How to Become a Tower Technician in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 780 tower technicians earning a median $61,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers”). Most tower technicians train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Tower Technician Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
169.7$7,650$53,28959%Yes*437 mi
266.6$4,926 in-state / $7,169 out-of-state$49,70556%Yes*339 mi
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361.0$5,785$57,66542%Yes*429 mi
453.4$4,415 in-state / $14,301 out-of-state$48,59458%—114 mi
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552.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*150 mi
651.3$3,980 in-state / $7,190 out-of-state$44,75434%Yes*541 mi
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750.0$5,790 in-state / $6,690 out-of-state$51,81739%Yes*247 mi
849.1$6,018 in-state / $14,424 out-of-state$49,18731%Yes*494 mi
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948.1$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,46947%Yes*424 mi
1047.6$3,249 in-state / $7,249 out-of-state$49,69831%Yes*379 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois employs approximately 780 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category (SOC 49-2021), with a median annual wage of $61,110 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.79x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. 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 Illinois, 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.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (Illinois): $61,110 per year (based on related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Tower Technician in Illinois

How to become a Tower Technician in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for tower technicians in Illinois.

How long does it take? tower technician training length in Illinois varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do tower technicians earn in Illinois? 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 Illinois is $61,110, with entry-level wages around $48,540 and experienced workers earning $77,630 or more 1.

How to Become a Tower Technician in Illinois

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved tower technician program in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to tower technicians in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Tower Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Tower Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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 ( OES data), radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis90$54,070$60,370$43,370$84,470
Chicago-Naperville-ElginN/A$61,110$61,570$48,880$76,480

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tower technicians in Illinois? Illinois employs approximately 780 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 Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do tower technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tower technicians in Illinois is $61,110 (based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category), which is $3,080 below the national median of $64,190 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

Top local programs

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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

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)