Computer and Mathematical
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
MAY 2025 · OCCUPATIONAL WAGES
A wage reference for United States.
Published wage percentiles describe a distribution within the source occupation group. They provide context for a career decision; employer packages and job offers have their own terms.
Source wage group: Computer Network Architects
This wage group may include multiple detailed occupations. The figures are for the source group, which may be broader than Telecommunications Engineering Specialists. They are not an exact-title, employer, experience or seniority match.
May 2025 · USD · United States. Annual and hourly figures are shown only when the source publishes them; neither is calculated from the other.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data, distributed through the O*NET® OnLine service.
Median annual wage$134,050USD per year · Published 50th percentile
Median hourly wage$64.45USD per hour · Published 50th percentile
Annual wage thresholds
USD per year
Hourly wage thresholds
USD per hour
| Percentile | Annual wage (USD/year) | Hourly wage (USD/hour) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,900 | $38.42 |
| 25th | $104,620 | $50.30 |
| 50th · Median | $134,050 | $64.45 |
| 75th | $168,200 | $80.86 |
| 90th | $202,680 | $97.44 |
“≥” means at least the published amount; “≤” means at most that amount. These are bounds, not exact values. “Not published” means the source did not provide that figure. Occupational wages follow the source definition and do not establish an employer’s base salary, equity or total compensation.
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THE WORK BEHIND THE TITLE
What this career involves.
Occupation definitions describe common work. Responsibilities and requirements vary by employer and specific job.
Selected title examples
Communications AnalystCommunications EngineerCommunications Infrastructure EngineerCommunications Network EngineerCommunications Systems EngineerCommunications Systems Technician (Communications Systems Tech)Electrical Design EngineerEngineerInfrastructure EngineerMultimedia Telecommunications Systems IntegratorNetwork EngineerSignal Operations Support Specialist (Signal Ops Support Specialist)
Expand more title examples (14)
Telecommunication Design Engineer (Telecom Design Engineer)Telecommunication Engineer (Telecom Engineer)Telecommunications Administrator (Telecommunications Admin)Telecommunications Analyst (Telecom Analyst)Telecommunications Consultant (Telecom Consultant)Telecommunications Engineer (Telecom Engineer)Telecommunications Management Specialist (Telecom Management Specialist)Telecommunications Network EngineerTelecommunications Network Technician (Telecom Network Tech)Telecommunications Operator (Telecom Operator)Telecommunications Specialist (Telecom Specialist)Telecommunications Systems EngineerUnified Communications EngineerVoIP Network Engineer (Voice over Internet Protocol Network Engineer)
Typical tasks
- Document technical specifications and operating standards for telecommunications equipment.
- Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions.
- Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.
- Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to prepare or evaluate network diagrams, floor plans, or site configurations for existing facilities, renovations, or new systems.
- Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.
Expand more tasks (20)
- Estimate costs for system or component implementation and operation.
- Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems.
- Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
- Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures.
- Inspect sites to determine physical configuration, such as device locations and conduit pathways.
- Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
- Document procedures for hardware and software installation and use.
- Supervise maintenance of telecommunications equipment.
- Instruct in use of voice, video, and data communications systems.
- Work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices.
- Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
- Test and evaluate hardware and software to determine efficiency, reliability, or compatibility with existing systems.
- Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
- Document user support activity, such as system problems, corrective actions, resolution status, and completed equipment installations.
- Order or maintain inventory of telecommunications equipment for customer premises equipment (CPE), facilities, access networks, or backbone networks.
- Prepare system activity and performance reports.
- Prepare purchase requisitions for computer hardware and software, networking and telecommunications equipment, test equipment, cabling, or tools.
- Implement controls to provide security for operating systems, software, and data.
- Monitor and analyze system performance, such as network traffic, security, and capacity.
- Manage user access to systems and equipment through account management and password administration.
Skills used in this work
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Expand more skills (29)
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Negotiation
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
- Management of Material Resources
- Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Technology Design
- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Management of Financial Resources
- Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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