what are cable installer jobs?

Alternative Career Options

Some skills necessary to become a cable technician will help prepare you for jobs in other areas.

Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer

There are several types of technicians included in this category, all of which generally install and maintain technical equipment for numerous clients. This career usually requires workers to have some form of postsecondary education; however, on-the-job training is often provided. The number of jobs was projected to increase by 1% from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS. In 2017, the median income for telecommunication line installers and repairers was $55,060 annually.

cable installer jobs

Electronics Engineer

Among their many duties, electrical and electronics engineers design and inspect electronic systems and components and make recommendations for improvement. The BLS notes that these workers should have a bachelor's degree in a related field. The median salary of these workers in 2017 was $102,180, as reported by the BLS. Slow job growth of 4% was estimated for electronics engineers from 2016 to 2026.

How much does a cable installer make?

Cable TV Installation Technician Salary

In May 2018, all telecommunications line installers and repairers, including cable TV installation technicians, earned a median salary of $58,280 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The 90th percentile earned $92,440, while the tenth percentile earned $30,950. Those working in the cable and other subscription programming industry earned a mean salary of $57,250. The salary statistics for telecommunications line installers and repairers varies by location. For example, those who worked in South Dakota earned a mean salary of $49,710 in 2018, while those who worked in Virginia earned an average of $61,070 and those employed in Alaska earned $70,140 in the same year.

Cable TV Installation Technician Career Information

Job Description

how much does a cable installer make

Cable TV installation technicians work for the largest sector of the telecommunications industry, which is wired telecommunications. The content on cable TV channels can only be accessed through a network of wires and cables. Cable TV installation technicians set up cable TV lines so that subscribers may gain access to this content. In the past, copper wires were the most common means to transmit this content, but many companies are now using glass or plastic fiber optic cables. Fiber optic cables use light instead of electricity to transmit information and allow for faster transmission times. Those who work with fiber optic cables need specialized training in testing, troubleshooting, splicing and terminating optical cables.

what are cable installer tools?

Fortunately, the equipment is reliable, says David Talton, co-owner of Wyrecart (Wendell, NC), which manufactures and distributes wire- and cable-carrying tools. "My customers rarely require replacement parts for any of their tools," he says. "And when they do, it`s usually because a part was lost, not because it failed."

cable installer tools

Wyrecart offers a variety of these devices, including carts, caddies, dispensers, stands, and jacks. Talton explains the differences among his products. "All are designed for a job-site environment. Each tool is designed to handle a different type of spool or coil."

"Caddies, carts, and dispensers are essentially the same tools," says Ken Hagemeyer, director of product management with Greenlee Textron (Rockford, IL). "They perform very similar functions and some people use the terminology interchangeably. Stands are a bit different than the others. They are not portable and are used to help lift a reel off the ground. Generally, stands are used for bigger loads than caddies and carts can handle."

what are cable installers jobs?

Job Duties

Most of a line installer's duties are performed outdoors, and inclement weather conditions can make the work environment uncomfortable. When installing new cables, workers may need to operate borers or trenchers to create openings in which to bury the lines, or they may need to hang the cables from towers or poles. Storms and age can damage cables, requiring workers to locate the problem and repair it. By contrast, telecommunication technicians perform most of their duties indoors, installing or troubleshooting equipment located in customer's homes, offices or buildings. They have to inspect internal phone jacks or wiring, make adjustments to the equipment to enhance reception, or replace equipment that is outdated or malfunctioning. Once an installation is complete, techs test the equipment and then teach the customer how to use it.

cable installers jobs

Educational Requirements

The Bureau of Labor Statistics advises that most employers prefer candidates who have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, whether they are applying for telecom technician or line installer positions. Furthermore, many employers prefer to hire line installers who have completed a formal apprenticeship -- which can last as long as five years -- or completed a postsecondary program in electronics or telecommunications. Most training, however, occurs on the job. The BLS states that employers of telecom technicians prefer candidates who have completed a postsecondary program in electronics, such as earning an associate degree from a community college, and who are computer-literate.

what are cable installer salaries?

Cable TV Installation Technician Salary

In May 2018, all telecommunications line installers and repairers, including cable TV installation technicians, earned a median salary of $58,280 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The 90th percentile earned $92,440, while the tenth percentile earned $30,950. Those working in the cable and other subscription programming industry earned a mean salary of $57,250. The salary statistics for telecommunications line installers and repairers varies by location. For example, those who worked in South Dakota earned a mean salary of $49,710 in 2018, while those who worked in Virginia earned an average of $61,070 and those employed in Alaska earned $70,140 in the same year.

cable installer salaries

Cable TV Installation Technician Career Information

Job Description

Cable TV installation technicians work for the largest sector of the telecommunications industry, which is wired telecommunications. The content on cable TV channels can only be accessed through a network of wires and cables. Cable TV installation technicians set up cable TV lines so that subscribers may gain access to this content. In the past, copper wires were the most common means to transmit this content, but many companies are now using glass or plastic fiber optic cables. 

What is a field technician?

Should I Become a Field Technician?

Field technicians use specialized technical knowledge to install and maintain industry equipment. These workers travel to conduct such work on site. Depending on the type of equipment one works with, a field technician may be known as a heavy vehicle or diesel technician, electronics repairer, or computer repairer, among other job titles. Individuals can also further specialize within an industry. For instance, a heavy vehicle and mobile equipment technician may choose to specialize in farm equipment. An electronics repairer may choose to specialize in commercial equipment, such as antennas.

what is a field technician

The environment in which a field technician works varies by industry: computer repairers will often find themselves in computer laboratories or office settings, while heavy vehicle technicians may work on vehicles in a repair station or outdoors, on site. Most technicians work on a full-time basis, although some may be seasonal or work part-time, depending on the needs of the company. In January 2016, a median annual salary of $47,972 was reported by Payscale.com for field service technicians.

what are cell tower jobs?

On a clear evening in May, Guilford was dangling, 150 feet in the air, from a cell tower in southwest Indiana. He had been sent aloft to take pictures of AT&T antennas soon to be replaced by 3G equipment.

cell tower jobs

Work complete, Guilford sped his descent by rappelling on a rope. Safety standards required him to step down the metal pole, peg by peg, using a special line that would catch automatically if he fell. But tower climbing is a field in which such rules are routinely ignored.