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Job outlook for telecommunications technicians in the United States
Telecommunications technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected telecommunications technician job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 14,400 new jobs for telecommunications technicians are projected over the next decade.
Telecommunications technician salaries have increased 15% for telecommunications technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 42,374 telecommunications technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 70,494 active telecommunications technician job openings in the US.
The average telecommunications technician salary is $41,935.
Are telecommunications technician jobs in demand?
Telecommunications technician job and salary trends over time
Telecommunications technician jobs over time
Telecommunications technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,374 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 47,005 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 51,082 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 71,848 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 73,477 | 0.02% |
Average telecommunications technician salary over time
Telecommunications technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,935 | $20.16 | +6.1% |
| 2025 | $39,507 | $18.99 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $38,272 | $18.40 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $36,416 | $17.51 | --0.5% |
| 2022 | $36,594 | $17.59 | --1.7% |
Telecommunications technician jobs by state
Most common states for telecommunications technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 192 | 14% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 97 | 13% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 83 | 11% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 68 | 11% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 536 | 10% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 299 | 10% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 100 | 10% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 728 | 9% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 51 | 9% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 562 | 8% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 490 | 8% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 464 | 8% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 440 | 8% |
| 14 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 373 | 8% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 245 | 8% |
| 16 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 238 | 8% |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 147 | 8% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 79 | 8% |
| 19 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 53 | 8% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 266 | 7% |
Most common cities for telecommunications technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bessemer | 2 | 8% | $40,076 |
| 2 | Chamblee | 2 | 7% | $38,639 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $49,119 |
| 4 | Brockton | 2 | 2% | $41,927 |
| 5 | Roswell | 2 | 2% | $38,681 |
| 6 | Alpharetta | 1 | 2% | $38,694 |
| 7 | Altamonte Springs | 1 | 2% | $38,068 |
| 8 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $38,209 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $45,808 |
| 10 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $54,392 |
| 11 | Albuquerque | 1 | 0% | $40,496 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $38,596 |
| 13 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $40,101 |
Telecommunications Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of telecommunications technician experts
New York University
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Telecommunications Technician 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 Technician 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 Technicians 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 Technicians 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Telecommunications Technicians 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Telecommunications Technicians 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.