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

"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."

"Do tower technicians need a license in North Carolina?"

"Yes. North Carolina requires state-level licensing or registration for tower technicians, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration - Licenses \u0026 Certificates. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for tower technicians in North Carolina?"

"In North Carolina, registered apprenticeships are administered through the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships, 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 North Carolina

Q: "How much do tower technicians earn in North Carolina?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), tower technicians in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,040 (using the related \"Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers\" BLS category, since tower technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?"

"North Carolina currently employs approximately 280 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

North Carolina radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers earn a median annual wage of $47,040 ($22.62/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 280 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -25.9% below the national median of $63,520 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,040 ($22.62/hr)
25th percentile: $38,520 per year
75th percentile: $61,090 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,090 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,470 per year
Workers employed in North Carolina: 280
Versus national median: -25.9% below the U.S. median of $63,520
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - this occupation is less concentrated in North Carolina 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, North Carolina employs approximately 280 workers in the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category (SOC 49-2021), with a median annual wage of $47,040 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina

How do I become a tower technician in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Control Tower Operator. The licensing authority is the Federal Aviation Administration - Licenses & Certificates 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 North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for tower technicians. The Federal Aviation Administration - Licenses & Certificates oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do tower technicians earn in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina is $47,040, with entry-level wages around $37,470 and experienced workers earning $79,090 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 - Licenses & Certificates
Median wage (North Carolina): $47,040 per year (based on related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category) ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Tower Technician License Requirements in North Carolina

The Federal Aviation Administration - Licenses & Certificates oversees tower technician licensing in North Carolina ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Control Tower Operator	Air traffic control tower operators direct air traffic on and within the vicinity of airports according to established procedures and policies in order to prevent collisions and to minimize delays ari…

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Tower Technician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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 North Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	280	$67,790	$71,230	$57,990	$82,490
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	60	$49,970	$54,090	$37,470	$79,640
Wilmington	N/A	$47,040	$49,830	$38,420	$62,860

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 North Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	60	$49,970

Explore tower technician programs in Charlotte.

Explore More Trades in North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tower technicians in North Carolina? North Carolina employs approximately 280 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the Federal Aviation Administration - Licenses & Certificates for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do tower technicians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tower technicians in North Carolina is $47,040 (based on the related “Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers” category), which is $17,150 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 - Licenses & Certificates - Licensing Information: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)