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

"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 Florida?"

"In Florida, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Florida Office of 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 Florida

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), tower technicians in Florida earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,140 (using the related \"Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers\" BLS category, since tower technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Florida is roughly 0.73 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do tower technicians need a license in Florida?"

"Yes. Florida requires state-level licensing or registration for tower technicians, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Florida currently employs approximately 520 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

Florida radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn a median annual wage of $60,140 ($28.91/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 520 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.3% below the national median of $63,520 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,140 ($28.91/hr)
25th percentile: $54,060 per year
75th percentile: $78,080 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $100,190 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,830 per year
Workers employed in Florida: 520
Versus national median: -5.3% below the U.S. median of $63,520
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.73 - this occupation is less concentrated in Florida 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, Florida employs approximately 520 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category (SOC 49-2021), with a median annual wage of $60,140 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 Florida, 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 Florida

How do I become a tower technician in Florida? Florida requires credentials such as Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (Air Traffic Control Tower Oper), Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (Air Traffic Control Tower Oper). The licensing authority is the Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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.

Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida has licensing or registration requirements for tower technicians. The Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do tower technicians earn in Florida? 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 Florida is $60,140, with entry-level wages around $42,830 and experienced workers earning $100,190 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification
Median wage (Florida): $60,140 per year (based on related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category) ¹

Tower Technician License Requirements in Florida

The Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification oversees tower technician licensing in Florida ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (Air Traffic Control Tower Oper)	14 CFR 65.31-65.50: No person may act as an air traffic control tower operator at an air traffic control tower in connection with civil aircraft unless he or she- (a) Holds an FAA Credential with a to…
Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (Air Traffic Control Tower Oper)	14 CFR 65.31-65.50: No person may act as an air traffic control tower operator at an air traffic control tower in connection with civil aircraft unless he or she- (a) Holds an FAA Credential with a to…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Tower Technician Wages by Metro Area in Florida

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 Florida vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	210	$75,780	$74,780	$51,880	$107,590
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	80	$58,760	$60,570	$42,830	$84,180
Jacksonville	30	$58,660	$61,500	$38,000	$76,060

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 Florida

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	210	$75,780
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	80	$58,760
Jacksonville	30	$58,660

Explore tower technician programs in Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

Explore More Trades in Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tower technicians in Florida? Florida employs approximately 520 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.

Can I work as a tower technician in Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do tower technicians earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tower technicians in Florida is $60,140 (based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category), which is $4,050 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Federal Aviation Administration - Regulation and Certification - Licensing Information: https://www.faa.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)