"How long does it take to become a tower technician in California?"

"Most paths into the tower technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for tower technicians in California?"

"In California, registered apprenticeships are administered through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Tower Technician in California

Q: "How much do tower technicians earn in California?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), tower technicians in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,840 (using the related \"Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers\" BLS category, since tower technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.79 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for tower technicians in California?"

"California currently employs approximately 1,030 workers in the related \"Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn a median annual wage of $62,840 ($30.21/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,030 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.1% below the national median of $63,520 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,840 ($30.21/hr)
25th percentile: $57,290 per year
75th percentile: $79,850 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $96,600 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,650 per year
Workers employed in California: 1,030
Versus national median: -1.1% below the U.S. median of $63,520
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California employs approximately 1,030 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category (SOC 49-2021), with a median annual wage of $62,840 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 8.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a tower technician in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track tower technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-2021). Actual tower technician earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Tower Technician in California

How do I become a tower technician in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for tower technicians in California.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do tower technicians earn in California? The BLS does not track tower technician wages separately. Based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category, the median annual wage in California is $62,840, with entry-level wages around $48,650 and experienced workers earning $96,600 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (California): $62,840 per year (based on related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category) ¹

Tower Technician Wages by Metro Area in California

Note: The BLS does not track tower technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-2021).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	230	$63,540	$73,590	$50,350	$105,240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	200	$58,360	$61,200	$45,640	$83,280
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	120	$60,910	$69,870	$49,800	$96,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	70	$70,880	$77,530	$57,370	$100,080
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	50	$75,330	$79,720	$58,710	$105,470
Vallejo	50	$62,890	$68,120	$52,030	$82,920

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Tower technicians in California

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest tower technician employment within California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	230	$63,540
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	200	$58,360
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	120	$60,910
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	70	$70,880
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	50	$75,330

Explore tower technician programs in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Sacramento.

Explore More Trades in California

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tower technicians in California? California employs approximately 1,030 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 8.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in California.

How much do tower technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tower technicians in California is $62,840 (based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category), which is $1,350 below the national median of $64,190 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)