telecommunications 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.
telecommunications engineer telecommunications engineers design, build, test and maintain telecommunication systems and networks, including radio and broadcasting equipment. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include systems development life-cycle, ICT network routing, microwave principles, ICT network security risks, procurement of ICT network equipment.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £39,998 a year for Telecoms and related network installers and repairers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £34,515 to £46,505 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5242). ONS rates this estimate 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 engineer, 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
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Telecommunications
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Design
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 engineer do?
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.
What skills does telecommunications engineer need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include systems development life-cycle, ICT network routing, microwave principles, ICT network security risks, procurement of ICT network equipment, electronics principles. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace telecommunications engineer?
Our AI-durability model gives telecommunications engineer a score of 0.50 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.