The work is moderately heavy, involving occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds. A large part of the cable television technician's time is spent on ladders and poles or in confined or underground spaces. These activities require care and precision. As with all maintenance work around conductors, there is some danger of electrical shock. The coaxial cables used to transmit television signals are from one-half inch to over one inch in diameter. Cables have to be manipulated into position for splicing, which involves medium to heavy physical work.
Normal working hours are a five-day, 40-hour week, although technicians may often need to work evenings or weekends to make necessary repairs. Some technicians work in shifts, working four 10-hour days a week. Many technicians, especially line technicians, are on call 24 hours a day and carry pagers. They may be called in for special repairs or in emergency situations.
Technicians working in the field work in all kinds of weather. Their work involves extensive driving. Most companies provide a company vehicle, tools, equipment, and sometimes uniforms.
- Computer and Office Machine Service Technicians
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Customer Service Representatives
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Internet Developers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Network Operations Center Engineers
- Network Operations Center Technicians
- Software Application Developers
- Telecommunications Network Engineers
- Telephone and PBX Installers and Repairers
- Telephone Operators
- Wireless Service Technicians
