SOC 5242 Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades

Telecoms and related network installers and repairers Salary

Median salary £39,652 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £40,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For telecoms and related network installers and repairers, £39,998 is the typical (median) pay. That is around the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +2.0% versus the national average. Experienced telecoms and related network installers and repairers (top 25%) earn over £45,885.

About this role

Telecoms and related network installers and repairers install, maintain and repair telecommunications equipment, cabling, fibre optic networks, broadband infrastructure and mobile communications systems.

Key responsibilities

Installing and maintaining telephone, broadband and fibre optic networks
Connecting and testing telecommunications equipment
Diagnosing and repairing network faults
Running and terminating cables including fibre optics
Working at height on poles and towers when required

Qualifications and entry routes

Apprenticeships or NVQ Level 2/3 in telecommunications. Fibre optic splicing and testing certifications are essential. Working at height, confined spaces and street works (NRSWA) qualifications may be required.

Career outlook

Full-fibre broadband rollout and 5G infrastructure are creating strong demand for telecoms installers, particularly those with fibre optic skills.

Key skills

Fibre optic installation Network testing Fault diagnosis Working at height Customer service

Common industries

Openreach (BT)
Virgin Media
Mobile network operators
Independent fibre providers
Telecommunications contractors

Data coverage

SOC code 5242

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 25,000

Median Salary

£39,652

Mean Salary

£42,200

Jobs (000s)

25k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £34,139Median: £39,652P75: £45,885

P10: £28kP25: £34kMedian: £40kP75: £46kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£28,234

0-2 years

Mid Level

£34,139

3-7 years

Senior

£45,885

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +63% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +15.4%Real growth: -6.7%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 4.1%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£39,652

Full-time Only

£39,998

Full-time premium: +£346

Telecoms and related network installers and repairers salary: common questions

How much do telecoms and related network installers and repairers earn in the UK?

Telecoms and related network installers and repairers earn a median of £39,998 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £34,139 and £45,885.

Is £39,998 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for telecoms and related network installers and repairers?

Entry-level telecoms and related network installers and repairers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £34,139, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £28,234.

Have telecoms and related network installers and repairers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median telecoms and related network installers and repairers pay has risen from £35,002 to £39,998 — +14% in cash terms, or -8.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for telecoms and related network installers and repairers?

Male telecoms and related network installers and repairers earn a median £39,864 and female telecoms and related network installers and repairers £38,226 — a gap of +4.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).