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

The median pay for a telecom line installer in Texas is $75,740 a year, or roughly $36.41 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of installers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a slower market, the 25th percentile sits at $58,930 a year ($28.33/hr). Experienced hands and those in high-demand metros can push into the 75th percentile at $96,050 a year ($46.18/hr). All figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

That $37,120 spread between the 25th and 75th percentile tells you something important: this is a trade where experience, certifications, and location make a real difference to your paycheck. A few years on the job and the right ticket can move you from the low end of that range to the high end — a jump of roughly $18 an hour.

Texas is a large state with significant variation by region. The major metros — Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin — tend to push wages toward the upper half of the range because of dense infrastructure buildout, fiber expansion projects, and telecom company headquarters that generate steady contract work. Smaller markets and rural areas often pay closer to the 25th percentile, though rural broadband expansion projects funded by federal programs have been pulling more competitive wages into those areas as well.

The work itself shapes pay. Installers who handle aerial line work — climbing poles, working bucket trucks — typically earn more than those doing only underground or inside plant work. Splicing fiber, terminating drops, and working on active carrier networks all carry premium rates compared to basic copper drop work. Overtime is common in this trade, especially during network rollouts, storm restoration, and right-of-way clearing seasons. A lot of Texas line installers regularly log 50-plus-hour weeks, which adds meaningfully to annual take-home pay beyond the base salary figures shown here.

Certifications matter in telecom more than in some other trades. A Fiber Optic Association (FOA) credential, an OSHA 10 or 30 card, or manufacturer-specific training from companies like Corning or CommScope can open doors to contractor work that pays above the median. Some larger telecom employers offer tool allowances, per diem for travel, and vehicle use — compensation that doesn't show up in BLS wage data but adds real value.

No union scale was available for this trade and state at the time of publication. Wages listed here reflect the overall Texas workforce for this occupation, covering both union and non-union employment.

Entry-level installers in Texas often start as helpers or ground crew, working toward their own ticket over one to three years. Apprenticeship programs through telecom contractors and community college workforce programs exist across the state, particularly in the DFW and Houston corridors. Once you have a full complement of skills — aerial, underground, fiber splicing, and customer-end termination — you're in a stronger position to negotiate toward the 75th percentile or to move into a lead installer or foreman role, which typically pays above the ranges shown here.

The bottom line: a mid-career telecom line installer in Texas earns around $75,740 a year. Get your fiber certifications, rack up aerial experience, and work the high-demand metro markets, and $96,000-plus is a realistic target.