What does the cable technician do? Responsibilities and duties?

Cable technicians install, repair and service household cables for Internet and TV services. The responsibilities of a cable technician include the installation of power lines that provide access to homes and businesses, the routing of the ground wire, and the configuration of associated equipment for customers.

 

Responsibilities and duties of the cable technician

·         Take Care of cable systems through fitting, reparation, programming and informing of the cable structure.
·         Carry out larger and smaller preventative maintenance and repair work and fix faults in the cabling system.
·         Identify, track and remove the unneeded cable.
·         Test each newly installed or routed cable according to the procedures specified.
·         Securely hold and wrap the cable while maintaining the safety standard.
·         Deepening of knowledge of national building codes and standards.
·         Record time and materials for daily work.
·         Return all equipment and supplies to the respective locations after the work is completed.
·         Complete the required documentation, including installation checklists, time sheets, service orders, vehicle inspection report and various other protocols.
·         Understand, respect and promote environmental, health and safety policies.
·         Assist staff with routine installation and maintenance of structured cabling systems.
·         Manage mountaineering and working on pillars at high altitude and in tight spaces.
·         Work outdoors and in bad weather.
·         24-hour on-call service for emergency repairs.
·         Operate vehicles, hand tools, power tools, ladders, leak detectors and test equipment.

Education required

Most cable service providers provide training for new employees who have a high school diploma. However, some job seekers participate in training programs offered by technical colleges and community colleges. Programs can last up to five years, depending on the depth and breadth of the material and include topics such as basic electrical engineering, telecommunications, physics and engineering.

Completion of apprenticeship programs is a common practice in this area, according to the US Department of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition, cable technicians can be voluntarily certified by associations such as Fiber Optics.

Professional information about cable technicians

Cable technicians are responsible for installing, upholding and repairing cable television and Internet services in residential areas. You can use power lines for cable access to multiple houses or work with stubs that provide access to only one house. Advanced cable technicians often work on the trunk of an entire service area. The service functions for cable technicians include the inspection of cable lines, the laying of cables, the repair of columns and towers as well as the driving of work vehicles to workplaces.

Employment skills required

Cable technicians must have a high level of craftsmanship and a sound knowledge of mathematics and science. They should also be decent communicators and be able to solve problems independently. On the Field Engineering website, you will find some jobs as a cable technician jobs near me.

Pay

The average annual salary of a network cable technician in the US is $ 44,601. According to payscale.com, anyone with this profile earns an average of $ 20.08 per hour.

Alternative Career Opportunities

Some of the skills you need to become a cable technician will help you prepare for jobs in other areas.

Company for installation and repair of telecommunications lines

This category includes several types of technicians who usually install and maintain technical equipment for many customers. This career usually requires that workers have some form of post-secondary education. Often, however, training is offered at the workplace. According to BLS, the number of jobs should increase by 1% between 2016 and 2026. In 2017, the average annual income of telecommunications installers and repairers was 55,060 USD.

Electronic technician

Among other things, electrical and electronic engineers design and test electronic systems and components and suggest improvements. The BLS notes that these workers should have a bachelor's degree in a related field. According to BLS, the average salary of these workers was $ 102,180 in 2017. For electronic engineers, a slow increase in employment was estimated at 4% from 2016 to 2026.