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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Part of Manufacturing, in the Maintenance, Installation & Repair pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 49-2021.00

What the work is

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.

On a typical day

  • Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
  • Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
  • 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 all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
  • Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
  • Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.

What it pays

$79,340
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $32,220
Experienced workers reach $103,300
  1. $32k10th
  2. $49k25th
  3. $79kMedian
  4. $95k75th
  5. $103k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $32,220, 25th $48,670, Median $79,340, 75th $95,200, 90th $103,300

About 50 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

+9%

U.S. employment change

1,200

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

11,700

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Associate's degree · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Repairing3.4
  2. Installation3.9
  3. Equipment Maintenance2.9
  4. Reading Comprehension3.1
  5. Active Listening3.1
  6. Critical Thinking3.1
  7. Speaking3.0
  8. Quality Control Analysis3.6

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less35%
  2. Certificate22%
  3. Some college18%
  4. Associate degree16%
  5. Bachelor's degree10%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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