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Job outlook for telecommunications consultants in the United States
Are telecommunications consultant jobs in demand?
Telecommunications consultant job and salary trends over time
Telecommunications consultant jobs over time
Telecommunications consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,987 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,322 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,255 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,845 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,144 | 0.00% |
Average telecommunications consultant salary over time
Telecommunications consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $104,315 | $50.15 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $100,878 | $48.50 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $98,594 | $47.40 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $94,642 | $45.50 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $91,531 | $44.01 | +1.0% |
Telecommunications consultant jobs by state
Most common states for telecommunications consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 168 | 19% |
| 2 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 551 | 11% |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 438 | 11% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 79 | 11% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 265 | 9% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 218 | 3% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 199 | 3% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 110 | 3% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 35 | 3% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 33 | 3% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 21 | 3% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 662 | 2% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 254 | 2% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 187 | 2% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 178 | 2% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 123 | 2% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 65 | 2% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 51 | 2% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 26 | 2% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 19 | 2% |
Telecommunications Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of telecommunications consultant experts
Belmont University
St. Francis College
Andrews University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
New York University
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
Lorain County Community College
Kevin Trowbridge Ph.D.
Department Chair, Associate Professor of Public RelationsBelmont University
Department of Public Relations
What skills stand out on Telecommunications Consultant resumes?
Kevin Trowbridge Ph.D.: The strategic communication field is broad and deep-just like the career opportunities for aspiring professionals in the field. Work in this area involves internal and external communication in every industry you can imagine. Behind every organization or brand, you'll find individuals who are managing strategic communication.
The basic skills for entry-level communication practitioners haven't changed much over the years. Writing, design, and content creation are essential. What has changed are the channels we use to communicate. In addition to the basic skills, new practitioners must understand the places and platforms to communicate with their target audience. And we don't have to rely only on face-to-face and traditional media like newspapers, magazines, radio, and television to get our messages out. Social media have empowered the consumer to become engaged creators and influencers. And that's changed the playbook for communication professionals.
It's important to show your proficiency with basic communication skills and traditional and social media platforms. Even better, if your resume can showcase your real-world experience and the results you've achieved, you are sure to stand out from the crowd and get past the initial screening of applicants.
What soft skills should all Telecommunications Consultants possess?
Kevin Trowbridge Ph.D.: It's hard to showcase soft skills on a traditional resume-but it's not impossible, and there are alternative ways of doing it. In addition to doing the job, employers want someone likable-someone they will enjoy working with. It's also important to be motivated and self-directed and to be able to prioritize and manage one's time. Asking good questions is a good thing, but it's critical to remember that the quality of our questions reflects the quality of our thinking. If you can find the answer to your question with some simple research, do it. This shows that you are a resourceful learner. Of course, being creative and thinking strategically are also soft skills that aspiring communication professionals need. Other soft skills that have come in demand over the past year or so are adaptability and perseverance. You want to show these soft skills-don't just tell a prospective employer that you have them. Show them through examples and stories. That's hard to do on a resume. You can do it with a short video on your online portfolio, personal website, or LinkedIn profile.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Telecommunications Consultants?
Kevin Trowbridge Ph.D.: Communicating in writing and in oral presentations is a basic skill, but doing so concisely in a manner that captivates and compels your audience is something to work on mastering. It's also important to be able to write with style. Associated Press (AP) style is an industry-standard for communication professionals. However, it's critical to learn and apply the ideal style of the communication channel you're using.
Aspiring communication professionals must be able to use applications for word processing, create presentations, organize data, communicate digitally (e.g., email), and manage tasks and projects. You can do a lot of simple tasks using web-based apps, and that's what many students have used through school. However, you'll stand out if you're a superuser who really knows how to work applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. These applications are powerhouses-if you know how to use them. If you can work magic with them and do it efficiently, you're already ahead of the game, and it will make your life so much easier. Of course, other specialized applications may be required by your organization or your position, e.g., design, photography, audio, and video editing software. Be prepared to learn the ones you need. There is plenty of online tutorials that are free or inexpensive.
Another way to set yourself apart is by earning and showcasing you are invested in your own professional development. There are increasing numbers of industry-recognized courses and exams to earn certificates showing your competencies in the profession. For example, seniors or recent graduates could earn the Principles of Public Relations Certificate offered by the Universal Accreditation Board, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and its student organization, PRSSA. Google, HubSpot, and Muck Rack are among industry service providers who have developed training programs where students can earn certificates to make them marketable.
What skills will help Telecommunications Consultants earn the most?
Kevin Trowbridge Ph.D.: In addition to the hard and soft skills that can get strategic communication professionals a job, some highly valued skills may help them maximize their earning potential. Being comfortable and competent working with data is in high demand these days. Analytics has become increasingly important to show communication's value to the organization and give communication leaders critical insights to shape strategic decision-making for every department.
Further, a communication professional is likely to advance and earn more if they understand how businesses work. Business literacy is a constant reminder that strategic communication practices must be integrated and supportive of the entire organizational operation.
What's a good job out of college for Telecommunications Consultants?
Michelle Steven: A good job out of college, in any field of endeavor, is working in a place where your work is valued and respected, as well as having opportunities for growth in your desired career.
