Since the first cell tower was erected in 1977 by AT&T, there has been a need for tower technicians. And with well over half a million towers and cell nodes now scattered throughout the US, the need for those technicians to keep the pace continues to grow.
Put simply, cell tower technicians scale telecommunication towers to install, repair, test and remove various equipment pieces installed on the tower to maintain and advance their functionality. The roles within the career can generally be broken down into six basic categories:
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Apprentice: An entry-level apprentice (or trainee) often aims to complete industry certification (see below) and on-site training and work under the supervision of a technician with at least one year of experience.
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Tower Technician I: At this first level, the technician can self-sufficiently scale towers and perform different installation types. They often focus on foundational tasks such as equipment inspections, cable management and basic system configurations, often still under supervision. By this stage, a certification is highly valued if not required.
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Tower Technician II: This level is attained through two years of experience and may be where a technician begins to specialize within different areas of cell-site construction and maintenance.
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Tower Technician III: Similar to Level II, this title is earned through three years of experience and often includes developing field specialties. These higher levels may also involve more complex tasks, advanced troubleshooting and specialized knowledge in areas like as radio frequency (RF) systems, advanced electronics or network optimization. This level is also often mentoring apprentices.
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Top Hand: Moving up the ladder (pun intended), top hands assist the foreman and may begin development plans for basic rigging requirements.
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Foreman: As the highest tier within the career, the foreman often has the most experience in various cell-site construction areas and has received a PIM Master Certification for troubleshooting and problem-solving different equipment issues (as this is a core component of the profession). The Foreman is in charge of the technician crews and may also work with different project managers and engineers depending on the work. Furthermore, they are competent in developing advanced rigging plans for work requiring equipment lifting of over 500 lbs.
According to statistics from Glassdoor, the estimated annual pay for a cell tower technician is $51,053 — including an average salary of $48,585 and an estimated additional pay of $2,468 per year. With top-earning foremen making nearly $80k a year, according to ZipRecruiter, the pay range can vary greatly depending on the state, job title, years of experience and specific company.
Industry voices from the top of the tower
In the video, “A Day in the Life of a Tower Tech,” developed from the documentary Vertical Freedom, several technicians shared insights on the job, and many of them seemed to agree on a certain sentiment: the job is an adventurous one — free of the monotony of a nine to five.
"When you get up there, you get a heavenly moment,” said one technician. “Every climb is a great one."
Another climber emphasized the exciting non-routine of the work. “I’m not in an office, in a cubical behind a computer screen. There’s no way I could do that. But I’m enjoying my office on the field, wherever it may take me.”
The “nature” of the job also means working with the elements, as many of them explained. “You are in all types of weather,” one worker said, from extreme summer heat to sleet and snow. And the hours take commitment. “You’re up pretty early, and you can stay in the field pretty late to get your stuff done.”
But at the end of the day, they come back because of the opportunity for growth and the freedom of the job. “Being able to work hard and continue learning, it’s a great way to move up, and you can one day make the money that you’re looking to,” said one climber. Another individual said the job has enabled them to live their life, “and that’s a life of adventure.”
“When I first started I was like, 'Climbing towers, man, I don’t know if I wanna do that forever.' Now, I can’t really see myself in a different industry,” said another.
A former tower climber for Red Tail Tower who left a review on Glassdoor positively noted that the co-workers and management were “second to none” when it came to teamwork, safety, development and work-life balance within the position. The employee also emphasized the degree of self-motivation needed for the work.
“[The] industry is like no other,” they wrote. “You have to really dig and be persistent when it comes to training and learning. On the job, learning and training isn’t for everyone. [A] high level of initiative and self-teaching is key.”
Education and training
Most cell tower technician positions require a high school diploma or GED equivalent, according to Indeed. But it's unlikely that entry-level openings will require postsecondary education.
Instead, one of the ways to get ahead is to enroll in a Telecom Tower Technician I (TTT1) or Tower Climber I (TCT) training program of at least 250 hours. These may be found through online courses, vocational or school programs as well as entry-level positions offering its own (or partnered) training.
Certification exams may be done through bodies like the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) or the ANSI-accredited National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA).
As of the beginning of this year, the NWSA has also stopped conducting TTT1 and TTT2 exams, and the process has been replaced by “enhanced written-only testing” online. This change was made in efforts to reduce barriers of entry and promote certification fairness and reliability. The exam currently costs $274.
Openings that provide on-the-job training will likely be geared towards meeting requirements of certifications like these. But it is critical to invest in a thorough amount of training to grasp comprehensive knowledge of safety protocols, equipment and technical knowledge, hands-on experience and more.