Mid-Level

Network Cable Installer

The technician who installs and terminates network cable — running structured cabling through walls, ceilings, and risers, terminating jacks and patch panels, and testing cable performance. Half installer, half low-voltage technical professional.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
I
E
S
A
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Network Cable Installers
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Network Cable Installer

Most days tend to involve a steady rotation through job sites or building floors — pulling cable, installing jacks and patch panels, terminating connections, labeling, and testing. You'll often spend part of the time on physical work at heights or in tight spaces, and part on the documentation and testing fabric that structured cabling requires.

The harder part is often the physical demand of running cable in commercial buildings combined with the technical precision termination requires — a poorly terminated jack creates problems that show up only after the customer is using the network. You'll typically coordinate with electricians, general contractors, and IT teams through projects.

People who tend to thrive here are physically capable, comfortable on ladders and in ceilings, and meticulous about termination and labeling. The trade-off is the physical demand and travel to job sites and the cumulative wear of the work. If you find satisfaction in building the physical infrastructure that networks actually run on, the role can be a steady, hands-on technical career.

SupportAbove avg
IndependenceModerate
RelationshipsModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Network Cable Installers (SOC 49-2022.00, 49-9052.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Network Cable Installer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$42K–$105K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
252K
U.S. Employment
-3.65%
10yr Growth
22K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

TroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingEquipment MaintenanceActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMonitoringComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
49-2022.0049-9052.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.