Careers > Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

$59.72K Median Salary 1.6K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 4.4% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Avionics Technician (Avionics Tech), Communications Systems Technician, Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech), Field Technician (Field Tech), Installation Technician (Installation Tech), Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech), Radio Repairman, Radio Technician (Radio Tech), Tower Technician (Tower Tech), Two-Way Radio Technician (Two-Way Radio Tech)

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Near Vision

Problem Sensitivity

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Deductive Reasoning

Information Ordering

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Oral Comprehension

Speech Recognition

Category Flexibility

Control Precision

Extent Flexibility

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Expression

Perceptual Speed

Speech Clarity

Written Comprehension

Far Vision

Selective Attention

Visualization

Written Expression

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics

Telecommunications

Customer and Personal Service

Mechanical

Administration and Management

Engineering and Technology

English Language

Public Safety and Security

Communications and Media

Mathematics

Skills

Repairing

Equipment Maintenance

Installation

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Speaking

Monitoring

Operations Monitoring

Quality Control Analysis

Time Management

Active Learning

Complex Problem Solving

Coordination

Judgment and Decision Making

Social Perceptiveness

Systems Analysis

Troubleshooting

Writing

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Presentation software

Analytical or scientific software

Facilities management software

Geographic information system

Electronic mail software

Office suite software

Operating system software

Word processing software

Map creation software

Project management software

Tools

Screwdrivers

Voltage or current meters

Ammeters

Frequency analyzers

Network analyzers

Soldering iron

Slip or groove joint pliers

Longnose pliers

Stripping tools

Hex keys

Level meter

Multimeters

Wire cutters

Slings

Ohmmeters

Nut drivers

Diagonal cut pliers

Punches or nail sets or drifts

Locking pliers

Safety harnesses or belts

Wire or cable cutter

End cut pliers

Hydraulic hand crimp tool

Workshop cranes

Electrical power sensors

Wattmeters

Mill saw file

Fish tape

Ladders

Manlift or personnel lift

Tape measures

Geological compasses

Concrete mixers or plants

Nibblers

Impedance meters

Tension testers

GFI circuit testers

Wire wrapping tool

Fall protection lanyard

Flatbed trailers

Levels

Circuit tester

Utility knives

Socket sets

Power drills

Articulating boom lift

Insulation resistance meters

Radio equipment tester

Potentiometers

Electrician kits

Frequency counters or timer or dividers

Integrated circuit testers

Plumb bobs

Goggles

Specialty wrenches

Inspection mirror

Tweezers

Electrical frequency meters

Desoldering pump

Linemans pliers

Ball peen hammer

Adjustable widemouth pliers

Light trucks or sport utility vehicles

Adjustable wrenches

Hand reamer

Gin pole and accessories

Winches

Power meters

Wire lug crimping tool

Claw hammer

Oscilloscopes

Cement pumping units

Magnetic tools

Power saws

Tinners snips

Hacksaw

Safety glasses

Forklifts

Digital cameras

Bench scales

Personal computers

Backhoes

Tablet computers

Modulation meters

Abilities

Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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.
Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Facilities management software: Maintenance management software
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Map creation software: ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS; OpenDroneMap
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project

Tools

Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Voltage or current meters: Digital voltmeters DVM
Ammeters:
Frequency analyzers: Spectrum analyzers
Network analyzers: Local area network LAN analyzers
Soldering iron: Soldering irons
Slip or groove joint pliers: Slip joint pliers
Longnose pliers:
Stripping tools: Wire strippers
Hex keys: Allen wrenches; Hex wrenches
Level meter: Distortion meters; Sweep testing tools
Multimeters:
Wire cutters:
Slings: Rigging equipment
Ohmmeters: Digital ohmmeters
Nut drivers: Magnetic nut drivers; T handle nut drivers
Diagonal cut pliers: Diagonal cutters
Punches or nail sets or drifts: Mini punch sets
Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers
Safety harnesses or belts: Climbing belts
Wire or cable cutter: Umbilical cutters
End cut pliers: End cutting pliers
Hydraulic hand crimp tool: Hand crimpers
Workshop cranes: Hydraulic cranes
Electrical power sensors: Charge-actuated spiking tools
Wattmeters: Conventional watt meters; Electronic watt meters
Mill saw file: Single-cut mill saw files
Fish tape: Wire loop pullers
Ladders: Extension ladders
Manlift or personnel lift: Manlift buckets
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Geological compasses: Underwater compasses
Concrete mixers or plants: Concrete mixers
Nibblers:
Impedance meters: Return loss calibrator RLC passive component testers
Tension testers: Tensile testers
GFI circuit testers: Ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI testers
Wire wrapping tool: Wire wrap guns
Fall protection lanyard: Safety lanyards
Flatbed trailers: Utility trailers
Levels: Optical levels
Circuit tester: Continuity testers
Utility knives: Precision knives
Socket sets: Socket wrench sets
Power drills: Hand drills
Articulating boom lift: Cherry pickers
Insulation resistance meters: Insulation resistance testers
Radio equipment tester: Radio signal testers
Potentiometers:
Electrician kits: Alignment tools
Frequency counters or timer or dividers: Frequency counters
Integrated circuit testers: Logic analyzers
Plumb bobs:
Goggles: Safety goggles
Specialty wrenches: Oil filter wrenches
Inspection mirror: Small mirror tools
Tweezers: Industrial tweezers
Electrical frequency meters: Frequency meters
Desoldering pump: Desolder pumps
Linemans pliers: Insulated pliers
Ball peen hammer: Ball peen hammers
Adjustable widemouth pliers: Oil filter pliers
Light trucks or sport utility vehicles: Utility trucks
Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches
Hand reamer: Reamers
Gin pole and accessories: Gin poles
Winches: Hand winches
Power meters: Direct current DC power testers
Wire lug crimping tool: Blasting cap crimpers
Claw hammer: Claw hammers
Oscilloscopes: Sampling oscilloscopes
Cement pumping units: Cement pumping equipment
Magnetic tools: Magnetic extendable tools
Power saws: Chain saws
Tinners snips: Compound snips; Snips; Straight snips; Tin snips
Hacksaw: Hacksaws
Safety glasses: Protective safety glasses
Forklifts:
Digital cameras:
Bench scales: Digital bench scales
Personal computers:
Backhoes: Backhoe-equipped tractors
Tablet computers:
Modulation meters: Time interval analyzers

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