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Communication infrastructure maintainer

Also called cable technician, telecoms infrastructure engineer, communication hardware maintainer

Communication infrastructure maintainers install, repair, run and maintain infrastructure for communication systems.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Electrical and electronics trades workersWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,200 (Bulgaria) to €5,600 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Electrical and electronics trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational7 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Electrical and electronics trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.ICT installers and servicers · ILO

What you'd do

ICT installers and servicers · ILO
  • Maintaining, troubleshooting, testing and repairing computers, data transmission equipment and computer peripherals
  • Fitting and adjusting computer hardware
  • Installing, maintaining, repairing and diagnosing malfunctions of microwave, telemetry, multiplexing, satellite and other radio and electromagnetic wave communications systems
  • Providing technical advice and information, and monitoring the performance of complex telecommunications networks and equipment
  • Installing and repairing cabling for computer, radio, telephone and television transmission
  • Joining telecommunications and data cables, and sealing sheathes
  • Installing, maintaining and repairing antennae used in communications
Assess telecommunication infrastructure issuesInstall low voltage wiringInstall electronic communication equipmentOperate digging construction equipmentMonitor communication channels' performance
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as electrical and electronics trades workers in the EU
3.16m3.26m3.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
175,000 new jobs 915,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Electrical and electronics trades workers33
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of ICT installers and servicers, 6 a surplus.
ICT installers and servicers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,200 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,600 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in database and network design and administration is the usual route.

Highest qualification of electrical and electronics trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 17%Vocational 62%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 14%
Fields that teach it
Database and network design and administration · Electronics and automation
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.24 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Providing technical advice and information, and monitoring the performance of complex telecommunications networks and equipment0.51
Installing, maintaining, repairing and diagnosing malfunctions of microwave, telemetry, multiplexing, satellite and other radio and electromagnetic wave communications systems0.30
Maintaining, troubleshooting, testing and repairing computers, data transmission equipment and computer peripherals0.30
Fitting and adjusting computer hardware0.16
Installing and repairing cabling for computer, radio, telephone and television transmission0.14
Installing, maintaining and repairing antennae used in communications0.14
Joining telecommunications and data cables, and sealing sheathes0.13

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for ICT installers and servicers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).