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.
U.S. Workers
11,400
Median Salary
$64,190
10-Year Growth
+8.6%
Annual Openings
1,200
Typical entry: Associate's degree
17 of 19 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
AI: Fully automatable - Modern NLP and vision systems can reliably parse work orders, blueprints, plans, and datasheets and determine the required tasks and materials.
Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
AI: Fully automatable - Testing tower transmission components with sweep tools or software is largely instrument-driven and can be automated and interpreted end‑to‑end by AI systems.
Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.
AI: Fully automatable - AI integrated with GIS and mapping software can fully locate tower sites, plan routes, and provide coordinates and access details autonomously.
Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.
AI: Fully automatable - AI systems can fully generate, populate, and format project-status and progress reports from inputs, logs, and templates with minimal human intervention.
Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.
AI: Partial - AI can assist or partially automate diagnostics and some tool-driven repairs via teleoperation or specialized robotics, but most maintenance/repair using hand/power tools still requires human skill and judgment.
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.
AI: Partial - Computer vision and drones can detect visible issues like misalignment or missing seals, but cannot fully verify torque, hidden fastening integrity, or some weatherproofing without physical measurement or intervention.
Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
AI: Partial - Bolting equipment requires physical manipulation, variable force/torque application and safety handling in varied environments, so robots/AI can assist but not fully replace human technicians in most deployments.
Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.
AI: Partial - Cranes and rigging have semi-autonomous controls and AI can assist planning and some lifting operations, but complex rigging for tower work still requires human supervisors and riggers in 2025.
Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
AI: Partial - Running power, ground, and coaxial cables is a physical, site‑specific task requiring routing judgment, manual dexterity, and safety practices, so AI can assist but not fully automate.
Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
AI: Partial - AI can fully automate testing and documentation of grounding systems and assist layout, but the physical installation/connection of grounding conductors is still largely manual.
Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers.
AI: Partial - Autonomous and assisted vehicle technologies enable partial automation of transporting equipment, but safe, flexible delivery to varied tower sites with trailers still requires human involvement.
Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
AI: Partial - AI and measurement tools can determine azimuths and tilts and guide alignment, but actual mechanical adjustment is typically manual or requires specialized motorized hardware not universally available.
Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
AI: Partial - Replacing antennas involves heavy lifting, working at height, and safe mechanical/electrical reconnection, so AI can plan and guide but cannot universally perform the physical swap.
Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
AI: Partial - Installing transmission components combines physical assembly, electrical connections, and safety checks that AI can support with guidance and automation in parts but not fully execute on site.
Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras.
AI: Partial - AI can automate photographic capture and organization (e.g., drones, phone apps, image tagging) but practical, safe capture of all required angles on towers and regulatory/safety constraints prevent full autonomy in 2025.
Assemble or erect communications towers, using construction or rigging equipment.
AI: Partial - Some aspects of tower assembly can be planned and partially automated, but erecting communications towers remains a complex, safety-critical construction task that requires human crews and oversight.
Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.
AI: Partial - Installing or repairing tower lighting requires on-site climbing and physical manipulation that AI cannot autonomously perform, though AI can provide diagnostics, instructions, and remote monitoring.
Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.
AI: Not automatable - Climbing towers and performing complex manual installation/repair remains a highly physical, dexterous, and safety-critical human task that AI cannot autonomously perform in typical field conditions by 2025.
Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.
AI: Not automatable - Physically climbing towers using harnesses is a human activity and there are no widely deployed autonomous systems that can replace humans for this in routine tower work by 2025.