wireless access points WAP;


Technology

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Slack;

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD;

Customer relationship management CRM software: Customer relationship management CRM software;

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Workforce management system software;

Facilities management software: Mapcom systems M4;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software: Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Operating system software; Cisco IOS;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Transaction security and virus protection software: Ping tools;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers include:
  • 49-2097.00 Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
  • 49-2093.00 Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
  • 49-2094.00 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
  • 49-9051.00 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  • 47-2111.00 Electricians
  • 49-2096.00 Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
  • 49-2021.00 Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
  • 49-2098.00 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
  • 15-1241.01 Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
  • 49-2022.00 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers


Sources of Additional Information
  • For information about apprenticeships or job opportunities for line installers and repairers, contact local electrical contractors, a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a local joint union-management apprenticeship committee, or the nearest office of your state employment service or apprenticeship agency. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s toll-free help line, 1 (877) 872-5627 or the Employment and Training Administration.
  • For more information about line installers and repairers, visit: American Public Power Association
  • Center for Energy Workforce Development
  • Telecommunications Industry Association
  • For information about certification, visit: BICSI
  • The Fiber Optic Association
  • Electrical Training ALLIANCE
  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  • Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.