Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist

A telecommunications technical officer installs, maintains, and troubleshoots telecommunications infrastructure and customer equipment in Australian networks. They work on fixed-line systems, mobile networks, and data transmission equipment, diagnosing faults and performing repairs in exchange, carrier, and customer premises environments. The role requires knowledge of network protocols, cabling standards, and safety regulations governing electrical and communications systems.

Install and configure telecommunications equipment including PBX systems, routers, switches, and handset terminals at customer premises and exchange locations. Test telecommunications circuits and connections using multimeters, line analysers, and network diagnostic tools to identify faults and performance issues. Troubleshoot network connectivity problems by tracing cables, testing signal levels, and isolating faulty components in exchange and field environments. Terminate and splice fibre optic and copper cabling to industry cabling standards and ACMA cabling rules, and verify correct colour-coding and signal transmission. Perform preventive maintenance on telecommunications equipment including cleaning, recalibration, and replacement of worn components. Commission new telecommunications services by configuring network access, testing dial tone and voice quality, and documenting installation parameters. Respond to faults reported through ticketing systems, prioritise emergency outages affecting business or emergency services, and restore service within agreed timeframes. Comply with electrical safety requirements including testing equipment earth continuity and insulation resistance before installation.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). 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.

The telecom industry has been shedding technical roles for years as networks become more automated and carriers consolidate. You'll need to complete a diploma or advanced diploma first, then compete for fewer field positions. Once in, you face on-call rosters for network outages (including nights and weekends), and pay plateaus quickly without moving into management or specialisation. Cloud migration is eating demand for traditional exchange work.

Regional and rural areas need technicians for infrastructure maintenance and customer premises work, but those roles are thinner on the ground. NBN and fixed-line rollout work has been patchy. Remote work is rare; most jobs require site visits to exchanges, poles, pits, or customer locations.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3132, 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.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Digital Literacycore
• Direct inward dialingcore
• Electromagnetismcore
• Electronics principlescore
• ICT communications protocolscore
• ICT system user requirementscore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Microwave principlescore
• Organisational policiescore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Telecom regulationscore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Apply system organisational policies
• Calibrate electronic instruments
• Common Lisp
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Erlang
• Haskell
• Install monitors for process control
• Lisp
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Quality assurance methodologies
• Record Management
• Research and Analysis
• Risk Identification
• Ruby (computer programming)
• SAS language
• Stakeholder Communication
• Upgrade firmware
• Visual Basic
• Workload Self-Management

• 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.

What Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026