How to hire a cable installer

How to hire a cable installer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cable installer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cable installer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cable installer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cable installer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cable installer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cable installer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect cable installer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of cable installers.

   Type of Cable Installer	Description	Hourly rate
   Cable Installer	Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, also known as telecom technicians, set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, connect to telephone lines, and access the Internet.	$16-23
   Tower Technician	A tower technician is responsible for maintaining the performance stability of line towers to provide the best network services for the customers. Tower technicians are often out in the field to conduct repairs and installations for the customers, inspecting the area's condition, and reporting structural inconsistencies and defects... Show more	$13-22
   Tower Climber	Tower Climbers are professionals who are responsible for performing comprehensive installations, inspections, and maintenance on cell towers, self-supporting towers, and other tower transmitter systems. These climbers are required to complete tower safety courses so that they can climb communication towers to assist crews in repairing and inspecting communication boxes... Show more	$13-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Broadband
   • Ladders
   • TV
   • Fiber Optic Cables
   • Trouble Calls
   • Cable Lines
   • CAT5
   • Cat-5
   • Crawl Spaces
   • Security Systems
   • Structured Cabling
   • VoIP
   • Patch Panels
   • Utility Poles

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and lead training programs in preparation for combat.
   • Keep, organize and manage detail DPR's (daily progress reports) for self and crew.
   • Install telephone lines, data lines, and switchboards for major hotels
   • Ensure PMCS and maintenance functions are perform in accordance with publish schedules.
   • Install digital, CATV, telephone and internet services to residential homes and apartments.
   • Install and repair CATV, high-speed Internet, VoIP, basic LAN, and support software/hardware.

   More cable installer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cable installer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A cable installer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, cable installers' average salary in utah is 41% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cable installers 27% less than senior-level cable installers.
   • Certifications. A cable installer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a cable installer's salary.

   Average cable installer salary

   $41,581yearly

   $19.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cable installer salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average cable installer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$42,483	$20
   2	Colorado	$41,719	$20
   3	Illinois	$41,636	$20
   4	California	$41,551	$20
   5	Wyoming	$40,639	$20
   6	Maine	$40,035	$19
   7	New York	$39,931	$19
   8	North Carolina	$39,788	$19
   9	Louisiana	$39,682	$19
   10	Montana	$39,634	$19
   11	Alabama	$39,627	$19
   12	Tennessee	$39,191	$19
   13	Pennsylvania	$39,114	$19
   14	Nebraska	$39,018	$19
   15	Idaho	$38,974	$19
   16	Texas	$38,746	$19
   17	Massachusetts	$38,715	$19
   18	Wisconsin	$38,402	$18
   19	Ohio	$38,347	$18
   20	South Carolina	$38,200	$18

   Average cable installer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Henkels & Mccoy Group Inc	$52,714	$25.34
   2	Fluor Corporation	$45,959	$22.10	11
   3	Jacobs Engineering Group	$44,493	$21.39
   4	General Dynamics	$43,963	$21.14	16
   5	S&S Electric	$42,802	$20.58
   6	Golden Star Technology	$42,435	$20.40
   7	AT&T	$42,381	$20.38	177
   8	Spectrum	$42,247	$20.31
   9	TAK Communications	$41,970	$20.18	7
   10	Information Management Group	$41,928	$20.16	1
   11	EATEL	$41,876	$20.13	2
   12	DIRECTV Puerto Rico	$41,828	$20.11	2
   13	Parallel Technologies	$41,810	$20.10
   14	TrueNet	$41,627	$20.01	5
   15	Pillar Innovations	$41,603	$20.00	5
   16	Fair Haven	$41,410	$19.91
   17	Beitzel	$41,405	$19.91	13
   18	Triage Partners	$41,374	$19.89	2
   19	Anistar Technologies	$41,134	$19.78
   20	Consultant	$40,650	$19.54

4. Writing a cable installer job description

   A cable installer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a cable installer job description:

   Cable installer job description example

   ActioNet has an immediate opportunity for a Apprentice ISP Cable Installer located in Honolulu, Hawaii. ActioNet is an IT service provider and solutions integrator headquartered in Vienna, VA that works with the Federal Government and Department of Defense.
   
   This is an entry level position with an upward mobility path to a journeyman position. The Apprentice Inside Plant (ISP) Cable Installer must be able to understand comprehensive collection of installation-specific information to plan and execute tasks that includes installing CAT5, CAT5E CAT6, and Fiber-Install Data Racks and network equipment-Land cables on device ends, terminate and certify cables. The Apprentice will work alongside a Lead Installer.
   Physical Responsibilities
   
   * Repeated and frequent ability to lift, from floor to above head 25 lbs continuously.
   * Ability to sit, stand, climb, kneel, bend, lift, crawl, squat, reach and utilize both hands and feet in an aerial and underground capacity.
   * Environmental Conditions exposure is heat, cold, dust, wet, vibration and very loud noise. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods, stand, bend, walk, communicate via telephone, computer and/or face-to-face contact, vision to monitor, and use basic office equipment such as a personal computer, copier and fax machines regularly during the course of work.
   * Work is performed in and out of an office environment.
   
   Duties and responsibilities
   
   * Under the supervision of the Lead Installer the Apprentice will:
   * Assist in the installation of voice and data cabling including: copper & fiber optic terminations and installations, CAT.5, CAT5e & CAT.6, and EIA/TIA standards and BICSI installation guidelines
   * Assist in documenting the network by labeling and routing equipment and cables.
   * Assist in troubleshooting and repair equipment and ISP/OSP cabling issues.
   * For OSP tasks, the Apprentice works primarily in the field performing installation of OSP cable. Assists in gathering data for engineering and design of aerial, underground, and buried fiber optic facilities.
   * Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   * US Citizen.
   * Must be able to pass a Federal Background check.
   * Possess a valid driver's license.
   * Familiar with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc…).
   * Ability to make independent judgment and perform repetitive tasks.
   * Within 90 days of start date, take and pass OSHA-10 Certification.
   * Applicant must be at least a high school graduate or equivalent.
   
   ActioNet is a CMMI-DEV Level 4, CMMI-SVC Level 4, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 9001, HDI-certified, woman-owned IT Solutions Provider with strong qualifications and expertise in Agile Software Engineering, Cloud Solutions, Cyber Security and IT Managed Services. With 24+ years of stellar past performance, ActioNet is the premier Trusted Innogrator!
   
   Why ActioNet?
   
   At ActioNet, our Passion for Quality is at the heart of everything we do:
   
   * We are committed to make ActioNet a great place to work and continue to invest in our ActioNeters
   * We are committed to our customers by driving and sustaining Service Delivery Excellence
   * We are committed to give back to our Community, help others and make the world a better place for our next generation
   
   ActioNet is proud to be named as a Top Workplace for the ninth year in a row (2014 - 2022). We have 98% of Customer retention rate. We are passionate about the inspirational missions of our customers and we entrust our employees and teams to deliver exceptional performance to enable the safety, security, health and well-being of our nation.
   
   What's in It For You?
   
   As an ActioNeter, you get to be part of exceptional team and a corporate culture that nurtures mutual success for our customers, employees and our communities. We give you the tools to be successful; all you need to do is bring your best ideas, your energy and a desire to develop your skills, experience and career. Are you ready to make a difference?
   
   ActioNet is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cable installer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cable installer job on Zippia to find and recruit cable installer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cable installers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cable installer

   Once you've selected the best cable installer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new cable installer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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