According to The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the average starting salary of a graduate from a registered apprenticeship is $80,000 — with 94% of apprentices sticking with the job after completing the program.
As National Apprenticeship Week celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s a prime time to highlight training in the trades — particularly the lesser-known field of broadband technician work.
Not only does training through accredited apprenticeships and programs provide solid entry to good wages and benefits, but it also gives you a sturdier base of the trade, its evolution and standard best practices, “not just how to bang this stuff together, but how and why it works," as industry veteran Brian Schrand put it.
Because so much of technician work is on-the-job training and learning, this kind of education can be especially important in balancing field and technical knowledge.
“When you hire on with an employer and you're doing on-the-job training, I would encourage you to ask if they do any type of investment in their technicians, into their people," Schrand explained. "What you learn on the job, some of those things may conflict with what you would learn through an accredited program."
Alongside apprenticeships, there are several overlapping points-of-entry that can kickstart a career. Some of these include:
Fiber Optic Technician Assistant: aid technicians on their essential tasks like cable installations, system diagnostics, troubleshooting and terminations.
Junior Fiber Optic Technician: take on basic responsibilities under supervision like testing, splicing and connectorization (attaching connectors to the ends of optical fibers to facilitate reliable connection to network equipment, devices or other cables).
Technician Trainee: receive on-the-job training and mentorship on the fundamentals of fiber optic technology and telecommunications.
Internships at telecommunication companies: Companies may offer Internship programs to provide hands-on experience in various aspects of fiber optics, similar to these other entry-level roles.
Another benefit to training programs and apprenticeships like these are that you are earning while you’re learning.
Nathan Larson, currently the executive director of Telecom Tech School, explained they are currently offering paid apprenticeship in Colorado to learn about fiber optics. While going through the program, trainees can earn $22-25 an hour, graduate and enter an industry desperate for qualified technicians debt-free with a technical knowledge of a trade that isn’t going anywhere.
“This is the future, it’s here right now,” Larson told us. “And there’s a gold rush of who’s gonna get all the stuff installed, who’s gonna get everybody connected.”
Learn more about this apprenticeship in the video below:
Check out Broadband Nation’s Training portal to find various opportunities for online and in-person training depending on your location and area of interest.