How much do telecom line installers make in Tennessee in 2026?

Telecom line installers in Tennessee earn a median of $63,510 a year, which works out to roughly $30.53 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half the installers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a lower-demand area, the 25th percentile sits at $49,720 a year, or about $23.90 an hour. Workers in the top quarter of earners — senior technicians, those with specialized certifications, or those in higher-cost metro areas — land at $73,950 a year, around $35.55 an hour. All figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025.

That $24,230 spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is not small. It tells you that experience, employer type, and geography move the needle significantly in this trade. A newer installer pulling fiber for a subcontractor in a rural county is going to sit closer to that $23.90 floor. A journeyman with several years in the field working for a major carrier or a utility contractor in Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville has a real shot at clearing $35 an hour.

The work itself drives that range. Telecom line installers set up and maintain telephone, cable, and fiber-optic lines — both aerial and underground. The job involves climbing poles, working in bucket trucks, pulling and splicing cable, and troubleshooting signal and connectivity issues. Underground work, which requires operating trenching equipment and working in confined spaces, often commands higher pay than aerial work. Fiber-optic splicing is a specific skill that many employers pay a premium for, so if you don't have it, it's worth pursuing.

Tennessee's ongoing broadband expansion — particularly in rural counties that have historically had limited connectivity — is generating steady demand for installation crews. State and federal funding programs have pushed carriers and municipalities to accelerate infrastructure buildouts, which keeps job pipelines active across the state, not just in the major metros.

No union scale data is currently available for this trade in Tennessee. That means most workers here are employed under individual employer pay scales or regional contractor agreements. If you're evaluating a job offer, use the BLS ranges above as your benchmark. An offer below $23.90 an hour for a fully trained installer is below the bottom quarter of the market. Anything above $30.53 means you're beating the median. Pushing toward $35.55 an hour and above is achievable with proven fiber experience or supervisory responsibilities.

Overtime is common in this trade, especially during storm restoration, new network launches, or when a contractor is racing to hit a construction deadline. At the median base rate of $30.53 an hour, a single 10-hour overtime day adds roughly $45.80 in premium pay (the half-time portion) on top of regular wages. Workers who regularly pick up overtime can push their annual take-home well past what the straight-time figures show.

Benefits packages vary by employer. Large carriers typically offer health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. Smaller subcontractors may offer wages toward the higher end of the range but leaner benefits. Factor that in when comparing offers — an extra dollar an hour from a subcontractor without health coverage can easily be offset by out-of-pocket insurance costs.

If you're looking to move up the pay scale in this trade, the clearest paths are fiber-optic certification (the ETA or FOA credentials are widely recognized), getting licensed or experienced in directional boring and underground placement, and moving into lead or foreman roles where you're overseeing a crew. Foreman-level pay in telecom construction can push comfortably past the 75th percentile figures shown here.