How to become a Telecommunications Linesworker
Installs, maintains and repairs external telecommunication equipment such as aerial lines, conduits and underground cables, radio and mobile phone antennae, and limited items of terminal equipment.
Main tasks
- Installs and maintains external telecommunication equipment such as aerial lines, conduits and underground cables
- Repairs and replaces damaged or faulty telecommunication equipment
- Installs and maintains radio and mobile phone antennae
- Tests and troubleshoots telecommunication equipment to identify and resolve issues
- Performs routine maintenance on telecommunication equipment
- Works at heights on a range of telecommunications structures, such as poles, towers and masts
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation. Trade occupations are usually entered through an apprenticeship: paid work plus this qualification, typically 3 to 4 years.
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation (ICT30419); Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology (ICT30524); Certificate II in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation (ICT20219); Certificate II in Telecommunications Technology (ICT20319)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $107,120 a year
- About 17,000 people work in this job group now, and about 17,600 are projected by 2035. (+3.8%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Related jobs
- Cabler (Data and Telecommunications)
- Telecommunications Cable Technician
- Telecommunications Technician
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Telecommunications Linesworker?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation; Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology; Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation.
How much does a Telecommunications Linesworker earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $107,120 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Telecommunications Linesworker a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 17,000 to about 17,600 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Telecommunications Linesworker?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation; Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology; Certificate III in Telecommunications Network Build and Operation.
Will AI change the work of a Telecommunications Linesworker?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04