Will AI replace Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers?
Estimated risk score: 30 out of 100
Lower 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 (11 to 49).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 40 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 49-2022.00 · 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: 10 of its 40 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Maintain computer and manual records pertaining to facilities and equipment.
- Perform database verifications, using computers.
- Refer to manufacturers' manuals to obtain maintenance instructions pertaining to specific malfunctions.
- Diagnose and correct problems from remote locations, using special switchboards to find the sources of problems.
- Enter codes needed to correct electronic switching system programming.
- Program computerized switches and switchboards to provide requested features.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 26 of its 40 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Adjust or modify equipment to enhance equipment performance or to respond to customer requests.
- Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks.
- Clean and maintain tools, test equipment, and motor vehicles.
- Climb poles and ladders, use truck-mounted booms, and enter areas such as manholes and cable vaults to install, maintain, or inspect equipment.
- Dig holes or trenches as necessary for equipment installation and access.
- Remove and remake connections to change circuit layouts, following work orders or diagrams.
What the job is
Install, set up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers' property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings.
Also called: Central Office Technician, Install and Repair Technician, CO Worker, Fiber Tech, P&E Worker, Inside Wirer, PBX Mechanic, PBX Repairer.
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