7246-NOC

Telecommunications installation and repair workers

(NOC 7246)
Annual Earnings
$68,825
Typical Education Background
Diploma/Certificate Excluding Apprenticeship
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,150

Career Overview

Ecommunications installation and repair workers:

  • Install, test, maintain and repair telephones, telephone switching equipment and telecommunications equipment related to transmission and processing of voice, video signals and other data over a variety of media including fibre optics, microwave, radio and satellite
  • Work for telephone and other telecommunications transmission services establishments

Duties

Telephone installers and repairers:

  • Install, arrange, remove and maintain telephone equipment, wiring and associated hardware
  • Test installed telephone systems to locate transmission faults
  • Repair or replace defective and damaged telephones, wire and associated equipment.
  • Switch network installers and repairers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Install electromechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres
  • Inspect and test trunking systems, circuits and equipment
  • Analyze test results and adjust, change or repair switching system, network, associated equipment and software

Switch network installers and repairers:

  • Install electromechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres
  • Inspect and test trunking systems, circuits and equipment
  • Analyze test results and adjust, change or repair switching system, network, associated equipment and software

Telecommunications service testers:

  • Operate computerized testing systems to conduct service tests on customer lines and equipment
  • Determine the nature, cause and location of service trouble
  • Initiate the dispatch of appropriate repair personnel
  • Complete test reports and maintain test and service records
  • May assist repair personnel to test lines, circuits and systems, isolate and clear cable faults and verify records

Telecommunications equipment technicians:

  • Install, remove and maintain various telecommunications equipment and related systems such as telex and facsimile machines, teletypewriters, mobile radios, cellular telephones, pagers and other related telecommunications equipment
  • Configure operating systems and install software for access to the internet
  • Inspect and test operation of telecommunications equipment
  • Diagnose and locate equipment faults
  • Adjust, replace or repair telecommunications equipment

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$68,825

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$48.08/hr
Median$33.00/hr
Low$20.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

2,800

% Employed Full Time

69%
Source: 2016 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a normal inside work environment.
  • Working with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools may be a source of injury.
  • Exposure to electrical circuitry, high tension wires, transformers or other equipment in the workplace may be a source of electrical shock.

Career Pathways

Career path information is currently not available.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Adjuster, telephone system relay
Attendant, charging equipment
Central office equip. installer-repairer
Combination man / woman
Electrician, communications
Inspector, service / telephone traffic
Installer / repairer, exchange
Installer / repairer, mobile radio
Installer / repairer, switchboard
Installer / repairer, teletypewriters (TTY)
Installer, PBX
Installer, telephone line
Line tester / electrician / inspector
Maintainer, telephone exchange
Operator, test desk operator
Racker - telecommunications
Repairer, telecom branch exchange
Switch / toll switch equipment
Technician, customer service centre
Technician, installation / repair
Tester / evaluator -telephone exchange
Tester / regulator, telecom equipment
Tester, cable station
Tester, central office tester
Wirer, facilities / frame-telephone

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • Telephone and switch network installers and repairers require completion of an apprenticeship program ranging from three to four years
    or
    A combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry related courses.
  • Telecommunications equipment technicians usually require completion of a college electrical and electronics program and several months of on-the-job training
    or
    Completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship training program.
  • Trade certification for communication technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Experience as an installer and repairer (telephone and switch network) is usually required for service testers.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

63%
Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

60%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

60%
Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

58%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

57%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

56%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

56%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

55%
Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

55%
Operation Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

55%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

2,800
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 130 4.4%
Kootenay 30 3.0%
Mainland/Southwest 2,050 63.6%
North Coast and Nechako 20 0.9%
Northeast 50 1.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 240 10.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 340 15.5%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,150
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 20 5.2%
Mainland/Southwest 810 0.4%
North Coast and Nechako 0 4.1%
Northeast 10 1.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 110 0.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 100 0.6%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Information, Culture and Recreation57,300
Construction72,700
Retail Trade115,500
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services46,100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.