Telecommunications Engineering Specialists in California
Thinking about a career as a Telecommunications Engineering Specialists in California? Here’s what you need to know. Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software. Excludes “Information Security Analysts” (15-1212), “Computer Network Support Specialists” (15-1231), and “Network and Computer Systems Administrators” (15-1244).
What do Telecommunications Engineering Specialists Make in California?
The telecommunications engineering specialists working in California, the median annual wage is $138,350 per year (or roughly $66.52/hour).Annual wages span from $84,050 at the 10th percentile to $216,310 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| 25th percentile | $109,730 | $52.75 |
| Median (50th) | $138,350 | $66.52 |
| 75th percentile | $175,430 | $84.34 |
| 90th percentile | $216,310 | $103.99 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California compared to the national average — is 0.95.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, telecommunications engineering specialists earn a median of $117,478 per year ($56.48/hour), above the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 229,448 telecommunications engineering specialists nationwide. In California alone, about 19,800 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,690 telecommunications engineering specialists.
Top California Metros for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
These are the California metros with the most telecommunications engineering specialists in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,340 | $155,480 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,520 | $137,910 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,950 | $174,120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,260 | $131,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 760 | $132,370 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 580 | $112,000 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 240 | $129,250 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 160 | $117,710 |
| Fresno, CA | 150 | $97,760 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 130 | $112,640 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 130 | $98,570 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 90 | $98,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 80 | $118,600 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 70 | $84,970 |
| Modesto, CA | 60 | $95,010 |
| Vallejo, CA | 60 | $99,960 |
| Salinas, CA | 50 | $101,740 |
| Napa, CA | 30 | $116,070 |
Top States for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists Employment
These states have the highest employment of telecommunications engineering specialists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 19,800 |
| Texas | 16,160 |
| Colorado | 12,720 |
| Virginia | 9,340 |
| New York | 9,180 |
| Florida | 8,690 |
| North Carolina | 7,440 |
| Illinois | 6,450 |
| New Jersey | 6,440 |
| Georgia | 5,980 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,470 |
| Ohio | 5,350 |
| Massachusetts | 5,340 |
| Maryland | 5,320 |
| Washington | 4,450 |
| Arizona | 4,340 |
| Tennessee | 4,320 |
| Alabama | 3,610 |
| Michigan | 3,040 |
| Missouri | 2,650 |
Highest-Paying States for Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
The highest-paying states for telecommunications engineering specialists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $155,890 |
| South Dakota | $149,300 |
| Virginia | $148,080 |
| New Jersey | $147,650 |
| Maryland | $143,260 |
| District of Columbia | $140,050 |
| California | $138,350 |
| Massachusetts | $136,930 |
| New York | $136,230 |
| Colorado | $134,680 |
Skills
Key telecommunications engineering specialists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for telecommunications engineering specialists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
- Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.
- Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
- Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
- Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.
- Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
- Inspect sites to determine physical configuration, such as device locations and conduit pathways.
- Document procedures for hardware and software installation and use.
- Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems.
- Instruct in use of voice, video, and data communications systems.
- Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Scheduling Work and Activities
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Apache Kafka, Autodesk AutoCAD, Linux In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services — 7 programs across 4 majors
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Related Careers
Related occupations to telecommunications engineering specialists include:
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
Also Known As
Communications Analyst, Communications Engineer, Communications Network Engineer, Communications Systems Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Engineer, Field Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, Messaging Engineer, Multimedia Telecommunications Systems Integrator, Network Engineer, Outside Plant Engineer (OSP Engineer), Outside Plant Planning and Engineering Design Manager (OSP Planning and Engineering Design Manager), Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Telecommunication Design Analyst (Telecom Design Analyst).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 15-1241.01
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