How much does a cable line installer make?
Answer: A typical cable line installer in the United States makes $74,330 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 98,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Cable line installer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45,310 | $74,330 | $103,680 | about 98,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $103,410 | about 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $102,090 | about 3,000 |
| New York | $100,960 | about 9,000 |
| California | $97,980 | about 9,000 |
| District of Columbia | $97,600 | about 500 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experienced workers and people with useful fiber-optic skills or extra certificates may earn more. Pay also changes by employer and location; night, weekend, or emergency work can mean longer hours or extra shift pay.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a cable line installer do?
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
What's a typical day like?
They travel to customer sites and poles, then climb from a bucket truck or work in trenches to string, splice, and test phone, cable, or fiber lines. Using test gear, they find faults and reconnect service.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school or a GED, then apply for an entry-level job or apprenticeship; many programs require you to be 18. Apprentices learn in class and on the job; heavy-truck drivers need a commercial license.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Telecom cables usually carry low voltage, but line installers often work near high-voltage power lines.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- blsmon1.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/print/line-installers-an
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9052.00
- www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2018/article/workplace-hazards-facing-line-installers-and-r
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes499052.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY