Average Communications Equipment Operators, All Other Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other is $54,680 per year. The middle 50% earn between $46,460 and $78,470, with 1,200 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 9 states and 3 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Communications Equipment Operators, All Other pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $38,900
- 25th
- $46,460
- Median
- $54,680
- 75th
- $78,470
- 90th
- $94,640
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two communications equipment operators, all other at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for communications equipment operators, all other from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.5%
- 0 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 100
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
A high-school diploma is typically sufficient for entry, with much of the training happening on the job.
Where Communications Equipment Operators, All Other earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where communications equipment operators, all other work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Missouri at $87,030, about 59.2% above the national median. At the metro level, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA leads with a median of $60,630.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $87,030 | 50 |
| California | $79,450 | 450 |
| Texas | $58,410 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $54,500 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $54,500 | N/A |
| Michigan | $51,920 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $48,560 | 40 |
| Ohio | $47,360 | 60 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,630 | 170 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,850 | 180 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see communications equipment operators, all other pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other rose from $42,790 to $54,680, a gain of +27.8% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $42,790 would need to be worth $53,884 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $54,680 is $796 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +1.5% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 27.8%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +27.8%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- +1.5%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $54,680
- 2024
- $49,910
- 2023
- $49,310
- 2022
- $46,180
- 2021
- $47,000
- 2020
- $46,680
- 2019
- $42,790
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Telephone Operators
- $41,740
- Desktop Publishers
- $55,290
- Financial Clerks, All Other
- $53,830
- Public Safety Telecommunicators
- $53,040
- Cargo And Freight Agents
- $52,260
Common salary questions for Communications Equipment Operators, All Other
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Communications Equipment Operators, All Other workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.