Best institutions to study Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair one- and two- way communications equipment and systems, including television cable systems and mobile or stationary communication devices.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 319 Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0103, a specialization of Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.01), and leads most directly to the Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers occupation (BLS SOC 49-9052).
About Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair one- and two- way communications equipment and systems, including television cable systems and mobile or stationary communication devices. Includes instruction in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to the repair of communications systems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the field of communications equipment and systems. This program is ideal for those interested in assembling, installing, operating, maintaining, and repairing one- and two-way communication systems, including television cable systems and mobile devices.
Students will gain essential skills in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment, and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to communications systems. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years212 graduates / yr · 3 institutions67%
- Associate's degree57 graduates / yr · 3 institutions18%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year42 graduates / yr · 9 institutions13%
- Award of less than 12 weeks8 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
Graduates over time
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 442 |
| 2013 | 392 |
| 2014 | 455 |
| 2015 | 403 |
| 2016 | 465 |
| 2017 | 335 |
| 2018 | 345 |
| 2019 | 236 |
| 2020 | 158 |
| 2021 | 136 |
| 2022 | 117 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 290 |
| 2025 | 319 |
Top 14 institutions for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinnacle Career Institute Kansas City, MOPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 151 | 52% | $22,015 | — |
| 2 | Fortis Institute - Wayne Wayne, NJPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 48 | 72% | $23,607 | $34,287 |
| 3 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 47 | 79% | $24,069 | $45,720 |
| 4 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 53% | — | — |
| 6 | Fortis Institute - Lawrenceville Lawrenceville, NJPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 54% | $19,420 | $34,287 |
| 7 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 8 | 58% | — | — |
| 8 | Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 97% | — | — |
| 9 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 38% | — | — |
| 10 | Pinellas Technical College - Clearwater Clearwater, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 52% | — | — |
| 11 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 22% | — | — |
| 12 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 13 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 31% | — | — |
| 14 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 50% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 47.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states
Where Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 1 | 151 | Pinnacle Career Institute151 / yr |
| New Jersey | 2 | 61 | Fortis Institute - Wayne48 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 47 | Perry Technical Institute47 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 13 | Des Moines Area Community College13 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 13 | Ogden - Weber Technical College13 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 8 | Lake Land College8 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 6 | Emily Griffith Technical College6 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 6 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College6 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 5 | Pinellas Technical College - Clearwater5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | Quinsigamond Community College3 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 3 | Southeast Community College Area3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Westmoreland County Community College2 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9052, Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers, among other related roles. The job outlook indicates a decline of 3.1%, with approximately 8,900 annual openings and a median wage of $70,500. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0103
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairersprimary SOC 49-9052 | $74,330 | -3.1% Decline | ~8,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers SOC 49-2022 | $63,890 | -4.2% Decline | ~13,200 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers SOC 49-2097 | $52,600 | +6.6% Faster than average | ~2,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers SOC 49-2021 | $63,520 | +8.6% Much faster than average | ~1,200 | Associate's degree |
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other SOC 43-2099 | $54,680 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
- Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
- Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
- Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
- Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
- Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
Tools and technology used
Other Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.01).
- Electrical/CIP 47.0101
Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/ Technician 3,360 graduates / yr92 institutions - Industrial Electronics Technology/CIP 47.0105
Technician 3,331 graduates / yr107 institutions - Computer Installation and Repair Technology/CIP 47.0104
Technician 2,572 graduates / yr98 institutions - Electrical/CIP 47.0199
Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/ Technicians 1,113 graduates / yr23 institutions - Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/CIP 47.0106
Technician partial data52 graduates / yr6 institutions - Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/CIP 47.0110
Technician partial data43 graduates / yr3 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Business Machine Repair47.0102
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What types of jobs can I get with this program?+
Graduates can work as Telecommunications Line Installers, Equipment Installers, and Audiovisual Equipment Repairers.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, diagnostics, and the use of testing equipment.
What is the typical length of the program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from less than 12 weeks to 2 academic years.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 3.1%, with around 8,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician?+
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician is CIP 47.0103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair one- and two- way communications equipment and systems, including television cable systems and mobile or stationary communication devices. Includes instruction in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to the repair of communications systems.
How many institutions offer Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 319 credentials in the year. That is 3.0% of all Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers occupation, which Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $74,330 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $34,287 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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