Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
Also called: Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech), Radio Technician (Radio Tech), Tower Technician (Tower Tech), Two-Way Radio Technician (Two-Way Radio Tech)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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 30 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 1.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in information, which employs about 27% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $79,050 | $76,440 to $99,830 | 50 |
| Arizona | $95,040 | $61,820 to $105,240 | 100 |
| California | $62,840 | $57,290 to $79,850 | 1,030 |
| Colorado | $56,110 | $47,130 to $63,270 | 530 |
| Connecticut | $100,890 | $83,180 to $100,890 | not published |
| Delaware | $60,740 | $51,770 to $67,950 | 40 |
| Florida | $60,140 | $54,060 to $78,080 | 520 |
| Georgia | $62,010 | $58,640 to $79,170 | 190 |
| Guam | $37,570 | $36,410 to $47,750 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $65,970 | $53,170 to $103,990 | 70 |
| Idaho | $107,250 | $85,850 to $112,770 | not published |
| Illinois | $61,110 | $48,880 to $62,950 | 780 |
| Indiana | $60,840 | $50,740 to $74,880 | 280 |
| Iowa | $50,760 | $43,910 to $62,830 | 50 |
| Kansas | $58,010 | $45,190 to $77,370 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $49,840 | $44,460 to $63,980 | 90 |
| Maine | $51,970 | $47,840 to $65,210 | 130 |
| Maryland | $100,800 | $79,110 to $117,380 | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $60,890 | $58,280 to $74,080 | not published |
| Michigan | $64,130 | $50,650 to $69,240 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 | $74,240 to $86,470 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $47,960 | $45,870 to $59,760 | not published |
| Missouri | $52,450 | $45,170 to $76,590 | 130 |
| Montana | $47,000 | $41,600 to $48,280 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $52,410 | $49,530 to $56,870 | not published |
| Nevada | $79,380 | $52,450 to $92,700 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $62,450 | $59,770 to $76,260 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $75,930 | $64,490 to $101,290 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $65,110 | $52,970 to $88,780 | 100 |
| New York | $81,070 | $58,130 to $114,560 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $47,040 | $38,520 to $61,090 | 280 |
| Ohio | $72,160 | $46,800 to $105,230 | 370 |
| Oklahoma | $55,880 | $51,540 to $61,520 | 130 |
| Oregon | $61,020 | $48,880 to $77,210 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,010 | $62,440 to $105,240 | 240 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,640 | $22,780 to $35,330 | 210 |
| South Carolina | $78,250 | $66,300 to $78,440 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $63,620 | $54,230 to $73,290 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $49,140 | $47,840 to $53,090 | 330 |
| Texas | $77,910 | $48,790 to $95,630 | 830 |
| Vermont | $59,290 | $51,690 to $62,450 | 60 |
| Virginia | $67,790 | $58,750 to $76,440 | 660 |
| Washington | $79,020 | $62,070 to $95,640 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $62,170 | $47,580 to $103,370 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $57,740 | $50,450 to $72,320 | not published |
Nationally: $63,520. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 3 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables. | Not published |
| Not much | Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done. | Not published |
| Not much | Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed. | Not published |
| Not much | Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| Not much | Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs). | Not published |
| Not much | Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers. | Not published |
| AI alone | Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software. | 0.03% |
| AI + software | Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras. | Not published |
| Not much | Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software. | Not published |
| Not much | Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses. | Not published |
| Not much | Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves. | Not published |
| Not much | Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles. | Not published |
| Not much | Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers. | Not published |
| Not much | Calibrate and align components, using scales, gauges, and other measuring instruments. | Not published |
| Not much | Examine malfunctioning radio equipment to locate defects such as loose connections, broken wires, or burned-out components, using schematic diagrams and test equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Insert plugs into receptacles and bolt or screw leads to terminals to connect equipment to power sources, using hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Install, adjust, and repair stationary and mobile radio transmitting and receiving equipment and two-way radio communication systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor radio range stations to detect transmission flaws and adjust controls to eliminate flaws. | Not published |
| Not much | Mount equipment on transmission towers and in vehicles such as ships or ambulances. | Not published |
| Not much | Remove and replace defective components and parts such as conductors, resistors, semiconductors, and integrated circuits, using soldering irons, wire cutters, and hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair circuits, wiring, and soldering, using soldering irons and hand tools to install parts and adjust connections. | Not published |
| Not much | Test batteries, using hydrometers and ammeters, and charge batteries as necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Test emergency transmitters to ensure their readiness for immediate use. | Not published |
| Not much | Test equipment functions such as signal strength and quality, transmission capacity, interference, and signal delay, using equipment such as oscilloscopes, circuit analyzers, frequency meters, and wattmeters. | Not published |
| Not much | Turn setscrews to adjust receivers for maximum sensitivity and transmitters for maximum output. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. O*NET hasn't rated 12 of the tasks, so they come last, in O*NET's own order. 1 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #44 Gather data about operational or development activities
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Repair electrical or electronic equipment | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Install commercial or production equipment | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Climb equipment or structures |
Show all 19 activities
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Record images with photographic or audiovisual equipment | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products | |||
| Position tools or equipment | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Move materials, equipment, or supplies | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report68%
- An analysis or summary5%
- Data or a spreadsheet5%
- An email or message4%
- A plan or strategy3%
How they worked with Claude
86% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 3,583 moves out
- 1 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 2 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 7%
- 3 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians High +2.4% 6%
- 4 Education Administrators, Postsecondary High +1.8% 5%
- 5 Social and Human Service Assistants High +7.4% 5%
Where people moved in from
of 3,287 moves in
- 1 Social and Human Service Assistants High +7.4% 9%
- 2 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 8%
- 3 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 4 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Very high -4.1% 5%
- 5 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians High +2.4% 5%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 4% less than high school
- 31% high school
- 22% postsecondary certificate
- 18% some college
- 16% associate's
- 10% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 33% high school
- 33% some college
- 14% associate's
- 13% bachelor's
- 3% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers” · 1,406 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers”
1 program: Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 12 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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