# Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

> Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/telecommunications-engineering-specialists
- SOC code: 15-1241.01
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $134,050 (10th percentile $79,900, 90th percentile $202,680)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.7%
- Openings a year: 9,600
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Computer network architects".

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 59 |
| Investigative (I) | 55 |
| Artistic (A) | 15 |
| Social (S) | 22 |
| Enterprising (E) | 35 |
| Conventional (C) | 66 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 76/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 75/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 73/100)
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Writing, Active Learning, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Speaking

## Knowledge

Telecommunications, Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Design, Customer and Personal Service, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Building and Construction, Administration and Management

## Also called

Communications Analyst, Communications Engineer, Communications Infrastructure Engineer, Communications Network Engineer, Communications Systems Engineer, Communications Systems Technician (Communications Systems Tech), Electrical Design Engineer, Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, Multimedia Telecommunications Systems Integrator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1109) (CIP 1109, 546 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1409) (CIP 1409, 417 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1105) (CIP 1105, 124 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Computer Engineering | $137,925 | $228,705 | $17,731 |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $118,344 | $196,467 | $7,625 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Computer Engineering | not reported | $194,365 | not reported |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $180,081 | $188,157 | $15,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $137,154 | $187,437 | $19,870 |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $156,465 | $182,443 | $8,375 |
| [Wellesley College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellesley-college-3189) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $105,692 | $177,213 | $6,500 |

## Related careers

- [Computer Network Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-architects): $134,050 median pay
- [Computer Network Support Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-support-specialists): $76,220 median pay
- [Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/telecommunications-equipment-installers-and-repairers-except-line-installers): $63,890 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Network and Computer Systems Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators): $99,130 median pay
- [Electronics Engineers, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electronics-engineers-except-computer): $130,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.