How to become a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist
Official title: Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Also called: Communications Engineer, Communications Infrastructure Engineer, Communications Systems Technician (Communications Systems Tech), Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, Network Engineer, Signal Operations Support Specialist (Signal Ops Support Specialist), Telecommunication Design Engineer (Telecom Design Engineer), Telecommunications Consultant (Telecom Consultant), Telecommunications Engineer (Telecom Engineer)
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
Main 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.
- 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.
How to become one
Computer network architects typically need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and experience in a related occupation, such as network and computer systems administrators .
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $134,050 a year The middle half earn $104,620 to $168,200.
- About 181,800 people work in this job now, and about 195,800 are projected by 2035. (+7.7%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
Computer network architects typically need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and experience in a related occupation, such as network and computer systems administrators .
How much does a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $134,050 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $104,620 to $168,200.
Is a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 181,800 to about 195,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
Not always. 57% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Engineering degrees.
Will AI change the work of a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.