How to Become a Tower Technician

What do Tower Technicians do?

A Tower Technician would typically need to:

• Maintain or repair existing tower equipment, participate in a new tower building project, decommission an existing tower, or perform service calls.
• Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications required; interpret blueprints, specifications, and diagrams to inform installation, development, or operating operations.
• Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or other auxiliary equipment used to send and receive radio waves; check the tower to see if any structural repairs are required.
• Bolt in equipment with hand or power tools; verify completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are correctly fastened, suitable support is in place, and adequate weatherproofing has been installed.
• Connect equipment using wires; build electrical components, subsystems, and systems
• Using sweep testing equipment or software, test the operation of tower gearbox components.
• Use utility vehicles and equipment trailers to transport equipment to job locations; operate cranes, hoists, and other moving/lifting equipment.

Standard Work Environment

Tower technicians operate at tremendous heights outdoors in all types of weather. The dress code would be comfortable, clean, and appropriate.

Work Schedule

Workdays can start early and conclude late, and they can last up to 10 hours on some days.

Some Tower Technicians will be away from home for weeks at a time as they move between several work sites.

Employers

Tower is employed by the electric power business. Technicians and employment can be found in power firms that are involved in any or all of the following activities: generation, transmission, distribution, and retailing.

Tower Technicians are generally employed by:

• The Electric Power Industry
• Utilities
• Government Services
• Educational Services
• Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
• Other Telecommunications
• Federal Executive Branch

Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional groups and organisations are an invaluable resource for people seeking professional development or seeking to interact with other professionals in their industry or employment. Membership in one or more of these organisations looks great on your resume and helps to strengthen your credentials and qualifications as a Tower Technician.

Workplace Challenges

• Expectations of cell phone users that cell towers keep working 24/7
• Work at tower heights at odd hours to address outages quickly
• Year-round work out in the open, at altitudes ranging from 200 to 500 feet above the ground, and facing all kinds of dangerous weather conditions that cause dehydration or give rise to strong winds, slippery surfaces, and more
• Climbing becomes more challenging with the weight of tools and replacement equipment, with strength and energy still needed to make it safely back to the ground after completing the task

Suggested Work Experience

Professional groups and organisations are an invaluable resource for people seeking professional development or seeking to interact with other professionals in their industry or employment. Membership in one or more of these organisations looks great on your resume and helps to strengthen your credentials and qualifications as a Tower Technician.

Companies and recruiters value military experience because it demonstrates your commitment, capacity to work hard, teamwork, and leadership abilities. Some organisations want new hires with no prior experience so that they can be instructed especially on how that company prefers various duties to be completed.

Recommended Qualifications

The sole academic requirement for a Tower Technician is a high school diploma, yet businesses actively seek proper equipment maintenance and repair. The majority of employment in this zone requires vocational school training, related on-the-job experience, or an associate degree.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Obtaining qualifications prior to being employed as a Tower Technician is an important first step because it demonstrates ambition and commitment to working in this sector.

Knowing how to utilise your safety equipment correctly and what to do in an emergency might mean the difference between life and death, or at the very least prevent injuries and potential citations for the firm. Employers provide training and are usually compelled to re-train you even if you already know the ropes.

Projected Career Map

There is minimal room for advancement in this industry, although there is a significant compensation disparity between freshly hired and veteran Tower Technicians. Three to five years of experience quickly raises income.

Because of the dangerous nature of the job, many Tower Technicians swiftly advance to positions as Trainers, Supervisors, or Managers. A Tower Foreman is in charge of training and supervising a team of Technicians.

Job Prospects

Candidates with past work experience and appropriate certification have the best job prospects.

Beneficial Professional Development

Employers must give ongoing training in safety and emergency procedures to their Tower Technicians.

Conclusion of Tower Technician

It’s sheer daredevilry combined with out-of-this-world wisdom: “It’s not a job you take because you don’t have any other options or want to make some money until something better comes along.” Tower Technicians are among those unsung heroes who spend long hours in lonely, unglamorous, and unpublicized vocations. Thank a Tower Technician the next time you use your mobile device for keeping you connected one tower at a time…all the time….every time!

Advice from the Wise

Get educated! Prepare a climbing strategy, use appropriate climbing equipment, maintain equipment, dress for the weather, pay attention to signage, wear an alarm, and hydrate.

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