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Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
  • Summary

  • Details

  • Work Activities

    • Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
    • Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
    • Pull cable through ducts by hand or with winches.
    • Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
    • Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
    • Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
    • Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
    • Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
    • Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
    • Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
    • Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
    • Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
    • Dig trenches for underground wires or cables.
    • String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
    • Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
    • Compute impedance of wires from poles to houses to determine additional resistance needed for reducing signals to desired levels.
    • Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
    • Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.
    • Explain cable service to subscribers after installation, and collect any installation fees due.
    • Fill and tamp holes, using cement, earth, and tamping devices.
    • Dig holes for power poles, using power augers or shovels, set poles in place with cranes, and hoist poles upright, using winches.
    • Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
    • Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.
    • Install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
    • Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.

    Skills

    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.

    Abilities

    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Administration and Management
      • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

    Education

    Education
    High school diploma or equivalent
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    More than 1 year on-the-job training

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    79990/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    38.46/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    1,390
    Yearly Projected Openings
    120

    Personality

    Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Self Control
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance

    Tools

    • Adjustable wrenches
    • Articulating boom lift
    • Banders
    • Boring machines
    • Cable reels
    • Card key lock
    • Claw hammer
    • Derricks
    • Diagonal cut pliers
    • Dollies
    • Electrical power sensors
    • Electronic measuring probes
    • Extension pole
    • Fish tape
    • Hacksaw
    • Hex keys
    • Ladders
    • Leak testing equipment
    • Level meter
    • Levels
    • Light bulb changer
    • Locking pliers
    • Longnose pliers
    • Metal cutters
    • Multimeters
    • Needlenose pliers
    • Network routers
    • Network switches
    • Non contact sensors
    • Notebook computers
    • Ohmmeters
    • Power buffers
    • Power drills
    • Power meters
    • Punches or nail sets or drifts
    • Reflectometers
    • Resin guns
    • Saws
    • Screwdrivers
    • Security cameras
    • Shears
    • Sheaves or pulleys
    • Signal generators
    • Soldering iron
    • Specialty wrenches
    • Staple guns
    • Stripping tools
    • Tampers
    • Tape measures
    • Tow trucks
    • Trenching machines
    • Two way radios
    • Videoscopes
    • WLAN wireless access network equipment and components
    • Winches
    • Wire cutters
    • Wire lug crimping tool
    • Wire or cable cutter
    • Wire wrapping tool

    Technology

    • Cloud-based data access and sharing software
    • Computer aided design CAD software
    • Customer relationship management CRM software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
    • Facilities management software
    • Internet browser software
    • Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software
    • Office suite software
    • Operating system software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Transaction security and virus protection software
    • Word processing software