Telecommunications Technician

A telecommunications technician installs, maintains, and repairs telecommunications infrastructure and customer equipment in Australian premises and network environments. They diagnose faults in voice, data, and broadband systems, work with cabling, network devices, and test equipment, and comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulations and workplace safety standards. The role typically involves field work at customer sites, exchanges, or network hubs, as well as bench testing and documentation of technical work.

Install and terminate copper and fibre optic cabling to Australian Building Standards and ACMA specifications. Configure and test Network Termination Units (NTUs) and Customer Access Terminals (CATs) for voice and data services. Perform fault diagnosis on broadband, telephone, and data connections using multimeters, cable testers, and VDSL test equipment. Splice and terminate fibre optic cable using fusion splicers and mechanical connectors, and verify loss measurements with optical power meters. Commission telecommunications equipment including PABX systems, modems, routers, and handsets on customer premises. Conduct preventive maintenance on in-service telecommunications infrastructure including cleaning, tightening connections, and replacing degraded components. Troubleshoot and rectify line faults affecting phone and internet services, including identifying issues in local network termination areas. Complete job cards and technical reports documenting work performed, parts used, and test results for customer and employer records.

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, in confined spaces, and outdoors in all weather. The job is physically demanding with repetitive cable work that can strain your hands and back. Pay growth is capped unless you move into management or specialised areas. Automation is slowly reducing routine maintenance roles, and NBN rollout means less copper work. Shift work and on-call availability are common.

The NBN rollout concentrated work in regional areas from 2015-2023, but that wave is ending. Telcos, electrical contractors, and NBN Co are the main employers. Some regional and remote work exists, but permanent positions cluster around cities. Remote work is not an option in this role.

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.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Digital Literacycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Communication
• Team Collaboration
• 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 Technician workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026