How to Become a Tower Technician in Iowa (2026)

Q: How much do tower technicians earn in Iowa?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), tower technicians in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,760 (using the related "Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers" BLS category, since tower technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.41 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 Iowa?

Iowa currently employs approximately 50 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

Iowa radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn a median annual wage of $50,760 ($24.40/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 50 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -20.1% below the national median of $63,520 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,760 ($24.40/hr)
25th percentile: $43,910 per year
75th percentile: $62,830 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $93,560 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,710 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 50
Versus national median: -20.1% below the U.S. median of $63,520
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.41 - this occupation is less concentrated in Iowa than the national average

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

Iowa employs about 50 tower technicians earning a median $50,760 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 Iowa.

Key Facts

Median wage (Iowa): $50,760/yr (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers), 2025)
Employed in Iowa: 50 workers (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers), 2025)
Location quotient: 0.41x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 8.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Tower Technician Schools in Iowa

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Emily Griffith Technical College	74.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,935	92%	—	637 mi
2	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650 - $20,272	$53,289	56%	Yes*	195 mi
3	Northwood Technical College	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,705	54%	Yes*	225 mi
4	Lake Superior College	61.0	$5,785 - $19,723	$57,665	40%	Yes*	307 mi
5	Lake Land College	53.4	$4,415 - $14,301	$48,594	56%	—	328 mi
6	Milwaukee Area Technical College	52.5	$5,184 - $17,359	$52,346	25%	Yes*	275 mi
7	Des Moines Area Community College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,817	37%	Yes*	52 mi
8	Westmoreland County Community College	49.1	Contact school for pricing	$49,187	28%	Yes*	725 mi
9	Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College	48.1	Contact school for pricing	$42,469	45%	Yes*	662 mi
10	Cuyahoga Community College District	47.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,698	30%	Yes*	598 mi

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, Iowa employs approximately 50 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category (SOC 49-2021), with a median annual wage of $50,760 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 Iowa, 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 (Iowa): $50,760 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 Iowa

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

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

What do tower technicians earn in Iowa? 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 Iowa is $50,760, with entry-level wages around $43,710 and experienced workers earning $93,560 or more ¹.

How to Become a Tower Technician in Iowa

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tower technicians in Iowa? Iowa employs approximately 50 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 Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Iowa.

How much do tower technicians earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tower technicians in Iowa is $50,760 (based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category), which is $13,430 below the national median of $64,190 according to BLS data ¹.

In Iowa

Best Trade Schools in Iowa (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Iowa

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)