# Will AI replace telecommunications technicians? Updated October 2026 Telecommunications technicians score 32 of 100 for AI exposure. 69% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 6% today and speed up another 25%. - **6%** AI can do it - **25%** AI helps - **69%** Needs a person Moderate exposure Lower than 59% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 39 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 25 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Perform database verifications, using computers. Routine database checks on computers suit automated verification well. | 78% AI can do it | | Maintain computer and manual records pertaining to facilities and equipment. Keeping digital equipment records is routine writing AI handles well. | 72% AI can do it | | Refer to manufacturers' manuals to obtain maintenance instructions pertaining to specific malfunctions. AI can quickly pull manual steps for a specific fault. | 65% AI helps | | Review manufacturer's instructions, manuals, technical specifications, building permits, and ordinances to determine communication equipment requirements and procedures. AI parses manuals and permit rules, a person applies them. | 60% AI helps | | Analyze test readings, computer printouts, and trouble reports to determine equipment repair needs and required repair methods. AI can sift readings and trouble reports, a tech confirms. | 55% AI helps | ## How telecommunications technicians compare All occupations (923) Installation, maintenance and repair (50) **Telecommunications technicians score 32**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 21 for installation, maintenance and repair. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $63,890 a year, May 2025 People employed 140,920 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-3.3% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Configure switch features in Cisco IOS on site - Climb poles and enter manholes to install equipment - Diagnose customer premises faults with test equipment - Mark as-built changes on AutoCAD drawings - Check network locations against GIS system records ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Cable technicians16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cable-technicians/) - [Cell tower technicians20 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cell-tower-technicians/) - [AV technicians28 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/av-technicians/) - [Transportation electronics technicians25 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/transportation-electronics-technicians/) - [Vehicle electronics technicians24 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/vehicle-electronics-technicians/) ## Questions about telecommunications technicians and AI Will telecommunications technicians be replaced by AI? Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly database verification and maintaining equipment records. Climbing poles, digging trenches and repairing equipment on site stay with people because they need a person physically at the equipment. Which tasks is AI taking over for telecommunications technicians? Database verification and equipment record keeping are the most exposed, with exposure scores of 78 and 72. AI can check records against stored data and draft the entries, so the technician's role shifts to confirming results. Pulling manual steps for a specific fault, scored 65, is also quick for AI. Which tasks stay human for telecommunications technicians? Climbing poles, digging trenches and cleaning switch contact points each score 2 or 3 on exposure, the lowest in the job. Each needs a person physically on site, often outdoors or in a manhole. Driving crew trucks also stays with a licensed driver at the wheel. How can telecommunications technicians stay valuable? Keep the physical fault work, since climbing and manhole entry score 2 on exposure. Learn Cisco IOS so you can configure switch features that AI drafts, then test them on live gear. Use test equipment readings and GIS records to confirm what AI flags in trouble reports. ## Related jobs - [Electrical maintenance technicians37 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/electrical-maintenance-technicians/) - [Computer repair technicians38 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/computer-repair-technicians/) - [Security alarm installers31 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/security-alarm-installers/) - [Electrical engineering technicians45 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/electrical-engineering-technicians/) ## Next steps for telecommunications technicians - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.