Energy & Utilities career

Telecommunications Lineworker

Also called: Cable Lineman · Fiber Splicer · Outside Plant Technician · Line Installer and Repairer

What telecommunications lineworkers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a telecommunications lineworker do?

Telecommunications line installers and repairers install and repair the cables, fiber optics and equipment that carry phone, cable and internet service. The median pay is $74,330 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 1–3 years, and employment is projected to grow -3.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $74,330
    $35.73/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    -3.4%
    2025–35, a projected decline
  • Openings per year
    8,000
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    High school diploma or equivalent
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    1–3 years
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    103,400
    Employment, 2025

What telecommunications lineworkers do

Telecom lineworkers build the networks people use every day. They climb poles and use bucket trucks to string cable and fiber, bury lines underground, splice fiber, install and repair equipment in cabinets, and restore service after storms. Fiber expansion and broadband programs keep many crews busy.

Most have a high school diploma and complete long on-the-job training or apprenticeships. Overall employment is projected to decline slightly, but fiber skills are in demand.

Typical duties

  • Install aerial and underground cable
  • Splice and test fiber optics
  • Climb poles and use bucket trucks
  • Repair damaged lines
  • Install network equipment
  • Locate and mark utilities
  • Restore service after storms

Work environment and schedule

Lineworkers work outdoors at heights, in trenches and in vehicles, in all weather.

Schedule: Most work full-time with overtime, on-call duty and storm work.

A day in the life

  1. Hold a tailboard meeting and load the truck.
  2. Set up traffic control at the job site.
  3. Lash fiber cable to a strand from a bucket truck.
  4. Splice fiber in a closure.

See a full day in the life of a telecommunications lineworker →

Telecommunications Lineworker salary

Half of telecommunications lineworkers earned more than $74,330 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $45,310 for the lowest 10% to $103,680 for the top 10%.

Full telecommunications lineworker pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a telecommunications lineworker

  1. Get a CDL if possible
  2. Get hired as a helper
  3. Learn climbing and safety
  4. Learn fiber splicing
  5. Advance

A high school diploma is typical, plus long on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a telecommunications lineworker →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Pole climbing
  • Fiber splicing
  • Aerial and underground construction
  • Testing equipment
  • Bucket truck operation

People skills

  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving
  • Reliability
  • Safety focus

All telecommunications lineworker skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Good pay without a degree
  • Fiber skills in demand
  • Outdoor, active work
  • Paid training

Cons

  • Heights and weather
  • Storm and on-call work
  • Physical demands
  • Employment projected to decline overall

Certifications and licenses

  • Fiber Optic Association CFOT: Certified Fiber Optic Technician.
  • CDL: For bucket trucks.
  • OSHA 10: Safety training.
  • Pole climbing certification: Climbing safety.

Career path

  1. Helper: Learn construction.
  2. Lineworker: Build and repair lines.
  3. Fiber Splicer or Lead: Specialize or lead.
  4. Construction Supervisor: Manage crews.

Learn the job before day one

Our Telecommunications Lineworker training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as fusion splice fiber in a splice closure and work safely near power lines, safety and how to land your first job.

View Telecommunications Lineworker trainingIs this career right for me?

Cell Tower Technician

Climb towers to install and maintain the antennas that power wireless networks.

  • $63,520
  • 1–6 months plus climbing certification

Electrical Lineworker

Build and repair the power lines that deliver electricity, on poles, in buckets and underground.

  • $95,320
  • 3–4 years (apprenticeship)

Network Technician

Install, monitor and troubleshoot the networks that connect computers and people.

  • $76,220
  • 6 months–2 years

Compare: Telecom Lineworker vs. Cell Tower Technician · Telecom Lineworker vs. Telecom Technician · Telecom Lineworker vs. Lineworker · Telecom Lineworker vs. Network Technician

Telecommunications Lineworker FAQ

Is fiber work in demand?

Yes, fiber expansion keeps crews busy.

Do telecom lineworkers need a degree?

No, training is on the job.

Is the job dangerous?

Heights and power lines are risks managed with training.

How much does a telecommunications lineworker make?

The median annual wage for telecommunications lineworkers was $74,330 ($35.73 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,310 and the highest 10% earned more than $103,680.

How long does it take to become a telecommunications lineworker?

Most people need about 1–3 years of training. A high school diploma is typical, plus long on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.

Do you need a degree to be a telecommunications lineworker?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus long-term on-the-job training.

More telecommunications lineworker questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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