What does a tower climber do?
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. They must operate heavy equipment to prepare sites for the construction and erection of communication towers. Tower Climbers should also guarantee the safety of their crews during extreme weather conditions by following company policies and procedures.
Tower climber responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tower climber resumes:
- Utilize Anritsu site master in conducting tests on sites while accomplishing tasks including lighting upgrades and troubleshooting of light systems
- Provide multiple PIM and sweep testing troubleshooting and also change transmission lines, antennas and weatherproofing.
- Lead a crew that build RF broadcast tower's around the state.
- Certify climber cpr and rescuer of cell towers.
- Climb towers to install many different RF components.
- Perform sweep tests and PIM tests on antennas.
- Climb poles and ladders, use truck-mount booms.
- Certify in all aspects of tower climbing and safety through Comtrain.
- Get main power to top tower and rig all sectors and antennas to tower.
- Work on cellphone towers like changing antenna and radios, TMA, with the occasional civil work I.e.
- Coordinate and implement all courses that apply to the well-being technicians in the field within OSHA regulations and compliance.
- Measure for fiber and DC headroom and attach hoisting grips in preparation to raise up to position on tower.
- Work in a team as a leader and assistant, also conduct safety meetings and fill out JSA forms.
- Perform all aspects of cell tower construction, antenna and line installation, QA inspections, and GPS installation.
- Maintain and enforce all ECI and OSHA safety practices, perform daily job-site safety inspections on equipment prior to operation.
Tower climber skills and personality traits
We calculated that 31% of Tower Climbers are proficient in CPR, RF, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Customer-service skills, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Tower Climbers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CPR, 31%
Radio Frequency Awareness certified, CPR certified, Competent climber and safety certified.
- RF, 29%
Terminated / crimped CAT 5, 5E, 6, RG6, and RF cable.
- OSHA, 27%
Gained certifications such as comtrain rescue climber, osha 10 construction certification and first aid.
- Broadband, 8%
Install tower and client equipment for wireless broadband internet.
- Safety Equipment, 1%
Climbed towers and performed maintenance and upgrades with proper safety equipment.
- Communication Towers, 1%
Performed line and antenna installations/repairs and tower inspections on communication towers throughout the Midwest.
Most tower climbers use their skills in "cpr," "rf," and "osha" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tower climber responsibilities here:
Color vision. The most essential soft skill for a tower climber to carry out their responsibilities is color vision. This skill is important for the role because "telecom technicians work with color-coded wires, and they need to be able to tell them apart." Additionally, a tower climber resume shows how their duties depend on color vision: "broadcast television and radio antenna systems. "
Customer-service skills. Another essential skill to perform tower climber duties is customer-service skills. Tower climbers responsibilities require that "telecom technicians who work in customers’ homes and offices should be friendly and polite." Tower climbers also use customer-service skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "maintained compliance with all multiband, osha and customer-specific safety procedures and guidelines. "
Dexterity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of tower climbers is dexterity. This skill is critical to many everyday tower climber duties, as "telecom technicians’ tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "operated heavy equipment, including: dump trucks, cranes, forklifts, boom trucks, winches, trenchers. "
Mechanical skills. tower climber responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "telecom technicians must be familiar with the devices they install and repair, with their internal parts, and with the appropriate tools needed to use, install, or fix them." This resume example shows what tower climbers do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "rig towers in order to complete duties by use of block and tackle and mechanical means. "
Troubleshooting skills. A commonly-found skill in tower climber job descriptions, "troubleshooting skills" is essential to what tower climbers do. Tower climber responsibilities rely on this skill because "telecom technicians must be able to troubleshoot and devise solutions to problems that are not immediately apparent." You can also see how tower climber duties rely on troubleshooting skills in this resume example: "provided multiple pim and sweep testing troubleshooting and also changed transmission lines, antennas and weatherproofing. "
The three companies that hire the most tower climbers are:
- General Dynamics11 tower climbers jobs
- Parsons10 tower climbers jobs
- DISH Network8 tower climbers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable tower climber resume templates
Build a professional tower climber resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tower climber resume.
Compare different tower climbers
Tower climber vs. Equipment 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. Their job often requires them to climb up poles or even towers to attach or repair wires, and there are times when they may perform adjustments or even disconnections. They may also assist clients by answering inquiries, providing instructions, or referring them to other services when necessary.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between tower climbers and equipment installer. For instance, tower climber responsibilities require skills such as "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "broadband." Whereas a equipment installer is skilled in "plumbing," "hand tools," "hvac," and "electrical equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Equipment installers really shine in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $44,418. Comparatively, tower climbers tend to make the most money in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $46,623.On average, equipment installers reach similar levels of education than tower climbers. Equipment installers are 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tower climber vs. Systems installer
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, tower climber responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cpr," "osha," "broadband," and "safety equipment." Meanwhile, a systems installer has duties that require skills in areas such as "hvac," "telephone systems," "fiber optic cables," and "fire alarms." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Systems installers may earn a lower salary than tower climbers, but systems installers earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $52,453. On the other hand, tower climbers receive higher pay in the telecommunication industry, where they earn an average salary of $46,623.In general, systems installers achieve similar levels of education than tower climbers. They're 3.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tower climber vs. Cable installer
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from tower climber resumes include skills like "cpr," "rf," "osha," and "safety equipment," whereas a cable installer is more likely to list skills in "ladders," "tv," "fiber optic cables," and "trouble calls. "
Cable installers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $43,049. Tower climbers earn the highest pay from the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $46,623.When it comes to education, cable installers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to tower climbers. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tower climber vs. Field installer
Types of tower climber
Updated January 8, 2025
