49 Series · SOC 49-2021
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $63,520
- Median / year
- $103,990
- Top 10% earn
- +8.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 11,140
- US workers
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers earn a median of $63,520 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $63,520, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,460 (10th percentile) to $103,990 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 11,140 US workers. Idaho pays the most ($107,250), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers earn a median of $63,520, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 54% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #20 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 8.6% by 2033.
- $63,520
- Median annual wage
- Top 46%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #20 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Idaho at $107,250. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-2021) pays a national median of $63,520 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,460 at the 10th percentile to $103,990 at the 90th, with a mean of $69,870 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 11,140 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 53 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree and moderate-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 B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Idaho pays the highest state median at $107,250, which is +69% above the national figure. The top metro is Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ at $105,240 - 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.
Median Salary
$63,520
per year
Median Hourly
$30.54/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$69,870
average
Employment
11,140
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$63,520 Top 46% higher than 54% of 825 US occupations
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 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers sits on the faster-growing side at +8.6% growth and $63,520 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+8.6%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
1,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.
- ▸ Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
- ▸ Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.
- ▸ Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$44,460
25th Percentile
$50,580
Median
$63,520
75th Percentile
$82,370
90th Percentile
$103,990
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $107,250 | +69% above national |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $103,010 | +62% above national |
| 3 | Connecticut | $100,890 | +59% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $100,800 | +59% above national |
| 5 | Arizona | $95,040 | +50% above national |
| 6 | New York | $81,070 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Nevada | $79,380 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $79,050 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Washington | $79,020 | +24% above national |
| 10 | South Carolina | $78,250 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Texas | $77,910 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $76,960 | +21% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $75,930 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Ohio | $72,160 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Virginia | $67,790 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Hawaii | $65,970 | +4% above national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $65,110 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Michigan | $64,130 | +1% above national |
| 19 | South Dakota | $63,620 | same as national |
| 20 | California | $62,840 | 1% below national |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $62,450 | 2% below national |
| 22 | West Virginia | $62,170 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Georgia | $62,010 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Illinois | $61,110 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Oregon | $61,020 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $60,890 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Indiana | $60,840 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Delaware | $60,740 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Florida | $60,140 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Vermont | $59,290 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Kansas | $58,010 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $57,740 | 9% below national |
| 33 | Colorado | $56,110 | 12% below national |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $55,880 | 12% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $52,450 | 17% below national |
| 36 | Nebraska | $52,410 | 17% below national |
| 37 | Maine | $51,970 | 18% below national |
| 38 | Iowa | $50,760 | 20% below national |
| 39 | Kentucky | $49,840 | 22% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $49,140 | 23% below national |
| 41 | Mississippi | $47,960 | 24% below national |
| 42 | North Carolina | $47,040 | 26% below national |
| 43 | Montana | $47,000 | 26% below national |
| 44 | Guam | $37,570 | 41% below national |
| 45 | Puerto Rico | $26,640 | 58% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 53 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $105,240 | +66% above national |
| 2 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $100,890 | +59% above national |
| 3 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $97,970 | +54% above national |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,610 | +52% above national |
| 5 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $95,620 | +51% above national |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $86,580 | +36% above national |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,380 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $81,270 | +28% above national |
| 9 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,880 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,430 | +27% above national |
| 11 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $79,340 | +25% above national |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $76,920 | +21% above national |
| 13 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,070 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $75,780 | +19% above national |
| 15 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,330 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $74,570 | +17% above national |
| 17 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,880 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $67,980 | +7% above national |
| 19 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $67,870 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $67,790 | +7% above national |
| 21 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $67,150 | +6% above national |
| 22 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $67,130 | +6% above national |
| 23 | Richmond, VA | $67,090 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $65,970 | +4% above national |
| 25 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $65,910 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $65,810 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,520 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Salem, OR | $64,090 | +1% above national |
| 29 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,540 | same as national |
| 30 | Vallejo, CA | $62,890 | 1% below national |
| 31 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $62,010 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,510 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,110 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,910 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $59,680 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,020 | 7% below national |
| 37 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,760 | 7% below national |
| 38 | Jacksonville, FL | $58,660 | 8% below national |
| 39 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,360 | 8% below national |
| 40 | Green Bay, WI | $58,210 | 8% below national |
| 41 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $56,890 | 10% below national |
| 42 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,070 | 15% below national |
| 43 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $51,970 | 18% below national |
| 44 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,960 | 20% below national |
| 45 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,530 | 20% below national |
| 46 | Boulder, CO | $50,500 | 20% below national |
| 47 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $50,170 | 21% below national |
| 48 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,970 | 21% below national |
| 49 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,860 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Knoxville, TN | $49,810 | 22% below national |
| 51 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $49,630 | 22% below national |
| 52 | Wilmington, NC | $47,040 | 26% below national |
| 53 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,780 | 64% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers make? ▼
What state pays Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers? ▼
Is Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers a good career? ▼
How does Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $82,370/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: Idaho leads at $107,250/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.
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.