How to hire an outside plant technician

How to hire an outside plant technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step outside plant technician hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the outside plant technician you need to hire. Certain outside plant technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An outside plant technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, outside plant technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of outside plant technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Outside Plant Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Outside Plant 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.	$13-29
   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
   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

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2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Ladders
   • Outside Plant
   • CDL
   • Test Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • OSHA
   • OSP
   • Plant Facilities
   • Telecommunication
   • Bucket Truck
   • Troubleshoot
   • Fiber Optic Cables
   • VoIP
   • Crawl Spaces

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and administer documentation of OSP fiber optic plant in support of customer projects, network planning, and municipality requirements.
   • Move and/or lift items such as ladders, tools, air tanks, cable reels, and test equipment
   • Install residential and business telephone lines, including premise CAT5 wiring and jack work.
   • Perform construction work such as digging holes, installing inner duct in various types of conduit systems and open excavations.
   • Organize projects that include open excavations, placing cables, air pipes and inner duct in various types of conduit systems.
   • Install and repair T1 and T3 systems.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your outside plant technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An outside plant technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, outside plant technicians' average salary in minnesota is 51% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level outside plant technicians earn 52% less than senior-level outside plant technicians.
   • Certifications. An outside plant technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an outside plant technician's salary.

   Average outside plant technician salary

   $42,451yearly

   $20.41 hourly rate

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   Entry-level outside plant technician salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an outside plant technician job description

   A job description for an outside plant 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 an outside plant technician job description:

   Outside plant technician job description example

   As a Sr. Outside Plant Construction Technician , you will oversee the construction and maintenance of PON/fiber network communications facilities in TDS Telecom serving areas. Performs advanced operation of construction equipment which includes, but is not limited to, trenchers, backhoes, end loaders, and plows. Manages the overall project while coordinating with internal and external resources. Ensures the entire team operates according to safety protocols. This position is eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus! (Payout terms apply) Compensation for this position generally ranges from $28.00 - $35.00 per hour, but is based on experience. TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS Metrocom/TDS) is a leading provider of fiber internet service. With more than 50 years of experience, the growing communications company is building and deploying new, fiber optic networks in neighborhoods across the country to deliver up to 2 Gigabit internet speeds to homes and up to 10 Gigabit internet speeds to business. In addition, TDS provides innovative TV entertainment and advanced phone services. Visit tdsfiber.com to learn more. TDS provides communications services for more than 1,000 rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities in the United States. The company employs more than 3,000 people nationwide and is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS Inc.), a Fortune 1000 company [NYSE: TDS]. Founded in 1969, Telephone and Data Systems provides wireless, broadband, video, and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses: UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. TDS Inc. has been named to several Forbes lists, including America's Best Employers for Diversity, Best Large Employers, and Best Employers for Women. Visit tdsinc.com or tdstelecom.com for more information. Responsibilities Receives maps and staking sheets for the full construction project and ensures project is built, with limited guidance from supervisors.
   Communicates updates to the project team as required.
   Manages daily and weekly project work based on deadlines, material and equipment availability, weather, and other factors.
   Coordinates with supervisor to ensure continual supply of work and availability of materials.
   Drafts and submits redlines upon completion of project.
   Ensures locates are performed on time and prior to team and equipment arriving at the worksite.
   Regularly engages municipalities, utility companies, suppliers, contractors, and property owners in order to smoothly coordinate project tasks and avoid disputes. Reads construction plans and municipality permits, and determines approach for completing work.
   Maintains all project documentation and records costs of project materials and material transfers.
   Ensures DOT inspections are performed on equipment.
   Works with project managers to ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget. Performs general construction labor in various weather conditions while utilizing safety fundamentals. Advanced operation of trenchers, backhoes, end loaders, plows, and other excavating equipment to construct and maintain outside plant cable facilities.
   Advanced operation of all test equipment associated with outside plant facilities and construction duties.
   Installs, troubleshoots, tests, splices, repairs, and maintains fiber optic facilities.
   Identifies location of defective cable using various test equipment and repairs buried, aerial, underground, and/or customer cable.
   Locates cable and fiber in response to customer requests and/or construction needs.
   Performs cable fault acceptance tests on newly constructed facilities. Actively trains, monitors, and coaches team members while sharing construction knowledge and experience. Performs quality control inspections and makes training recommendations. Ensures safety protocols are enforced. Services, cleans, maintains, and repairs equipment. Qualifications Required Qualifications 2+ years of construction equipment operation utilizing various underground and aerial construction equipment such as directional drills, trencher/plow/rock saw, backhoe, or bucket trucks -OR- current military service, or prior military service with honorable discharge. 1+ years of experience leading construction projects as a crew foreperson or project manager. Must follow the TDS attendance guidelines in order to meet TDS's business needs including but not limited to our obligations to our customers and to our customers' needs. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and remain eligible for DOT requirements. Other Qualificaitons Must have the ability to obtain a Class A CDL. A current CDL is preferred at hire, but TDS will train and certify eligible associates through its in-house CDL certification program after hire. Physical requirements may vary based on company needs: Ability to climb poles, ladders, towers, and other structures as needed. Ability to kneel, dig, lift, and pull. Upon hire, must successfully complete customer-specific requirements, which may include a background check administered by the customer. Preferred 2+ years' experience in the construction of fiber optic cable outside plant networks -OR- 2+ years installation of any underground or overhead utilities will be considered. Understanding of telecommunication products and services. Proven organizational skills and ability to multi-task. Requires being available for on-call/standby responsibilities and may require occasional travel. Must be willing to work overtime as needed. May be required to work various/swing shifts as business needs dictate. Must be able to operate vehicles with manual transmissions. Physical Demands and Work Environment While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The associate is frequently required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The associate must also be able to climb poles, ladders, towers or other structures. The associate is occasionally required to sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and taste or smell. The associate must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and may have to work in attics and crawl spaces, or high-risk areas such as high voltage electrical, trenches, and manholes. The associate is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and heavy equipment; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration. The associate is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is at times loud. Benefits As a part of your total compensation, #TDS provides a comprehensive, competitive benefit package. The benefit plans address both the immediate and long term needs that you and your family may have. For an overview of what we have to offer for full-time employees including vacation, health benefits and retirement options please click here. At TDS, we embrace Equal Employment Opportunity by valuing our differences and consider all qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by

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5. Post your job

   To find outside plant technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any outside plant technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level outside plant technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with outside plant technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 outside plant technician

   Once you've found the outside plant technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 outside plant 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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