The Average Salary of a Cable Engineer

Cable engineers earn about $40,000 per year, as of 2010.

Cable engineers conceptualize, build, operate and maintain equipment that delivers television broadcasts. Also known as broadcast technicians, cable engineers monitor transmitters and repair broadcasting equipment that transmits cable signals to homes and businesses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 30,000 people were employed as cable engineers as of 2010.

Salary

Broadcast engineers employed in the cable and subscription programming industry earned an average hourly wage of $19.92, according to May 2010 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This equates to an average annual salary of $41,440 when factored out across a standard 40-hour workweek, although many cable engineers work unconventional hours. This rate is almost exactly on par with the national average pay for broadcast technicians across all industry, which according to the BLS is $41,170.

Salary Across Industry

The average salary of cable engineers is relatively competitive when compared to that of broadcast technicians in other industries. Engineers employed by radio and television broadcasting networks average $19 per hour, or an annual salary of $39,520, according to BLS data. This rate is approximately 5 percent less than the average pay of cable engineers. Broadcast engineers employed by the wired telecommunications carrier industry lead all other occupations in the field with an average hourly pay rate of $23.26, or $48,380. This demonstrates a 15 percent higher average wage than that of cable engineers.

Salary by State

Broadcast technicians in the District of Columbia earn more than those in any other U.S. state with an average hourly wage of $30.74, a rate that amounts to an average annual salary of $63,950. Similarly, broadcast technicians employed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area post the highest average earnings in the occupation according to BLS data with an average annual salary of $60,560. Broadcast engineers make less than $31,000 on average in six U.S. states: Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Nevada.

Relevant Background and Skills

While there is no steadfast educational path to follow for aspiring cable engineers, a bachelor's level degree in communication technology, broadcasting or a related field is recommended by the BLS to increase employment prospects. Applicants should also have a working knowledge of computer networking, telecommunications systems, as well as deft mathematical and analytical skills. Since cable systems are operated by a variety of professionals across different areas of expertise, excellent communication skills and the ability to work productively with other team members are also highly sought-after skills.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, 27-4012 Broadcast Technicians
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition; Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians and Radio Operators
• Comcast.com: Systems Engineer – Broadcast Solutions - NBCUniversal - Los Angeles

Resources

• The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers