Broadband and 5G: Grades 6-8

Careers in Broadband and 5G are focused on ensuring people have fast and dependable internet connections, which are essential for streaming videos, playing games, and staying connected. Professionals in this field, such as technicians, play a crucial role by setting up new internet connections and fixing any issues that arise. They work with special equipment like towers and underground cables to send internet signals to our devices. This hands-on job may involve climbing towers to check signals, laying cables, and troubleshooting problems to keep the internet working smoothly. It's an exciting career that combines working with cutting-edge technology and helping people stay connected every day.

Career Field Top Occupations

Fiber Optic Technician

A fiber optics technician installs and services fiber optic systems in communities, homes, and commercial buildings. They can work on connecting services in residential properties as well as large-scale facilities like hospitals and universities. Everyone needs to be connected to the Internet, and when connectivity slows, it can be critical for business. This is where a fiber optics technician comes into play. In addition to installing fiber optics systems, a fiber optics technician also repairs faulty wires and their electrical components.
  • Annual Mean Wage: $49-65K
  • Education and Training:
    • Associate degree
    • Technical training
    • Apprenticeship
    • Career-technical education

Utility Construction Installer

The Utility Construction Installer will construct and/or install cable TV, high-speed internet and digital phone services for residential and business customers, using commercial and residential wiring applications. Add, place, remove, reroute, set up, rack, splice, transfer, repair, rearrange, bond, pressurize, and test aerial, underground, and buried cable.
  • Annual Mean Wage: $45-65K
  • Education and Training:
    • High school/GED
    • Technical training
    • Apprenticeship
    • Career-technical education

Outside Plant Engineer (OSP)

Outside Plant Engineers must have knowledge of aerial, buried, underground and building entrance design. Outside Plant Engineers will support the design and engineering process by planning and preparing drawings for construction of new, and removal or rearrangement of existing fiber optic cables, and conduits to obtain optimum and economical utilization of communications facilities. Outside Plant Engineers must be able to read and understand highway/road prints, be able to identify conflicts with existing outside plant facilities, and select routing required for work projects. Outside Plant Engineers may be required to provide on-site construction inspection to ensure design specifications are met by the construction contractor. Further duties will include but are not limited to: redlines, bore design, CAD (Computer-aided Design), and make-ready analysis, field notes, pole survey, sonde conduit, locating, quality control prints, butterfly drawings, and preparation of prints.
  • Annual Mean Wage: $50K-63K
  • Education and Training:
    • Associate degree
    • Industry recognized credential
    • 2-year degree

Field Technician (Surveyor/Data Collection)

Responsibility for all instruments and supporting equipment including, but not limited to, transits, levels, and E.D.M tripods, and the E.D.M. support box, and radios. Technical knowledge and competence in the use of survey equipment such as the data collector, the robotic instrument, the Theodolite, and the level along with the daily dumping of the data collector are required. A rodman can follow the instructions of the Party Chief in obtaining staking data. Along with the ability to read and understand staking sheets, boundary surveys, construction plans, cut sheets, level notes, and bench runs.
  • Annual Mean Wage: $40-50K
  • Education and Training: High school diploma / GED

Small Cell Tech

Performs preventative maintenance inspections to remote DAS equipment and host-related equipment as well as the application of safe work practices to all work-related tasks. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Installation of small cell hardware and equipment for both aerial and underground locations.
  • Annual Mean Wage: $50-63K
  • Education and Training:
    • Technical training
    • Apprenticeship
    • Career-technical education
    • Industry recognized credential

Tower Technician

As an experienced Telecom Tower Technician, you will lead and assist in the construction, installation, and maintenance of communications tower and support structures
  • Annual Mean Wage: $45-55K
  • Education and Training:
    • Associate degree
    • Technical training
    • Apprenticeship
    • Career-technical education

Last Modified: 8/5/2025 3:05:15 PM