How to hire a communications technician

How to hire a communications technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step communications technician hiring guide:

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

What does a communications technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The communications technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a communications technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a communications technician that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of communications technicians.

   Type of Communications Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Communications Technician	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.	$13-43
   Cable Installer	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... Show more	$16-23
   Field Service Technician	Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment... Show more	$16-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Rehabilitation
   • Hand Tools
   • Fiber Optic
   • Patch Panels
   • Telephone Systems
   • Communications Equipment
   • Test Equipment
   • Emergency Calls
   • RF
   • Communications Systems
   • Structured Cabling
   • Electronic Equipment
   • Windows

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and maintain communications for users on FMC's IBM SNA network.
   • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
   • Complete installs and ensure that they are up to code base on current NEC, NESC, and OSHA regulations.
   • Install and configure Cisco routers.
   • Perform installations of Safeway POS systems.
   • Test cable lines and equipment to NEC standards.

   More communications technician duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, communications technicians' average salary in texas is 48% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level communications technicians 68% less than senior-level communications technicians.
   • Certifications. A communications technician 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 communications technician's salary.

   Average communications technician salary

   $52,222yearly

   $25.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level communications technician salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 14, 2026

   Average communications technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$78,123	$38
   2	Washington	$78,046	$38
   3	Alaska	$75,133	$36
   4	California	$63,478	$31
   5	Colorado	$61,986	$30
   6	Illinois	$59,836	$29
   7	New York	$58,697	$28
   8	Nevada	$54,057	$26
   9	New Mexico	$53,071	$26
   10	Iowa	$51,862	$25
   11	District of Columbia	$51,479	$25
   12	Oklahoma	$51,260	$25
   13	Alabama	$49,646	$24
   14	Wisconsin	$49,520	$24
   15	Arizona	$49,076	$24
   16	Georgia	$47,006	$23
   17	Utah	$46,173	$22
   18	Louisiana	$46,033	$22
   19	Florida	$41,698	$20
   20	Texas	$41,354	$20

   Average communications technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pacifi	$96,772	$46.52	8
   2	Southern California Edison	$96,177	$46.24	2
   3	Portland General Electric	$86,789	$41.73	9
   4	NV Energy	$83,401	$40.10
   5	Pacific Gas and Electric	$79,057	$38.01
   6	MaxLinear	$78,342	$37.66
   7	Basin Electric Power Cooperative	$74,570	$35.85	2
   8	Canadian Pacific Railway	$69,361	$33.35	3
   9	The University of Chicago	$66,798	$32.11	12
   10	Kansas City Southern	$66,374	$31.91
   11	Cedars-Sinai	$66,117	$31.79	23
   12	Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County	$65,783	$31.63
   13	UMiami Health System	$64,920	$31.21
   14	University of Washington	$64,689	$31.10	11
   15	Dartmouth-Hitchcock	$64,267	$30.90	2
   16	Patten Cat	$63,537	$30.55
   17	O-I Glass	$63,118	$30.35
   18	Tetra Tech	$62,995	$30.29	13
   19	Ameren	$62,440	$30.02
   20	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County	$62,002	$29.81	1

4. Writing a communications technician job description

   A job description for a communications technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a communications technician job description:

   Communications technician job description example

   Under general supervision, Communications Technicians receive and relay calls for assistance via telephone, radio, and computer terminal; answer and/or redirect calls for information; establish priority and dispatch emergency calls; monitor, acknowledge, and input computerized alarm data; monitor and respond to video display activity; track and document all related activities; access, report, and update automated criminal records; receive, dispatch, and maintain hard copy records; research and compose reports and communications equipment as required. The Communications Technician may also handle direct citizen requests and staff mobile and remote communications command posts during special events and emergencies.
   
   This is a shift work - 24/7 position based in the Medical Center Security Services Department. Must be able to work various shifts and weekends. Job placement will be at multiple sites.
   Department Description
   
   In conjunction with UCSF Police Department, the 24-hour on-site Security Services Department of UCSF Health is responsible for monitoring Medical Center services and activities.Its primary goals are the safety and security of patients, staff, and visitors, and to ensure that UCSF Medical Center remains a safe and secure facility.
   
   Scope of Services: Coordination of card-access systems for Medical Center buildings and departments Mandatory Medical Center ID-card program Medical Center's access and parking control requirements Medical Center internal and external security patrols Responses to Codes Pink, Purple, Grey, Silver Lost and Found management Communication and operator services Workplace violence and threat management services Safety escorts for patients, visitors, staff, and students State Department of Health Services and JCAHO Security compliance standards Personal safety training, orientations, and crime prevention workshops
   
   Required Qualifications
   
   High School graduation or equivalent. Prior law enforcement, security or customer service experience required. Excellent verbal and interpersonal communications skills. Good written communication skills. Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Ability to work with all age groups from diverse backgrounds. Note: Physical/health screening, fingerprinting and background check required.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   Post-secondary education Past work experience in a security or medical facility. Prior experience with camera systems and/or security technologies. Ability to work in a high pressure, high volume department with individuals who are in crisis. BSIS Guard Card IAHSS Certification ASIS Certification
   
   About UCSF
   
   At UCSF Health, our mission of innovative patient care, advanced technology and pioneering research is redefining what's possible for the patients we serve - a promise we share with the professionals who make up our team.
   
   Consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report - UCSF Health is committed to providing the most rewarding work experience while delivering the best care available anywhere. In an environment that allows for continuous learning and opportunities for professional growth, UCSF Health offers the ideal atmosphere in which to best use your skills and talents.
   
   Pride Values
   
   UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.
   
   In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce.We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care.Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu
   
   Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.
   
   Equal Employment Opportunity
   
   The University of California San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right communications technician 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 communications technician job on Zippia to find and recruit communications technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit communications technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 communications technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect communications technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 communications technician 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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How much does it cost to hire a communications technician?