Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance. The role reports a median annual salary of $130,390 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $76,640 and $189,520 and is projected to grow 12% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.54 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £48,907 a year for IT network professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £40,104 to £66,230 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2137). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Telecommunications Engineering Specialists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Computer Applications (BCA) — BCA (three years, or four years for BCA Honours / with Research)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG, IPU CET
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Computer Engineering — B.E. / B.Tech in Computer Engineering (four years)
Entrance exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, MHT CET, GUJCET, BITSAT, COMEDK UGET
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Cybersecurity — B.Tech in CSE (Cyber Security) (four years)
Entrance exams: JEE Main, MHT CET, KCET, CUET-UG
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Information Technology — B.Tech / B.E. in Information Technology (four years)
Entrance exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, MHT CET, WBJEE, KCET, CUET-UG
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
1 open listing on our jobs board → Recent listings whose job title matches this career. Some jobs in this career are advertised under other titles.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Design
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
What you'd actually do
- Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
- Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.
- Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
- Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
- Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Telecommunications Engineering Specialists do?
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
How much does Telecommunications Engineering Specialists earn?
The median annual salary for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists in the US is $130,390. The middle 80% of workers earn between $76,640 and $189,520 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $100,000 and $158,010.
What is the job outlook for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists?
The role is projected to grow 12% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 179,200 workers.
How do I become telecommunications engineering specialists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Telecommunications Engineering Specialists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Telecommunications Engineering Specialists?
Our AI-durability model gives Telecommunications Engineering Specialists a score of 0.54 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.