Telecommunications Engineer: Job Info & Career Requirements

Telecommunications engineers are electrical and electronics experts who may specialize in a certain type of technology, such as telephone networks or broadband telecommunications. Learn about education and training requirements, career prospects and salaries for telecommunications engineers.

View 5 Popular Schools

Career Definition

Telecommunications engineers design and install equipment used for transmitting wired phone, cellular, cable and broadband data. Their day-to-day responsibilities can include working with copper or fiber optic cabling, complex networks and switching systems. Telecommunications engineers may be employed by wired and wireless telecommunications companies, engineering consulting firms or government agencies.

How to Become a Telecommunications Engineer

Required Education

Telecommunications engineers typically have bachelor's degrees in electrical or electronics engineering. Programs that have been approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) may be especially useful. New hires work under the supervision of senior-level professionals before becoming lead engineers with their own projects. Students who have earned a Professional Engineer (PE) credential may enjoy the advantage in the job market. The Society for Cable Telecommunications Engineers recommends that telecommunications engineers pursue continuing education courses, in order to advance their careers and keep current with industry trends (www.scte.org).

Skills Required

Telecommunications engineers are analytical, creative and methodical problem solvers with excellent concentration and math skills. As members of manufacturing teams, they are also collaborative professionals and good speakers with interpersonal intelligence and the ability to work well with others.

Career and Salary Outlook

O*Net Online, a resource provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, reports that employment of telecommunication engineering specialists is expected to increase faster-than-average nationwide between 2012 and 2022. According to O*Net, professionals who held this title in 2012 earned median annual salaries of $91,000 (www.onetonline.org).
By comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected a 4%, or slower-than-average, growth in jobs nationwide for electrical and electronics engineers in general during the same 10-year period. As of May 2012, approximately 18% of electrical and electronics engineers worked in the telecommunications industry and earned corresponding salaries of $87,920 and $91,820 (www.bls.gov).

Alternate Career Options

Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace engineers design and test prototypes for a variety of aircraft, missiles, satellites and spacecraft, including those associated with national defense. To qualify for a position, candidates must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or similar field of study. Those working on national defense projects will need security clearances. The BLS reports that the number of openings for aerospace engineers are expected to increase by just 7%, or slower than average, from 2012-2022. Median annual salaries for aerospace engineers were $103,720 (www.bls.gov).

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Architectural and engineering managers, who earned median annual salaries of $124,870 in May 2012, will also see a slower-than-average growth in employment through 2022. In general, their responsibilities include budgeting, researching and developing new products, as well as hiring and verifying the accuracy and credibility of lower-level staff work. Aspiring managers usually complete a specialized bachelor's or professional degree program in engineering or architecture, as well as five years of work experience. Some employers may also pay for graduate programs that lead to a Master of Business Administration or Master of Engineering Management (www.bls.gov).