43 Series · SOC 43-2099

Communications Equipment Operators, All Other Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$54,680
Median / year
$94,640
Top 10% earn
+2.5%
Growth '23–'33
1,200
US workers

Communications Equipment Operators, All Other earn a median of $54,680 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $54,680, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,900 (10th percentile) to $94,640 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,200 US workers. Missouri pays the most ($87,030), since pay varies by state and metro area.

43 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Communications Equipment Operators, All Other earn a median of $54,680, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 40% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #11 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.5% by 2033.

$54,680
Median annual wage
Top 60%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#11 of 54
in Office and Administrative Support
2.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Missouri at $87,030. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Communications Equipment Operators, All Other (SOC 43-2099) pays a national median of $54,680 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,900 at the 10th percentile to $94,640 at the 90th, with a mean of $62,130 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,200 Americans work in this occupation across 10 reporting states and 2 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Missouri pays the highest state median at $87,030, which is +59% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $60,630 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,200 jobs Median $54,680/yr

Median Salary

$54,680

per year

Median Hourly

$26.29/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$62,130

average

Employment

1,200

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Communications Equipment Operators, All Other pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$54,680 Bottom 40% higher than 40% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Communications Equipment Operators, All Other; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Communications Equipment Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +2.5% growth and $54,680 median pay.

Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Communications Equipment Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +2.5% growth and $54,680 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Communications Equipment Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +2.5% growth and $54,680 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.5%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

100

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.5/100K

Injury Rate

1/100

Danger Index

4.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$38,900$46,460$54,680$78,470$94,640
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$18.70$22.34$26.29$37.73$45.50
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$38,900

25th Percentile

$46,460

Median

$54,680

75th Percentile

$78,470

90th Percentile

$94,640

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Missouri $87,030 2. California $79,450 3. Texas $58,410 4. Massachusetts $54,500 5. Minnesota $54,500

Lowest Paying States

6. Puerto Rico $21,840 7. North Carolina $46,430 8. Ohio $47,360 9. Louisiana $48,560 10. Michigan $51,920
View all 10 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Missouri $87,030 +59% above national
2 California $79,450 +45% above national
3 Texas $58,410 +7% above national
4 Massachusetts $54,500 same as national
5 Minnesota $54,500 same as national
6 Michigan $51,920 5% below national
7 Louisiana $48,560 11% below national
8 Ohio $47,360 13% below national
9 North Carolina $46,430 15% below national
10 Puerto Rico $21,840 60% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $60,630 2. San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $22,850

Lowest Paying Metros

-2. San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $22,850 -1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $60,630
View all 2 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $60,630 +11% above national
2 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $22,850 58% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.

Bill and Account Collectors

SOC 43-3011

Billing and Posting Clerks

SOC 43-3021

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

SOC 43-3031

Brokerage Clerks

SOC 43-4011

Cargo and Freight Agents

SOC 43-5011
Compare Communications Equipment Operators, All Other side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Communications Equipment Operators, All Other make? ▼
The median annual salary for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other is $54,680 ($26.29/hour). The salary range spans from $38,900 at the 10th percentile to $94,640 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Communications Equipment Operators, All Other the most? ▼
Missouri pays the highest median salary for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other at $87,030/year, which is +59% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Communications Equipment Operators, All Other? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Communications Equipment Operators, All Other? ▼
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1 per 100 workers.
Is Communications Equipment Operators, All Other a good career? ▼
Employment for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other is projected to grow 2.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 100 openings are projected each year.
How does Communications Equipment Operators, All Other pay vary by state? ▼
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Missouri at $87,030/year, while Michigan pays the least at $51,920/year. BLS data covers 10 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $60,630/year. BLS reports wage data for 2 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Communications Equipment Operators, All Other pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $78,470/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Missouri leads at $87,030/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.