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Boston Career Explorer

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.

Also called: Communications Systems Technician, Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech), Field Technician (Field Tech), Installation Technician (Installation Tech), Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech), Radio Repairman

Median pay in Greater Boston
$67,130
$32.27/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+20.1%
40 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Associate's degree
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$38,180$58,280$67,130$75,090$88,480

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
  • Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
  • Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
  • Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
  • Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
  • Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure25 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 29
  • Language-model AIOE 25
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 20

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and little or no AI use has been seen so far. Tools may help with reading work orders and site drawings or running test software. Installing equipment, running cables, and checking the work in person are hands-on tasks. Massachusetts employment is projected to grow 20.1%.

Likely to change

  • Reading work orders and site drawings
  • Running sweep tests and logging results

Still relies on people

  • Installing antennas and tower equipment by hand
  • Inspecting hardware, cables, and weatherproofing on site

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

    Running cables and testing transmission lines carry over. It pays more ($103,090 median) and is learned through long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$35,960 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +0.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Your field installation and safety habits carry over. It pays $111,490 median and has 13.3% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$44,360 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electricians

    Following plans and running power and ground cables carry over. It pays $79,910 median with 11.6% projected growth, learned through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$12,780 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +11.6%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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