What technical skills for a Telecommunications Consultant stand out to employers?
Everett Wiles: The assumption is made that anyone graduating with a degree in journalism and mass communication should automatically be well versed in all things technical, that assumption in my estimation is false. However, having a working knowledge of the technical aspects can and will be an asset. Some of the skills that would be helpful are, being able to operate production equipment such as cameras and audio equipment, know how to compose shots and shoot good video with good sound. It will also be an asset to know how to edit the videos that they would have shot. An employer will more than likely be seeking someone who has as many technical skills as possible to help maximize on the investment that they would have made. If they can't find one that has all the technical requirements they will go with the one who has the most.
Another thing to consider that employers will seek, outside of the technical areas is someone who is teachable, someone who has the right work ethic and attitude. You can always train someone to improve on their technical skills, but it is difficult to change someones poor attitude and work ethic.
What technical skills for a Telecommunications Consultant stand out to employers?
Michael Goude: Most mass media outlets expect employees to be able to do it all, writing, editing, photography, video production. Having a broad spectrum of skills is a requirement. Few firms have the luxury to hire someone for just on specialty.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Telecommunications Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Michael Goude: More working remotely, obviously. Now that companies have adapted to flex-time and flex-space, they likely will continue to utilize it for an advantage. In my field of print media, more freelance opportunities have been created to work.with media outlets without ever visiting their office.
What skills stand out on Telecommunications Consultant resumes?
Shivendra Panwar: In my opinion, mathematical skills, coding skills, and the ability to communicate effectively and succinctly are an unbeatable combination. Some awareness of business issues is essential. Being aware of larger societal issues, including ethics, is very important.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Telecommunications Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Shivendra Panwar: Jobs in areas like AI/ML, 5G/6G, and AR/VR will continue to grow, but now on an accelerated schedule due to the need exposed by the pandemic. Our graduates have had no problems getting jobs, especially in companies that have done well in the pandemic, like Amazon.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Telecommunications Consultants to find work opportunities?
Shivendra Panwar: The usual tech hot spots cited are California, Texas, and Massachusetts, in that order. But New York City has become a hot spot in the last 10 years. Many people do not know that there are more engineers in the greater NYC metropolitan area than Silicon Valley! Washington D.C. and its environs are good for tech jobs, but often require U.S. citizenship or a green card.
How do you envision technology impacting Telecommunications Consultants in the next 5 years?
Dan Brown: The advent of 5G will open many doors over the next 5 years, enabling new possibilities as well as handling today's applications with greater speed (and lower latency and jitter) and higher reliability. LEO satellite constellations will offer ubiquity of connectivity access worldwide and help connect the next 3 billion global internet users. Autonomous vehicles, drones, and AR/VR will also expand new possibilities. I envision telecom and ICT standards, regulation, and self-regulation to evolve beyond the current focus on compatibility, performance, and security to better address sustainability, privacy, and impacts on the holistic health and productive functioning of individuals and society at large.
What type of skills will young Telecommunications Consultants need?
Dan Brown: Today's grads should recognize their credentials reflect something that goes way beyond specific knowledge -- the ability to adaptably learn new things. That is a core skill they should continue to nurture in professional life, hopefully with the support of an employer that also recognizes and appreciates this. In addition, knowledge of how various technology standards work and how they are developed is not usually something learned in a university classroom, but understanding the role they play in creating market opportunities presents a differentiating opportunity. It's important to note, the need to manage and maintain physical infrastructure will never go away, but as more and more of that infrastructure becomes virtualized, software skills and knowledge of remote management systems are skills that will be increasingly in demand.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Telecommunications Consultants to find work opportunities?
Dan Brown: Some tech and knowledge economy workers often have the luxury of being remote, while others are hands-on with the physical ICT infrastructure, wherever it may be. That said, specific ICT hot spots include Northern California's Bay area, Texas, the Eastern Seaboard, with special mention of the DC area as the site of the new Amazon HQ2, as well as the Dulles Technology Corridor, which has become known as "data center alley," where an estimated 70% of internet traffic flows in and out. That said, there are plenty of other cities described in Steve Case's The Rise of the Rest, where access to technology, education, and capital exists along with a much lower cost of living than in traditional tech hubs. I cannot see us as a society ever going back to pre-covid ratio of in-person to remote work, but my sense is that it would be helpful to being recruited remotely if you are connected to an online professional community like TIA's LinkedIn Group.
Tammy Bosley Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator for Communication StudiesLorain County Community College
Arts & Humanities Division
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Telecommunications Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Tammy Bosley Ph.D.: I think that many employees will continue to work from home post-pandemic. During COVID-19, people worked effectively at home, and in many instances, were more productive than when they were physically at the office. Employers will likely consider if they should pay for office space when their employees can do their jobs at home. If the traditional office space does become obsolete, employees will have to reimagine their home offices to promote a professional environment for digital platforms. They'll also have to work harder at making connections with others. High tech requires high touch. In other words, when we rely on computer-mediated communication, we need to interact more to establish relationships. Improving and maintaining digital communication skills will be essential as employees navigate their post-pandemic careers.