Cabler (Data and Telecommunications)

A Cabler installs, terminates, and tests copper and fibre optic cabling systems in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings across Australia. They work to Australian Standards (AS/NZS) and building codes, routing cables through conduit and cable trays, terminating connectors at patch panels and wall outlets, and verifying signal integrity using diagnostic equipment. They operate independently or as part of installation teams, often coordinating with electricians, network technicians, and site supervisors.

Measure and route copper twisted-pair and fibre optic cables through walls, conduits, cable trays, and plenums according to design drawings and AS/NZS 3080 standards. Terminate Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, and Cat7 cables using crimpers, punch-down tools, and RJ45 connectors at patch panels, wall plates, and equipment racks. Splice and terminate single-mode and multi-mode fibre optic cables using fusion splicers, mechanical splitters, and LC/SC/ST connectors. Test completed cabling runs using cable testers (TDR, OTDR, and certification tools) to verify continuity, impedance, attenuation, and compliance with performance standards. Install and secure cable management systems including conduit, trunking, cable trays, D-rings, and grommets to protect cabling from damage and comply with fire safety regulations. Label and document all cable runs, termination points, and circuit identification in accordance with site specifications and AS/NZS naming conventions. Liaise with electricians and site supervisors to coordinate cable routes around electrical installations and ensure separation from high-voltage cabling as per electrical safety standards. Comply with workplace health and safety requirements including working at heights, using fall arrest systems, and hazard identification on construction sites.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need to get comfortable working at heights on scaffolding and ladders, often in confined spaces like roof cavities and under floors. The physical repetition of crimping connectors and splicing fibre can cause wrist and hand fatigue over time. Pay plateaus once you're qualified: there's limited progression to management unless you move into supervision or start your own business.

Cabling work concentrates in Australian capital cities and major regional centres where building construction and IT infrastructure projects are active. Regional areas get jobs during major projects but work can be patchy. Most positions are on-site at construction or fit-out locations, so remote work isn't an option.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3424, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Customer Needs Assessment
• Digital Literacy
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Supplier Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026