The 25 Highest Paying Telecommunications Jobs in 2024
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25 of the Highest Paying Telecommunications Jobs in 2024

The best Telecommunications jobs can pay up to $215,000 per year.

Telecommunications jobs involve developing, installing, and using technology to send messages over long distances, such as through cable, satellite, radio, mobile phones, video, and the internet. There are a wide variety of jobs within this industry, such as with networks that provide communication transmission signals and the manufacturers of the equipment that produces the signals. In broadcast and online media, you can work in sales, administration, or customer service working over the phone, and in technical jobs to work as a mechanic or technician repairing equipment and developing new technology. You can also work in a corporate setting or at radio and television stations.

Getting a telecommunications job requires critical thinking skills and creativity to incorporate new technology and solve communication-related problems in new and improved ways. These jobs require strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and, depending on your specialty, you may need experience with design, writing, or production. A bachelor’s degree is often required as are internships and industry experience for positions in reporting, production, and media management. If you want to advance your career in a leadership role, you can earn a master’s degree which can improve your ability to persuade and communicate effectively in a global environment, especially through the internet. If you’re going into a technical role, such as line installation and repair, you typically need a high school diploma and on-the-job training.

High Paying Telecommunications Jobs

  • Ic Design Engineer

    As an IC design engineer, your job is to help create an integrated circuit that meets the needs of a project. This typically involves fitting amplifiers, transistors, capacitors, resistors, and other components into a single part that manufacturers can install onto a larger circuit board. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of an IC design engineer requires familiarity with various electronic components and the ability to transform overall project goals into specific design objectives. Most integrated circuits are purpose-built for each type of circuit board, so flexibility and the ability to modify designs as needed is essential for success in this field.

  • Antenna Engineer

    An antenna engineer designs and develops antennas and other communication devices. The duties of someone in this career include working with electronic equipment such as modems, cell phones, satellite equipment, and radio antennas. As an engineer, you may analyze a company’s needs and then make plans to meet those needs. Your responsibilities may include performing research, making a development schedule, and creating budget proposals for development projects. You often create prototypes of your designs for testing and then analyze performance. Many projects require an understanding of radio frequency (RF) ranges.

  • Wireless Communications Engineer

    A wireless communications engineer specializes in research, development, and implementation of wireless technology. Your duties in this career require you work with electronics, wireless phones, radio frequency tech, broadband networks and systems, and routers and modems. You work heavily in research and development as part of a project team and introduce new products and designs for a device. You also focus on improving the efficiency of existing ones. Your responsibilities include designing a system that produces optimum signal strength, speed, security, and ability on the network, and troubleshooting current networks to work at full capacity.

  • Telecommunications Consultant

    A telecommunications consultant services the hardware and software components of telecom systems for their clients. Job duties include working with clients to determine their telecom needs, installing the best telecommunications solutions, providing ongoing technical assistance, and updating software and databases. The qualifications for a career as a telecommunications consultant are a bachelor’s degree in information technology, telecommunications, or computer engineering and experience with telecommunications equipment and services.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Engineer

    Unified communications is a concept in business and marketing that integrates a variety of communication channels, such as instant messaging, audio and visual web conferencing, desktop sharing, and other means of communication. Cisco is one of the major manufacturers and developers of unified communications equipment, and as a Cisco unified communications engineer, your duties and responsibilities are to develop new ways to utilize Cisco’s products to improve business solutions. This includes integrating software and hardware, helping to educate users on how to use products, and being a technical advisor during systems upgrades.

  • Satellite Communications Engineer

    A satellite communications engineer designs and provides technical support for hardware and software systems used to communicate with a satellite and track its location while it travels. This job requires you to design new communications systems, update existing ones to be more efficient, or instruct technicians on how to deploy equipment according to plans. You also have to ensure that communications equipment can project and receive signals with as little latency as possible. Another of your responsibilities as a satellite communications engineer is to test systems in a simulated environment before you develop and install them in a satellite pre-launch.

  • Unified Communications Engineer

    A unified communications engineer creates comprehensive communications systems for companies. This process may involve merging email, phone lines, and voicemail into a single system for internal use. In this role, you determine the needs of your employer, analyzing the use of each communication line. You then collaborate with other engineers to determine how to best integrate the systems together. To streamline the process, you may may need to install new hardware, upgrade current software, and train employees on how to utilize the new system. Other job duties include monitoring the system to ensure it works properly and troubleshooting any issues that arise.

