Occupation Details
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
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.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$48,450.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$82,440.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$95,360.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
10,790
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
11,050
+26 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
1,191
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.0%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Articulating boom lift
- Borers
- Bubble levels
- Bucket trucks
- Buffer strippers
- Cable cutters
- Cable jacket strippers
- Cable locators
- Cable plows
- Cable sheaves
- Cable slitters
- Cable strippers
- Cable tie guns
- Cable trees
- Can wrenches
- Card access devices
- Channel lock pliers
- Claw hammers
- Coaxial security cameras
- Combo crimping tools
- Computer network routers
- Cordless drills
- Digger derricks
- Digital multimeters
- Digital power meters
- Dikes
- Drywall saws
- Duct knives
- Electricians' snips
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Cisco IOS
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Email software
- Mapcom systems M4
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Ping tools
- Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
- Web browser software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- collect fees
- erect power or communication poles or towers
- maintain or repair work tools or equipment
- clean equipment or machinery
- calibrate or adjust electronic equipment or instruments to specification
- install electronic power, communication, control, or security equipment or systems
- install or replace meters, regulators, or related measuring or control devices
- install power or communication lines, lead-in lines or cables
- repair power or communication lines
- splice electric cable
- splice electric or communications trunk lines
- repair or replace electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, or equipment
- install electrical conduit or tubing
- install lead-in wires to control boxes and other components
- test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures
- install electrical fixtures or components
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
- use electrical line repair equipment
- use hand or power tools
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
- operate pneumatic tamper to patch pavement or tamp earth
- use soldering equipment
- operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
- compute production, construction, or installation specifications
- answer customer or public inquiries
- read blueprints
- read schematics
- read tape measure
- read technical drawings
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- distinguish colors
- bend tubing or conduit
- apply cleaning solvents
- climb ladders, scaffolding, or utility or telephone poles
- install/string electrical or electronic cable or wiring
- move or fit heavy objects
- dig holes or trenches for foundations, posts, poles, or related items
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
- Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
- Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
- Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
- Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
- Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
- 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.
- Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
- String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
- Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
- Compute impedance of wires from poles to houses to determine additional resistance needed for reducing signals to desired levels.
- Install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
- Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
- Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
- Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
- Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
- Dig trenches for underground wires or cables.
- Fill and tamp holes, using cement, earth, and tamping devices.
- Participate in the construction or removal of telecommunication towers or associated support structures.
- Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Communications Equipment Operators
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreLine installers and repairers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More