The median annual wage of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers was $54,710 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,170, and the top 10 percent earned more than $72,940.
In May 2010, median annual wages in industries employing the largest numbers of telecommunications equipment installers and repairers were as follows:
| Other telecommunications | $62,090 |
| Wired telecommunications carriers | 55,820 |
| Cable and other subscription programming | 50,780 |
| Building equipment contractors | 43,340 |
| Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance | 37,150 |
Most telecom technicians work full time, overtime is common.
Some employers offer 24-hour repair services. Telecom technicians who work for these firms work a variety of shifts, including nights, holidays, and weekends. Some are on call around the clock in case of emergencies.
About 26 percent of all telecom technicians are members of unions. Union members who work for large telecommunications companies often have good benefits in addition to their pay, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance. They also usually have retirement benefits.
Employees of small independent companies and contractors may get fewer benefits.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition