What does a Cable Installer do?

A cable installer installs and maintains telecommunication systems and equipment such as telephone lines, cable television, or internet services at homes or commercial areas. In some companies, a cable installer may also handle complaints and concerns, conduct inspections, troubleshoot problems, and fix or replace components when necessary. Their job often requires them to climb up poles or even towers to attach or repair wires, and there are times when they may perform adjustments or even disconnections. They may also assist clients by answering inquiries, providing instructions, or referring them to other services when necessary.
Cable installer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cable installer resumes:
- 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.
- Configure DGM and RMC for operations.
- Construct and mount racks for all IDF's.
- Create visually appealing cabling in racks in IDF rooms.
- Install, repair and maintain cat5/cat5e cable and shield cat-5 cable.
- Tone extension lines to connect PBX equipment to individual phone sets.
- Determine proper location for satellite and run cables to various rooms.
- Complete work orders to rehabilitate older PBX systems and install new PBX systems.
- Diagnose and repair signal leakage, internet speeds/drop outs, picture quality and VOIP.
- Install cutting edge technology, place mounts, satellite dishes and receivers while ensuring broadband connectivity.
Cable installer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 38% of Cable Installers are proficient in Broadband, Ladders, and TV. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Color vision.
We break down the percentage of Cable Installers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Broadband, 38%
Installed Charter cable TV and broadband Internet service, configured Internet settings in PCs.
- Ladders, 9%
Contracted job to install electrical cable into wind towers, Prepared equipment for transport including platforms, ladders and tarps.
- TV, 7%
Installed underground cable outdoors to accommodate cable TV installation for commercial and residential facilities.
- Fiber Optic Cables, 6%
Installed data, voice and fiber optic cables for commercial and industrial customers, using electrician tools and test equipment.
- Trouble Calls, 3%
Responded to numerous trouble calls with completely resolving issues reducing return calls to the customer's facility.
- Cable Lines, 2%
Install and terminate category 5 and above, type 1, type 9, telephone, and fiber optic cable lines.
"broadband," "ladders," and "tv" are among the most common skills that cable installers use at work. You can find even more cable installer responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a cable installer to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "telecom technicians who work in customers’ homes and offices should be friendly and polite." Additionally, a cable installer resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "handled and maintained equipment while commuting to various customer locations. "
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform cable installer duties is dexterity. Cable installers responsibilities require that "telecom technicians’ tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." Cable installers also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized bucket trucks and lifts for high level operations; utilized cable pullers, splicers and connectors. "
Color vision. cable installers are also known for color vision, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to cable installer responsibilities, because "telecom technicians work with color-coded wires, and they need to be able to tell them apart." A cable installer resume example shows how color vision is used in the workplace: "connect and disconnect cable for television, broadband, and digital phone services. "
Mechanical skills. A big part of what cable installers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to cable installer responsibilities because "telecom technicians must be familiar with the devices they install and repair, with their internal parts, and with the appropriate tools needed to use, install, or fix them." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical cable installer tasks: "installed new phone lines/ethernet cables * fiber optics installation * mechanical/ fusion splicing * obtained security clearance that was valid until 2014"
Troubleshooting skills. A commonly-found skill in cable installer job descriptions, "troubleshooting skills" is essential to what cable installers do. Cable installer responsibilities rely on this skill because "telecom technicians must be able to troubleshoot and devise solutions to problems that are not immediately apparent." You can also see how cable installer duties rely on troubleshooting skills in this resume example: "conducted troubleshooting of hardware and software for cable, internet and phone lines. "
The three companies that hire the most cable installers are:
- Spectrum372 cable installers jobs
- TrueNet17 cable installers jobs
- StarTek12 cable installers jobs
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Cable installer vs. Switch 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. They should have excellent mechanical and electrical knowledge to resolve issues immediately and create resolution manuals to prevent reoccurrence and ensure the safeness and security of line towers.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between cable installers and switch technician. For instance, cable installer responsibilities require skills such as "broadband," "ladders," "tv," and "fiber optic cables." Whereas a switch technician is skilled in "switches," "ac dc," "routine maintenance," and "t1." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Switch technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than cable installers. In fact, switch technicians are 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Cable installer vs. Tower technician
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. They must operate heavy equipment to prepare sites for the construction and erection of communication towers. Tower Climbers should also guarantee the safety of their crews during extreme weather conditions by following company policies and procedures.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cable installer responsibilities requires skills like "tv," "trouble calls," "cable lines," and "cat5." But a tower technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "osha," "cpr," "rf," and "hand tools."
On average, tower technicians earn a lower salary than cable installers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, tower technicians earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $39,462. Whereas cable installers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $43,049.tower technicians earn similar levels of education than cable installers in general. They're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cable installer vs. Tower climber
A tower hand is an individual who climbs towers or poles to install, repair, and perform routine maintenance on electrical equipment. Tower hands are required to climb up very tall structures to perform maintenance on equipment such as power lines, cell tower components, or radio antenna equipment. They must perform audits on their climbing equipment so that they can determine the quality of their equipment as well as avoid defects. Tower hands must be competent climbers so that they can safely climb towers while carrying heavy equipment.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from cable installer resumes include skills like "ladders," "tv," "fiber optic cables," and "trouble calls," whereas a tower climber is more likely to list skills in "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "safety equipment. "
Tower climbers earn the highest salary when working in the telecommunication industry, where they receive an average salary of $46,623. Comparatively, cable installers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $43,049.tower climbers typically earn similar educational levels compared to cable installers. Specifically, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cable installer vs. Tower hand
Even though a few skill sets overlap between cable installers and tower hands, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a cable installer might have more use for skills like "broadband," "ladders," "tv," and "trouble calls." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of tower hands require skills like "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "demolition. "
Tower hands reach similar levels of education compared to cable installers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of cable installer
Updated January 8, 2025