by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Telecommunications Technology covers Telecommunications Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills To Help Design And Implement Telecommunications Systems. Includes Instruction In Communications Protocol, Data Networking, Digital Compression Algorithms, Digital Signal Processing, Internet Access, Object-Oriented And Relational Databases, And Programming Languages. Examples: [Wireless Communications Technician], [Telecommunications Engineering Technology/technician]. Read on to learn the important information every telecommunications technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering telecommunications technology programs.
Across the country, telecommunications technology is a widely-pursued major, with 282 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Telecommunications Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for telecommunications technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of telecommunications technology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Telecommunications Technology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations telecommunications technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a telecommunications technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a telecommunications technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several telecommunications technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 40 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 171 |
A degree in telecommunications technology can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to telecommunications technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to telecommunications technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 150,615 | 0.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of telecommunications technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,062 |
| 4 years | $60,768 |
| 5 years | $67,536 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for telecommunications technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers telecommunications technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,455 |
With 28 different telecommunications technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased telecommunications technology school rankings to help you.
Those considering telecommunications technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