  • Voip Engineer

    A VoIP engineer oversees the installation and maintenance of VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, telephony systems. VoIP is a system through which parties can communicate over the internet, as opposed to through a traditional telephone system. Engineers are usually employed by a single company to manage their in-house network. As a VoIP engineer, your responsibilities include determining the company’s needs, developing a network with the proper hardware to fit those needs, and monitoring the system to ensure voice communication is functioning correctly. You may need an associate’s degree in this career, but many employers will accept a high school diploma and an appropriate certification from a company like Cisco. You need extensive computer and analytical skills to succeed as a VoIP engineer.

  • Communications Engineer

    A communications engineer builds and maintains telecommunication systems, from radio to satellite to internet technologies. As a communications engineer, your job duties include designing and developing communications networks from the ground up, installing and testing communications systems, troubleshooting and debugging existing systems, and fixing problems as they arise. The qualifications for a career as a communications engineer include a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field, and experience working on communications systems. You need strong technical skills and the ability to continuously learn new technologies.

  • Telecommunications Network Engineer

    A telecommunications network engineer oversees their organization’s telecommunications networks. They design and install all voice, video, data, and computer systems. Typical job duties include monitoring data security and troubleshooting any issues that arise. The goal of a telecommunications network engineer is to develop the safest and most efficient telecommunications systems while remaining within budget. A key aspect of this job is analyzing systems to catch issues before they become major problems.

  • Broadband Engineer

    The duties of a broadband engineer are to install, maintain, and repair a telecommunications network. They are often responsible for ensuring the telecommunications connection is functioning correctly, creating user accounts, and monitoring network activity. Other responsibilities of a broadband engineer are to compile, code, and verify collected data. The qualifications to become a broadband engineer often include a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications or a related field and experience in network or software development.

  • Telecommunications Engineer

    A telecommunications engineer configures or designs voice, data, and video communications systems. Your responsibilities in this career include working to install or maintain telephones, networks, telecom equipment, telephony elements, voicemail systems, or conferencing systems. Other duties include evaluating and reviewing requests from managers, technicians, and engineers for system modifications, estimating the costs for components or system operation and implementation. You are also in charge of supervising telecommunications equipment maintenance, preparing performance and system activity reports, evaluating and testing software and hardware to determine reliability, compatibility, and efficiency with existing systems, and maintaining, implementing, and developing telecommunications disaster recovery plans so that there are no interruptions to the business.

  • Telecommunications Manager

    A telecommunications manager oversees the installation and maintenance of communication lines for an organization. These lines include phone, internet, and other forms of communication. In this role, you work with contractors to oversee the installation of new communication systems, ensuring they work properly. You monitor the performance of the lines and troubleshoot problems as they arise. When necessary, you also train employees on how to use the new systems and document how the systems are used so that you can ensure the needs of the company are being met. Telecommunications managers may work for communications companies, businesses that have this role on staff, or with a consulting firm that works with many different clients.

  • Fiber Design Engineer

    A fiber design engineer, also known as an outside plant engineer (OSP), is a telecommunications engineer who designs optic cable systems. Your responsibilities include fiber design and its allocation, developing route maps for cable and assessing the terrain through which your cabling must pass, creating budgets for projects, determining the types of materials necessary to complete orders, and ensuring you have the right inventory for each project. Your designs and analyses are then passed off to a contractor or project manager who implements your designs.

  • Telecommunications Specialist

    A telecommunications specialist is an information technology (IT) professional who designs and maintains communication systems that transmit data via a computer network. Job duties include identifying the communication and technology needs of an organization and developing a customized plan to meet those needs. A telecommunications specialist may also oversee the installation, maintenance, and security testing of communication networks, equipment, and devices. These telecommunications networks transmit video, voice, and data, so functionality and security are crucial.

  • Telecommunications Site Acquisition Specialist

    As a telecommunications site acquisition specialist, you research, evaluate, and negotiate leases for locations that can host telecommunications equipment such as wireless transmission towers. You may investigate zoning requirements, oversee the permitting process, and help establish long-term contracts that ensure your company has the resources it needs to maintain a network. This job title refers specifically to acquiring sites for telecommunications equipment, rather than office buildings or other workplaces. The definition of a site is somewhat flexible and may entail getting permission to host equipment on existing towers or buildings, rather than being the exclusive owner and user of any given site.

