Communication Infrastructure Maintainer
Key facts
Communication infrastructure maintainers install, repair, run and maintain infrastructure for communication systems.
Communication infrastructure maintainers are responsible for the upkeep and functionality of the physical structures and equipment that enable communication systems. This can involve working outdoors in various weather conditions, as well as in controlled environments like data centers. Daily tasks require a blend of technical expertise, diagnostic skills, and a meticulous approach to ensure consistent performance and minimize downtime. You’ll be troubleshooting issues, performing preventative maintenance, and implementing upgrades to keep pace with evolving technology.
- • Installing and configuring communication equipment, such as antennas, cables, and routers.
- • Diagnosing and repairing faults in communication networks, identifying root causes and implementing effective solutions.
- • Performing routine maintenance and inspections to prevent equipment failure and ensure optimal performance.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Electrical and electronic trades workers — 42 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $74,330 2025-05 | −3.1% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +19.2% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £34,073 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.
Future Outlook for communication infrastructure maintainer
The outlook for communication infrastructure maintainer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could communication infrastructure maintainer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
Most tasks here are AI-assistable rather than purely human-led.
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- assess telecommunication infrastructure issues
- monitor communication channels' performance
- operate digging construction equipment
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Construction
A typical day as a communication infrastructure maintainer
09 09:00 · Morning assess telecommunication infrastructure issues
10 10:30 · Mid-morning install low voltage wiring
12 12:00 · Midday install electronic communication equipment
14 14:00 · Afternoon monitor communication channels' performance
15 15:30 · Late afternoon operate digging construction equipment
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
-
install electronic communication equipment
Set up and deploy digital and analogue electronic communications. Understand electronic diagrams and equipment specifications.
-
install low voltage wiring
Plan, deploy, troubleshoot and test low voltage wiring.
-
assess telecommunication infrastructure issues
Evaluate problems in telecommunication infrastructure by using specialised methods, applications and tools to find weaknesses and stress points in a network and elements of the infrastructure regarding aspects such as electronics, power supply and temperature.
-
operate digging construction equipment
Operate and use construction equipment, such as digger derricks, backhoes, track hoes, front-end loaders, trenchers, or cable ploughs.
-
monitor communication channels' performance
Search for possible faults. Perform visual checks. Analyse system indicators and use diagnostic devices.
concepts of telecommunications
The telecommunication principles, theories, models, equipment and processes such as transfer rate, bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio, bit error ratio and C/N ratio, as well as the effect of the qualities of the transmission path on the operation and quality of telecommunications.
ICT communications protocols
The system of rules which allow the exchange of information between computers or other devices via computer networks.
ICT network cable limitations
The limitations, such as distance limitations and resistance of types of cables, such as fibre cable, coax cable and ethernet cable which are used for realising networks.
ICT network routing
The processes and techniques for choosing the best paths within an ICT network through which a packet can travel.
ICT network security risks
The security risk factors, such as hardware and software components, devices, interfaces and policies in ICT networks, risk assessment techniques that can be applied to assess the severity and the consequences of security threats and contingency plans for each security risk factor.
procurement of ICT network equipment
The products available from network equipment providers and methods for selecting and procuring the equipment.
telecommunication trunking
The method of providing network access to many clients while keeping smaller number of connection components by grouping and sharing connection circuits and frequencies.
Cisco
The products available from the network equipment provider Cisco and methods for selecting and procuring the equipment.
telecom regulations
Code of rules to protect telecommunication consumers, ensuring high standards of communication services such as equivalent and affordable access, connectivity, transparency of contracts or security against malware. The regulation covers web-based and traditional services.
- ICT networking hardware
Path to become a communication infrastructure maintainer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Upper secondary education
157 programmes in 25 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 54 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Bachelor of Networking and Telecommunications
Polytechnic Institute Australia Pty Ltd · Australia
South Africa
Internet and Network Technologies (Distance Education)
Türkiye
South Africa
These are 6 of 211.
Sources
- 1. Source: Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Education), CRICOS, data.gov.au, CC BY 2.5 AU. Data as at 01/09/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 3. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 4. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
- 5. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does communication infrastructure maintainer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of training or qualifications are typically needed to become a communication infrastructure maintainer?
Is this role primarily office-based or does it involve a lot of fieldwork?
Can I work as a self-employed communication infrastructure maintainer?
How much does Communication Infrastructure Maintainer pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data