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Telecommunications engineer

Also called radio engineer, telecom engineer, telecoms engineer

Telecommunications engineers design, build, test and maintain telecommunication systems and networks, including radio and broadcasting equipment. They analyse customer needs and requirements, ensure that the equipment meets regulations, and prepare and present reports and proposals on telecommunication-related problems. Telecommunications engineers design and oversee the service delivery in all it's phases, supervising the installation and use of telecommunications equipment and facilities, preparing documentation and providing training for company staff once new equipment has been installed.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Telecommunications engineers · ILO

What you'd do

Telecommunications engineers · ILO
  • Advising on and designing telecommunications devices or components, systems, equipment and distribution centres
  • Specifying production or installation methods, materials, quality and safety standards and directing production or installation work of telecommunications products and systems
  • Organizing and directing maintenance and repair of existing telecommunication systems, motors and equipment
  • Researching and advising on telecommunications equipment
  • Planning and designing communications networks based on wired, fibre optical and wireless communication media
  • Designing and developing signal processing algorithms and implementing these through appropriate choice of hardware and software
  • Designing telecommunications networks and radio and television distribution systems, including both cable and over the air
Provide ICT system trainingLog transmitter readingsDefine technical requirementsUse session border controllerSupport ICT system users+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of 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 Engineering Specialists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
8 of 27 countries report a shortage of telecommunications engineers, 4 a surplus.
Telecommunications engineers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (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 professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in software and applications development and analysis is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Fields that teach it
Software and applications development and analysis · Electronics and automation
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field
ICT graduates in a matching job
77% in the EU

887 institutions in the EU offer ICT bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

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

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

Average task score 0.48 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
Designing and developing signal processing algorithms and implementing these through appropriate choice of hardware and software0.61
Planning and designing communications networks based on wired, fibre optical and wireless communication media0.56
Researching and advising on telecommunications equipment0.55
Advising on and designing telecommunications devices or components, systems, equipment and distribution centres0.54
Specifying production or installation methods, materials, quality and safety standards and directing production or installation work of telecommunications products and systems0.45
Designing telecommunications networks and radio and television distribution systems, including both cable and over the air0.40
Organizing and directing maintenance and repair of existing telecommunication systems, motors and equipment0.26

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 telecommunications engineers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).