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 representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • 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" aren't the only skills we found cable installers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of cable installer responsibilities that we found, including:

  • The most important skills for a cable installer to have in this position are customer-service skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a cable installer resume, you'll understand why: "telecom technicians who work in customers’ homes and offices should be friendly and polite" According to resumes we found, customer-service skills can be used by a cable installer in order to "handled and maintained equipment while commuting to various customer locations. "
  • Another commonly found skill for being able to perform cable installer duties is the following: dexterity. According to a cable installer resume, "telecom technicians’ tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." Check out this example of how cable installers use dexterity: "utilized bucket trucks and lifts for high level operations; utilized cable pullers, splicers and connectors. "
  • Cable installers are also known for color vision, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a cable installer resume: "telecom technicians work with color-coded wires, and they need to be able to tell them apart." We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "connect and disconnect cable for television, broadband, and digital phone services. "
  • A thorough review of lots of resumes revealed to us that "mechanical skills" is important to completing cable installer responsibilities. This resume example shows just one way cable installers use this skill: "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"
  • As part of the cable installer description, you might find that one of the skills that might be helpful to the job is "troubleshooting skills." A cable installer resume included this snippet: "telecom technicians must be able to troubleshoot and devise solutions to problems that are not immediately apparent." This skill could be useful in this scenario: "conducted troubleshooting of hardware and software for cable, internet and phone lines. "
  • See the full list of cable installer skills.

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    What Switch Technicians Do

    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.

    In this section, we compare the average cable installer annual salary with that of a switch technician. Typically, switch technicians earn a $59,796 higher salary than cable installers earn annually.

    While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both cable installers and switch technicians positions are skilled in voip, preventive maintenance, and lan.

    As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a cable installer responsibility requires skills such as "broadband," "ladders," "tv," and "fiber optic cables." Whereas a switch technician is skilled in "switches," "ac dc," "routine maintenance," and "t1." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

    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.

    What Are The Duties Of a 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.

    Now we're going to look at the tower technician profession. On average, tower technicians earn a $4,110 lower salary than cable installers a year.

    Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Cable installers and tower technicians both include similar skills like "broadband," "ladders," and "fiber optic cables" on their resumes.

    While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that cable installer responsibilities requires skills like "tv," "trouble calls," "cable lines," and "cat5." But a tower technician might use skills, such as, "osha," "cpr," "rf," and "hand tools."

    On average, tower technicians earn a lower salary than cable installers. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, tower technicians earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $39,462. Whereas, cable installers have higher paychecks in the technology industry where they earn an average of $43,049.

    On the topic of education, 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.

    How a Tower Climber Compares

    A tower hand is a professional 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.

    The third profession we take a look at is tower climber. On an average scale, these workers bring in lower salaries than cable installers. In fact, they make a $333 lower salary per year.

    Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from cable installer resumes include skills like "ladders," "tv," "fiber optic cables," and "trouble calls," whereas a tower climber might be skilled in "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "safety equipment. "

    Additionally, tower climbers earn a higher salary in the telecommunication industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $46,623. Additionally, cable installers earn an average salary of $43,049 in the technology industry.

    Tower climbers are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to cable installers. Additionally, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Tower Hand

    Tower hands tend to earn a lower pay than cable installers by about $2,614 per year.

    Even though a few skill sets overlap, 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 tower hands might include skills like "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "demolition" on their resume.

    Tower hands reach similar levels of education when compared to cable installers. The difference is that they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree less, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.