Salary guide
Cell Tower Technician Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What cell tower technicians earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median cell tower technician salary in the U.S. is $63,520 per year, or $30.54 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $44,460, while the top 10% earned more than $103,990.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Cell Tower Technician pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.38 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $63,520 | $30.54 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $82,370 | $39.60 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $103,990 | $50.00 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $50,580 | $63,520 | $82,370 |
| Per month | $4,215 | $5,293 | $6,864 |
| Every two weeks | $1,945 | $2,443 | $3,168 |
| Per week | $973 | $1,222 | $1,584 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects cell tower technician pay
- Specialization (security and cloud skills typically pay more)
- Certifications such as CompTIA, Cisco, AWS or Google
- Portfolio quality and real project experience
- Location and remote-work eligibility
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a cell tower technician
- Get credentialed: Authorized climber and rescue training, NWSA Telecommunications Tower Technician, RF safety awareness.
- Build specialty experience: Install and maintain equipment.
- Move up: roles such as lead climber or foreman and rf technician or project manager typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Cell Tower Technician pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of cell tower technicians to change by +1.2% from 2025–35, slower than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 49-2021 (“Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Cell Tower Technician salary FAQ
How much does a cell tower technician make per hour?
The median hourly wage for cell tower technicians was $30.54 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $21.38 and the top 10% earned about $50.00 or more.
How much does a cell tower technician make a month?
At the median annual wage of $63,520, that works out to about $5,293 per month before taxes, or about $2,443 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a cell tower technician?
New cell tower technicians often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $44,460 and the 25th percentile was $50,580 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can cell tower technicians earn more?
Common ways include earning Authorized climber and rescue training and NWSA Telecommunications Tower Technician, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as lead climber or foreman.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 49-2021 (Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.