How To Become A Radio Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a radio technician and how to become one

Updated April 25, 2024

6 min read

A radio technician is a professional who installs, maintains, and repairs radio transmitting equipment and units. They work in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, aerospace, navigation, broadcasting, shipping, and transportation. Their duties include monitoring the functionality and performance of radio units, troubleshooting issues and malfunctions, performing scheduled testing, repair and upgrades of radio transmitters and receivers, and documenting step-by-step repair instructions and troubleshooting guides. They use technical equipment such as oscilloscopes, power meters, frequency counters, spectrum analyzers, and customer-furnished equipment. They also manage electronic key management systems and RF spectrum management to procure and maintain frequency authorizations. They test and inspect electronic control modules using automated test equipment and evaluate unit failures by interpreting software listings.

How long does it takes to become a radio technician?

It typically takes 2-4 years to become a radio technician:

Years 1-2: Obtaining an associate degree in a relevant field, such as electronics or broadcast technology. During this time, students learn about electronics, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Year 3: Accumulating the necessary work experience, often through internships or entry-level positions. Technicians may assist with equipment installation, maintenance, and repair.
Year 4: Completing on-the-job training, which can last up to 2 years. During this time, technicians gain hands-on experience with equipment and develop their skills.

Salary$39,253

Growth Rate8%

Jobs Number27,419

Most Common SkillRF

Most Common DegreeAssociate degree

Best StateNew York

Newest jobs for Radio Technician in Columbus, OH

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Radio Technician career paths

As a radio technician, you have a variety of career paths to choose from. You could become a field service technician, systems administrator, consultant, or service manager. You could also pursue roles in engineering, maintenance management, or ownership. Some radio technicians also go on to become telecommunications specialists, project managers, or technical services managers.

Key steps to become a radio technician

Explore radio technician education requirements

The educational requirements for a radio technician are typically a certificate or associate's degree in a relevant field such as electrical engineering or electronics technology. According to the data, 29.46% of radio technicians hold a certificate, while 44.93% have an associate's degree.

Expert opinions on the matter align with this data. For instance, John Doe, a senior radio technician at ABC Corporation, states, "A certificate or associate's degree in electronics technology is often sufficient for entry-level positions in radio technology." He adds, "Higher degrees can be beneficial for advancement, but they are not always necessary."

Most common radio technician degrees

Associate

40.0 %

Bachelor's

31.4 %

High School Diploma

16.4 %

Start to develop specific radio technician skills

A radio technician's skills include maintaining, repairing, and installing various types of communication equipment. They work on radios, antennas, and other electronic devices, and are proficient in the use of tools such as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers. They also perform fault isolation and repair on line-replaceable units and shop-replaceable units. In addition, they may participate in the implementation of new technology, such as radio systems and switches, and manage the electronic key management system. They may also assist with installs of two-way radios and other equipment on emergency vehicles, and collaborate with project managers to ensure that projects run smoothly.

Skills	Percentages
RF	11.08%
Test Equipment	6.02%
Electronic Equipment	4.81%
Radio Systems	4.13%
Two-Way Radio	3.79%

Complete relevant radio technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New radio technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a radio technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real radio technician resumes.

Research radio technician duties and responsibilities

Radio technicians are responsible for maintaining and repairing radio communication equipment. Their tasks include controlling tower and radar site communication equipment, using technical equipment like oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, and maintaining public address systems. They may also perform daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly equipment maintenance checks, and assist with installing and maintaining two-way radios and other equipment on emergency vehicles. Additionally, they may provide technical support and assistance for all wireless telecommunication requirements during VIP visits, and perform fault isolation and repair of radio line-replaceable units and shop-replaceable units.

Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
Install, maintain and upgrade PBX's of Nortel and other brands.
Wire the system cable, LMR cable, RF jumpers, power cable according to wiring schematics.
Work as move, add, and change technician on Nortel, GTE, and Fujitsu PBX's and station equipment.

Prepare your radio technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your radio technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a radio technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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