Will AI replace Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers?
Estimated risk score: 23 out of 100
Very low replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (4 to 42).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 30 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 49-2021.00 · Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 5 of its 30 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.
- Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
- Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.
- Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
- Monitor radio range stations to detect transmission flaws and adjust controls to eliminate flaws.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 24 of its 30 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
- Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
- Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
- Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
- Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
- Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
What the job is
Repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.
Also called: Radio Technician (Radio Tech), Tower Technician (Tower Tech), Radio Frequency Technician (RF Tech), Two-Way Radio Technician (Two-Way Radio Tech), RF Tech, Radio Tech, Tower Tech, Radio Rigger.
Related jobs, estimated
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate