Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer Salary
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earn a median $74,330 a year nationally. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
U.S. median
$74,330
$35.74 per hour
Range
$45,310 – $103,680
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
97,720
across the U.S.
▲5.4%
Pay trend: The median for telecommunications line installers and repairers in the U.S. rose from $70,500 (May 2024) to $74,330 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.0%.
What telecommunications line installers and repairers do
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.4% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 8,000
- Self-employed
- 5%
Employment of telecommunications line installers and repairers is projected to shrink 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 8,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$61,121
per year · effective tax rate 17.8%
$5,093Monthly
$2,547Twice a month
$2,351Every 2 weeks
$29.39Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,523
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,608
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,078
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,121
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,310 | $21.78 | $38,587 |
| 25th percentile | $54,310 | $26.11 | $45,818 |
| Median (50th) | $74,330 | $35.74 | $61,121 |
| 75th percentile | $95,850 | $46.08 | $76,260 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,680 | $49.85 | $81,769 |
Best cities for telecommunications line installers and repairers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $102,550 | $75,964 | $67,486 | 7,340 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $95,560 | $70,902 | $65,117 | 2,860 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,780 | $70,886 | $62,418 | 2,780 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $78,580 | $64,111 | $62,189 | 3,030 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $102,550
- Los Angeles, CA — $96,780
- Washington, DC — $95,560
- Dallas, TX — $78,580
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $103,810 | +0.7% | $78,531 | $81,260 – $105,930 | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $103,410 | −0.6% | $76,628 | $56,640 – $108,790 | 2,230 |
| New Jersey | $102,090 | +0.8% | $76,337 | $58,690 – $115,000 | 2,540 |
| New York | $100,960 | −4.7% | $74,939 | $50,470 – $120,090 | 8,530 |
| California | $97,980 | +6.1% | $71,603 | $60,260 – $106,230 | 8,810 |
| District of Columbia | $97,600 | +1.7% | $72,164 | $47,330 – $99,120 | 500 |
| Alaska | $97,450 | −0.7% | $77,386 | $58,530 – $108,140 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $97,140 | +10.6% | $73,400 | $76,960 – $117,740 | 500 |
| Delaware | $93,850 | +14.2% | $70,000 | $38,370 – $98,580 | 310 |
| Maine | $92,120 | +0.8% | $68,546 | $65,170 – $97,390 | 680 |
| West Virginia | $89,690 | +6.2% | $68,539 | $60,640 – $93,340 | 1,270 |
| New Hampshire | $86,370 | +2.2% | $69,591 | $58,210 – $100,960 | 540 |
| Maryland | $82,380 | −6.3% | $63,235 | $51,160 – $102,290 | 2,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,020 | +0.5% | $63,340 | $46,280 – $100,200 | 3,890 |
| Hawaii | $79,880 | +2.4% | $60,485 | $60,630 – $119,240 | 680 |
| Virginia | $79,090 | −1.2% | $60,736 | $45,220 – $102,470 | 4,120 |
| Washington | $76,070 | −4.9% | $62,345 | $49,320 – $103,360 | 1,510 |
| Texas | $75,740 | +10.9% | $62,113 | $46,540 – $102,500 | 9,700 |
| Montana | $75,720 | +48.2% | $59,182 | $48,110 – $94,680 | 530 |
| Michigan | $74,360 | +13.6% | $58,233 | $47,440 – $84,450 | 2,780 |
| Minnesota | $73,710 | +21.0% | $57,196 | $49,580 – $96,020 | 1,130 |
| Nevada | $72,230 | +33.7% | $59,644 | $46,600 – $96,110 | 730 |
| Illinois | $70,700 | −6.5% | $55,213 | $33,810 – $100,140 | 2,460 |
| Colorado | $66,020 | +5.1% | $53,031 | $46,490 – $93,930 | 1,630 |
| Kentucky | $64,010 | +6.4% | $51,489 | $42,450 – $91,420 | 1,870 |
| Wyoming | $63,660 | +11.3% | $53,331 | $38,580 – $91,240 | 160 |
| Kansas | $63,560 | −4.8% | $50,503 | $38,840 – $100,400 | 530 |
| Wisconsin | $63,560 | +5.7% | $51,235 | $47,710 – $91,080 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $63,510 | +6.9% | $53,210 | $45,720 – $83,820 | 2,620 |
| Ohio | $62,860 | +13.4% | $51,742 | $47,110 – $91,550 | 3,920 |
| Vermont | $61,970 | −8.0% | $50,331 | $50,070 – $85,170 | 310 |
| Florida | $61,740 | +16.2% | $51,788 | $37,510 – $80,620 | 5,760 |
| Alabama | $60,890 | −0.3% | $48,326 | $46,320 – $90,530 | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $60,890 | +0.4% | $49,443 | $40,410 – $85,760 | 820 |
| Arkansas | $60,840 | +5.0% | $48,905 | $36,160 – $99,150 | 1,690 |
| Oregon | $60,330 | −6.3% | $46,206 | $44,900 – $83,370 | 920 |
| Utah | $60,090 | +7.3% | $48,724 | $41,630 – $78,120 | 800 |
| South Carolina | $59,790 | +6.6% | $47,791 | $39,230 – $81,710 | 1,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,280 | −26.6% | $49,811 | $45,460 – $96,440 | 300 |
| Missouri | $59,080 | +0.3% | $47,811 | $43,050 – $96,050 | 2,710 |
| Indiana | $58,920 | +3.8% | $47,814 | $41,600 – $80,440 | 1,580 |
| Georgia | $58,760 | +3.0% | $46,967 | $41,040 – $80,960 | 3,530 |
| Arizona | $58,600 | −2.5% | $48,009 | $39,730 – $80,410 | 790 |
| New Mexico | $58,130 | −6.6% | $47,321 | $40,280 – $78,330 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $56,680 | +6.1% | $45,970 | $38,630 – $81,490 | 2,610 |
| Idaho | $56,340 | +15.0% | $45,571 | $45,070 – $77,170 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $50,070 | +3.8% | $41,013 | $41,420 – $80,780 | 390 |
| South Dakota | $49,560 | −12.1% | $42,001 | $35,370 – $74,800 | 590 |
| Mississippi | $49,360 | −15.5% | $40,598 | $30,760 – $79,680 | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $48,900 | −6.6% | $39,816 | $35,230 – $96,050 | 1,410 |
| Louisiana | $48,770 | +3.9% | $40,290 | $38,070 – $91,920 | 960 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer | $95,320 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.3% |
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $74,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.3% |
| Commercial Diver | $72,990 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.8% |
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other | $68,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Watch and Clock Repairer | $67,230 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.3% |
| Millwright | $65,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.9% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 | High school diploma or equivalent | +17.8% |
| Wind Turbine Service Technician | $64,120 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +29.5% |
| Rigger | $62,640 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 | Associate's degree | +12.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a telecommunications line installer and repairer make?
The national median salary for telecommunications line installers and repairers is $74,330 a year ($35.74 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,310 and the top 10% earn over $103,680. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays telecommunications line installers and repairers the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median pay at $103,810. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many telecommunications line installers and repairers are there in the U.S.?
About 97,720 people work as telecommunications line installers and repairers nationwide.