Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
$134,050 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 82%
- 8%
- 10%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 11%. Today's estimate: 17%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 26 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 20% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Document technical specifications and operating standards for telecommunications equipment.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 14% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 15%Half by Jun 2027 | |
| Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to prepare or evaluate network diagrams, floor plans, or site configurations for existing facilities, renovations, or new systems.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 10% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.7 work days | 21%Half by May 2027 | |
| Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 6% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.1 work days3.3 h to 1.7 work weeks | 1%Half by Sep 2028 | |
| Test and evaluate hardware and software to determine efficiency, reliability, or compatibility with existing systems.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 3.1 work days | 7%Half by Nov 2027 | |
| Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 6.7 h | 43%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Estimate costs for system or component implementation and operation.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Supervise maintenance of telecommunications equipment.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Document procedures for hardware and software installation and use.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 50 min13 min to 3.3 h | 69%Half by now | |
| Monitor and analyze system performance, such as network traffic, security, and capacity.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.3 h25 min to 4.2 h | 69%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Computer Network Architects14% now, 79% by 2028
- Computer Network Support Specialists52% now, 77% by 2028
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers11% now, 14% by 2028
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects16% now, 64% by 2028
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators21% now, 79% by 2028
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer5% now, 52% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.