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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$63,520

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$44k – $104k

Job outlook

+9% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

    Entry / Junior

    $44,460

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

    Established

    $63,520

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

    Senior

    $83,755

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.