Occupation

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Human Advantage 70%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
3 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

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.

Also Known As: Avionics Repair Technician (Avionics Repair Tech), Broadcasting Equipment Mechanic, Cell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech), Cellular Equipment Installer (Cell Equipment Installer), Cellular Equipment Repairer (Cell Equipment Repairer), Cellular Tower Climber (Cell Tower Climber), Certified Tower Climber, Communications Security Repairer +51 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. 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.
  2. Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
  3. Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
  4. Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
  5. Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
  6. Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
  7. Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
  8. Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
  9. Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.
  10. Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
  11. Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers.
  12. Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras.

Supplemental Tasks (6)

  1. Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.
  2. Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.
  3. Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.
  4. Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.
  5. Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.
  6. Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
31%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
22%
Some College Courses
18%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
16%
Bachelor's Degree
10%
Less than a High School Diploma
4%
Find Training Programs

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word

Software (15)

  • AERONET calculator
  • Backbone.js
  • Caliper Maptitude
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Location mapping software
  • Maintenance documentation software
  • Sweep analysis software
  • Zoho WebNMS Cell Tower Manager

Tools & Equipment (127)

  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Alignment tools
  • All-purpose snips
  • Analog ohmmeters
  • Antenna analyzers
  • Antenna socket sets
  • Backhoes
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Bench ammeters
  • Bench scales
  • Bench voltmeters
  • Bucket trucks
  • Butane soldering irons
  • Cabinet-tip screwdrivers
  • Cable cutters
  • Cable locators
  • Cable winches
  • Chain saws
  • Circuit analyzers
  • Clamp ammeters
  • Clamp voltmeters
  • Claw hammers
  • Coaxial cable stripping tools
  • Coaxial cable testers
  • Component test sets
  • Concrete mixers
  • Concrete pumpers
  • Conduit-fitting and reaming screwdrivers
  • Cordless soldering irons
  • Curved tweezers
  • Desolder pumps
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Diagonal-cutting pliers
  • Digital ammeters
  • Digital cameras
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital ohmmeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Digital spectrum analyzers
  • Directional compasses
  • Directional radio frequency RF power meters
  • Distortion meters
  • Double end socket can wrenches
  • Double ended screwdrivers
  • Electric manlifts
  • Electric soldering irons
  • Electricians' knives
  • Electricians' scissors
  • Equipment trailers
  • Extension ladders
  • Fall arrest systems
  • Forklifts
  • Frequency counters
  • Frequency meters
  • Full body harnesses
  • Gin poles
  • Groove-joint pliers
  • Guy wire tension gauges
  • Hacksaws
  • Hand reamers
  • Heavy duty longnose pliers
  • Hex key sets
  • Hydraulic cranes
  • Hydraulic wire crimpers
  • Ignition pliers
  • In-line modular adapters
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Insulated nutdrivers
  • Insulated pliers
  • Insulated wire cutters
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Keystone-tip screwdrivers
  • L-wrench sets
  • LED voltage testers
  • Lifting slings
  • Locking jaw pliers
  • Long nose electrical pliers
  • Longnosed pliers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Measuring tapes
  • Modulation meters
  • Multifunction digital multimeters
  • Neon voltage testers
  • Nibbling tools
  • Nut wrenches
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Phone outlet testers
  • Plumb lines
  • Power drillls
  • Probe pick spudgers
  • Pump pliers
  • Punchdown tools
  • Radio frequency RF monitors
  • Radio signal testers
  • Receptacle testers
  • Return loss measuring equipment
  • Rigging equipment
  • Round cable cutters
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety goggles
  • Safety lanyards
  • Scalar network analyzers
  • Screw starters
  • Series solenoid voltage testers
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Signal probe kits
  • Single-cut mill saw files
  • Slip joint pliers
  • Spring-loaded side cutters
  • Square-recess tip screwdrivers
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Sweep testing tools
  • Tablet computers
  • Torpedo levels
  • Trimming potentiometers
  • Utility knives
  • Utility trucks
  • Vector network analyzers
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Volt-ammeters
  • Voltmeters
  • Watt meters
  • Wattmeters
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire strippers
  • Wire wrap guns

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Utilities Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners 75% match
Zone 2
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers 93% match
Zone 3
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers You are here
Zone 4
Solar Energy Systems Engineers 78% match
Zone 5
Architectural and Engineering Managers 74% match

Resume Builder

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Related Occupations

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Real Talk

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