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Job outlook for telecommunications specialists in the United States
Telecommunications specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected telecommunications specialist job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 8,400 new jobs for telecommunications specialists are projected over the next decade.
Telecommunications specialist salaries have increased 14% for telecommunications specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 20,661 telecommunications specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 29,962 active telecommunications specialist job openings in the US.
The average telecommunications specialist salary is $52,712.
Are telecommunications specialist jobs in demand?
Telecommunications specialist job and salary trends over time
Telecommunications specialist jobs over time
Telecommunications specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,661 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 22,930 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,637 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 45,185 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 46,436 | 0.01% |
Average telecommunications specialist salary over time
Telecommunications specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,712 | $25.34 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $50,975 | $24.51 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $49,821 | $23.95 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $47,824 | $22.99 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $46,252 | $22.24 | +1.0% |
Telecommunications specialist jobs by state
Most common states for telecommunications specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 131 | 19% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 169 | 9% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 58 | 9% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 251 | 8% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 102 | 8% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 87 | 8% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 85 | 8% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 73 | 8% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 45 | 8% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 502 | 7% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 230 | 7% |
| 12 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 52 | 7% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 50 | 7% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 587 | 6% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 541 | 6% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 375 | 6% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 347 | 6% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 255 | 6% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 167 | 6% |
| 20 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 81 | 6% |
Most common cities for telecommunications specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Vista | 4 | 9% | $45,243 |
| 2 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $39,380 |
| 3 | Bossier City | 1 | 1% | $43,360 |
| 4 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $63,344 |
| 5 | Lakeland | 1 | 1% | $39,715 |
| 6 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $66,692 |
| 7 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $63,637 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs | 2 | 0% | $45,790 |
| 9 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $68,051 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $45,277 |
| 11 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $56,974 |
| 12 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $45,535 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $38,614 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $61,944 |
| 15 | Madison | 1 | 0% | $62,331 |
| 16 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $72,320 |
| 17 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $39,836 |
Telecommunications Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of telecommunications specialist experts
New York University
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
American Public University System
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Telecommunications Specialist 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.
What skills stand out on Telecommunications Specialist 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Telecommunications Specialists 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.
What type of skills will young Telecommunications Specialists 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 Specialists 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Telecommunications Specialists 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.
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorAmerican Public University System
Public Administration Department
How do you envision technology impacting Telecommunications Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.: COVID-19 has increased the number of people who are working at home. This means a solid basic knowledge of telecommuting, and the ability to work unsupervised will be necessary. The ability to use remote security protocols, the cloud, and various software platforms will be required.