Telecommunications Worth Trillions: Find a Degree Program and Get in on the Action

In 2008, the U.S. telecommunications industry was worth $1.1 trillion dollars, according to Plunkett Research, Ltd. The growing wireless telecommunications sector is also helping this industry expand around the world, and now more than ever, a telecommunications degree could be your ticket to a great career.

Telecommunications Degree Programs to Consider

Equipment installers and repairers with a college degree in electronics and communications are often preferred by telecommunications companies. Some degree programs you might look for are two-year programs in telecommunications technology and four-year programs in telecommunications network management or information technology: networking & telecommunications. Many companies also provide n-the-job training and some of those training programs are provided by the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL).

Telecommunications Career Outlook

The rapid growth of telecommunications is largely attributable to the growing demand from consumers to receive data, television, and video to various devices. This has pushed the industry to upgrade from copper wire to fiber optic lines in order to support massive quantities of information flowing between different points. Subsequently, one in four jobs in telecommunications involves installation, maintenance, and repair of these telecommunications networks. Other jobs in this field include sales professionals, customer service representatives, phone operators, network systems and data communications analysts, and engineers among others.
Employment is expected to grow by about 5% in the decade ending in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More reliable networks may slow future job creation for telecommunications professionals, but this should be offset by the growing consumer demand for a variety of services. Telecommunications line installers and repairers can earn about $25 per hour and a network analyst can earn around $34 per hour. Customer service representatives earn around $15.
With a telecommunications degree in hand, you should be well-positioned to help keep people connected while enjoying a valuable career.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Telecommunications
Plunkett Research, Ltd., Telecommunications Statistics

James Tolles is a freelance writer with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Creative Writing and History.