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Install, set-up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers' property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings. Excludes "Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers" (49-9052).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 233,690 | 1.4 % | $26.46 | $55,030 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $14.95 | $19.19 | $25.67 | $33.82 | $38.72 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $31,100 | $39,920 | $53,380 | $70,350 | $80,530 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 160,350 | 20.52 | $27.05 | $56,260 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 30,290 | 1.47 | $23.80 | $49,510 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | 6,850 | 12.83 | $26.31 | $54,730 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | 6,170 | 0.47 | $25.02 | $52,050 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 4,420 | 4.27 | $21.14 | $43,970 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 160,350 | 20.52 | $27.05 | $56,260 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | 6,850 | 12.83 | $26.31 | $54,730 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 4,420 | 4.27 | $21.14 | $43,970 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 30,290 | 1.47 | $23.80 | $49,510 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | 6,170 | 0.47 | $25.02 | $52,050 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | (8) | (8) | $32.99 | $68,620 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 220 | 0.03 | $32.92 | $68,470 |
| Rail Transportation | 50 | 0.02 | $31.82 | $66,190 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 2,650 | 0.05 | $30.97 | $64,420 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | 680 | 0.13 | $30.31 | $63,040 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 35,370 | 2.12 | 1.29 | $27.11 | $56,380 |
| Texas | 24,410 | 2.05 | 1.25 | $23.37 | $48,600 |
| Florida | 18,050 | 2.14 | 1.31 | $24.42 | $50,800 |
| New York | 12,480 | 1.36 | 0.83 | $32.57 | $67,750 |
| Illinois | 9,230 | 1.56 | 0.95 | $27.68 | $57,580 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,420 | 2.30 | 1.40 | $25.68 | $53,420 |
| Alaska | 710 | 2.22 | 1.35 | $36.39 | $75,690 |
| Mississippi | 2,400 | 2.14 | 1.31 | $26.01 | $54,090 |
| Florida | 18,050 | 2.14 | 1.31 | $24.42 | $50,800 |
| California | 35,370 | 2.12 | 1.29 | $27.11 | $56,380 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 710 | 2.22 | 1.35 | $36.39 | $75,690 |
| Rhode Island | 440 | 0.93 | 0.57 | $35.73 | $74,310 |
| Massachusetts | 3,310 | 0.94 | 0.57 | $35.30 | $73,430 |
| New Hampshire | 1,300 | 2.00 | 1.22 | $33.28 | $69,230 |
| District of Columbia | 180 | 0.26 | 0.16 | $32.71 | $68,050 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 10,620 | 2.40 | 1.46 | $27.18 | $56,540 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 8,250 | 1.23 | 0.75 | $32.73 | $68,090 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 7,520 | 3.02 | 1.84 | $23.51 | $48,910 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 5,840 | 1.60 | 0.97 | $29.18 | $60,700 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,750 | 2.20 | 1.34 | $27.21 | $56,590 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 5,260 | 1.80 | 1.10 | $23.86 | $49,630 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,580 | 2.22 | 1.35 | $26.43 | $54,960 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 3,510 | 2.43 | 1.48 | $31.34 | $65,190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,500 | 2.44 | 1.49 | $24.56 | $51,080 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 3,370 | 2.78 | 1.70 | $20.26 | $42,150 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NH | 830 | 7.40 | 4.52 | $35.79 | $74,440 |
| Saginaw, MI | 530 | 6.25 | 3.81 | $26.00 | $54,070 |
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 260 | 6.00 | 3.66 | $21.81 | $45,370 |
| Monroe, LA | 340 | 4.38 | 2.67 | $25.06 | $52,130 |
| Bay City, MI | 140 | 4.21 | 2.57 | $20.60 | $42,850 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 190 | 4.20 | 2.56 | $25.10 | $52,210 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 480 | 4.11 | 2.51 | $25.45 | $52,940 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 730 | 3.86 | 2.35 | $18.82 | $39,140 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 310 | 3.74 | 2.28 | $21.26 | $44,230 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 1,170 | 3.37 | 2.05 | $23.19 | $48,230 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division | 140 | 1.18 | 0.72 | $45.78 | $95,210 |
| Fairbanks, AK | (8) | (8) | (8) | $38.89 | $80,880 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 1,830 | 1.00 | 0.61 | $36.68 | $76,290 |
| Anchorage, AK | 500 | 2.88 | 1.75 | $36.65 | $76,230 |
| Manchester, NH | 830 | 7.40 | 4.52 | $35.79 | $74,440 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 150 | 1.50 | 0.91 | $35.68 | $74,210 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 470 | 0.83 | 0.50 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 250 | 1.61 | 0.98 | $35.41 | $73,640 |
| Yuba City, CA | 90 | 2.02 | 1.23 | $34.24 | $71,220 |
| Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA NECTA Division | 100 | 1.20 | 0.73 | $34.06 | $70,840 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 530 | 1.60 | 0.97 | $22.01 | $45,790 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 430 | 2.99 | 1.82 | $23.53 | $48,940 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 430 | 2.50 | 1.52 | $25.25 | $52,520 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.24 | 1.37 | $26.98 | $56,120 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 1.50 | 0.91 | $23.01 | $47,860 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 4.53 | 2.76 | $27.66 | $57,520 |
| Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 3.95 | 2.41 | $26.85 | $55,840 |
| East Montana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 3.81 | 2.33 | $29.19 | $60,720 |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 3.78 | 2.30 | $32.97 | $68,570 |
| Northwest Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 3.62 | 2.21 | $25.67 | $53,390 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $35.87 | $74,610 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $34.48 | $71,710 |
| Southwestern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 1.16 | 0.71 | $33.95 | $70,610 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.39 | 0.85 | $33.65 | $69,990 |
| Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.25 | 0.76 | $33.58 | $69,850 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018