  • Wireless Telecommunications Site Acquisition Specialist

    The responsibilities of a wireless telecommunications site acquisition specialist include preliminary research and audit for possible land leases for telecom sites. You ensure entitlements are possible and that potential leases are a good opportunity for the time and funding of each customer. You report on acquisition activities for sites assigned to you and coordinate with a variety of teams including design, zoning, and construction management. You assist with budget preparation and monitor spending, negotiate lease documents for telecom installation, travel to various sites, and attend project meetings as needed. Other duties include quality control, preparing or assisting with zoning and permit applications, and keeping an accurate record database.

  • Satellite Installer

    As a satellite installer, you install and repair satellite dishes for customers. This involves reviewing installation orders, gathering equipment, coordinating schedules, creating wiring plans, installing cables, ensuring the customer's television can connect to the dish, and ensuring that the final result adheres to all telecommunications codes and regulations. Satellite installers often lift up to 75 pounds, climb ladders up to 40 feet high, navigate through tight spaces, work in various weather conditions, and use handheld electronics. At times, you may need to work with other contractors or the homeowner to get a dish installed correctly. Satellite installers usually work flexible schedules, including on evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of customers.

  • Communications Technician

    As a communications technician, you maintain and repair telecommunications equipment for phone, radio, and the internet. Your job duties include performing routine inspections, troubleshooting, and replacing faulty components. Your work may take place in recording studios, radio and television stations, cell phone companies, telecommunications companies. A career as a communications technician requires you have some formal qualifications and education, typically least a bachelor’s degree in electronics, broadcasting, or a closely related field. Voluntary certification through a professional organization, especially as related to a particular technology, will set you ahead of other candidates, as will prior work experience in electronics and wireless technology.

  • Telecommunications Technician

    A telecommunications technician is a computer engineer responsible for the set-up and maintenance of telecommunication lines. These lines can include phone, voicemail, email, internet, and other communication systems. Telecommunications technicians are critical members of an organization’s support team and work within businesses, educational facilities, and government buildings to facilitate internal and external communication. As a telecommunications technician, you maintain all telecommunications assets within the company and may manage the purchase of new hardware and software and configure new accounts and networks, as needed.

  • Fiber Optics Technician

    As a fiber optic technician, or fiber network technician, you are responsible for installing and maintaining fiber optic networks. Fiber optics are used to transfer data for a variety of purposes, like phone, cable television, and internet. Fiber optic technicians work in commercial and residential settings, installing new fiber optic lines and making repairs to existing networks. You may also be responsible for setting up equipment, like modems, or helping clients establish email accounts.

  • Satellite Dish Installer

    As a satellite dish installer, your job is to install and configure satellite dishes in a way that ensures they get a strong signal. Other aspects of this job include providing repair service as requested, helping customers select equipment, and determining whether or not you need to call an electrical technician before installing the hardware. Satellite dish installers frequently provide customer service to clients, select the best location to install a dish, select the tools needed for installation, run cables between homes and dishes, and maintain records of completed work. Some installers work for major television companies, while others work for independent satellite dish sellers and may do this work as part of another job.

  • Tower Climber

    A Tower Climber is part of a team of climbers who work on tower systems like broadcast, radio, internet, and cell phone towers. Tower Climbers responsibilities are to build, inspect, and maintain these towers and their equipment. Because Tower Climbers work in all weather, some climbers complete snowcat operator training to transport materials to towers surrounded by snow. Working at tall heights in all weather comes with risks, so fall protection training and rescue certification are necessary.

  • Wireless Technician

    A wireless technician, also called a wireless communications technician, is a specialized role of tech support that performs maintenance on wireless devices. As a wireless technician, you perform repairs on devices such as cellular phones and PDAs. Your job duties may include building and maintaining cell towers, creating wireless networks, and fixing system, software, or hardware issues that arise. A wireless technician may be employed by a specific cellular company or by third parties authorized to perform maintenance on mobile devices and equipment.

  • Fiber Optic Splicer

    Fiber optic splicers install, maintain, and repair fiber optic cabling, such as for phones, internet, or television, or other telecommunications cabling. As a fiber optic splicer, also referred to as a telecommunications line installer and repairer, you install aerial and underground cabling, pull it through a conduit, and set up other necessary equipment for service. Your primary responsibilities are to ensure that all cabling is connected properly to prevent any data loss or failed connections. Other duties may include helping customers to set up new service, consulting with construction crews, and troubleshooting problems on existing network lines.