How To Become A Cable Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cable technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A cable technician installs, maintains, and repairs cable television, internet, and phone services in residential and commercial settings. They ensure customers have access to high-quality and reliable services. Cable technicians perform tasks such as configuring equipment, troubleshooting network issues, upgrading systems, and providing customer support. They must have strong technical skills, including knowledge of electrical systems, cabling, and network protocols. Additionally, they must possess excellent communication and customer service skills.

ScoreCable TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $47,289

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 6.24%

Black or African American 13.14%

Hispanic or Latino 18.04%

Unknown 4.75%

White 57.21%

Gender

female 4.97%

male 95.03%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a cable technician?

Pros

Good salary and benefits
Job security
Chance to interact with different people
Opportunity to work outdoors
Potential for a flexible schedule

Cons

Long and irregular hours
High risk of injuries and accidents
Working in customer's homes can be challenging
Lack of appreciation or recognition from customers
Emotionally taxing work due to dealing with frustrated or angry customers

Key steps to become a cable technician

Explore cable technician education requirements

Most common cable technician degrees

High School Diploma

38.9 %

Associate

26.1 %

Bachelor's

16.2 %

Start to develop specific cable technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Broadband	10.33%
Customer Service	10.14%
Ladders	8.79%
Hand Tools	6.47%
Structured Cabling	5.25%

Complete relevant cable technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cable technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cable technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cable technician resumes.

Gain additional cable technician certifications

Cable technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific cable technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for cable technicians include Network 5 Certification and Telecommunications (TCM).

More About Certifications

Research cable technician duties and responsibilities

Manage projects wiring computer networks and phone systems, using Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and fiber optics.
Replace every existing cat-5 data and voice drop with cat-6 cabling and corresponding material.
Install cable boxes for cable and modems for computer Internet along with coax cable and CAT5 for phone lines.
Conduct on-site installations, correction and repair of clients' broadband service, equipment troubleshooting, and customer service and education

Prepare your cable technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cable technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cable technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable cable technician resume templates

Build a professional cable technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cable technician resume.

Apply for cable technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a cable technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do cable technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Cable technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Pros

I like it because I enjoy doing it.for the past 21years I was doing cabling .so cabling is my life .I like when I get challenges every now and then it build me give me strength to face life

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019