AI Automation Index

Will AI Replace Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers?

Task-level automation exposure for Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers: 30 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.

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Developed & audited by Gini Loh

Automation Exposure

20% weighted task index

30 of 30 tasks scored

Median Salary

$63,520 / year

BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation

Employment Level

Low

11,140 people hold this job — size, not growth

Projected 2025–35

+1.2% employment change

1,000 openings a year · BLS line item

Pay by state

BLS OEWS publishes 45 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.

$26,640 – $107,250

Highest medians

Idaho $107,250

Pennsylvania $103,010

Connecticut $100,890

Maryland $100,800

Arizona $95,040

Lowest medians

Puerto Rico $26,640

Guam $37,570

Montana $47,000

North Carolina $47,040

Mississippi $47,960

State figures come from the 49-2021 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.

What the score is made of

Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.

Automation potential 20%

Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.

Physical work 69%

Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.

Judgment & influence 0%

Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.

Routine administration 6%

Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.

Rewritten by O*NET 0%

Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.

Consequence of error 40/100 Moderate

O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.

Constituent Task Mix

30 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.

High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 6%

2 tasks

Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 5%

2 tasks

Low exposure (below 35%) 89%

26 tasks

How would you survive?

Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.

Simulate Upskilling →

Emerging & rewritten tasks

Tasks O*NET added or rewrote for this occupation in its recent updates (05/2025 – 08/2026), with who proposed them. Additions are not in the scored task inventory — they are new work O*NET is still measuring, so they appear here and nowhere in the index. A Revision replaces a task that is scored, which is why only those move the "Rewritten by O*NET" share.

New 05/2025 · AI/SME

Use drone technology to inspect towers and antennas for damage or maintenance needs.

Constituent Tasks

#19401 · Core · 22% automatable

Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.

visual inspection — Completed-work function check is physical

Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.

#19409 · Core · 10% automatable

Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.

physical manipulation — Laying cables requires physical routing work

Lay cables to connect equipment.

#19410 · Core · 30% automatable

Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.

data analysis — AI reads test data; physical test setup is human

Test communications equipment to ensure proper functioning.

#19402 · Core · 8% automatable

Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).

physical manipulation — Electrical installation is hands-on licensed trade work

Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.

#19407 · Core · 62% automatable

Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.

visual inspection — Diagram interpretation partial, human confirms installation

Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed. Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.

#19408 · Core · 10% automatable

Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.

physical manipulation — Manual replacement of mechanical parts

Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

#19398 · Core · 5% automatable

Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.

physical manipulation — Bolting objects is physical manipulation

Bolt objects into place.

#19404 · Core · 14% automatable

Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.

data analysis — Electrical testing requires hands-on instrument use

Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning. Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems. Connect electrical components or equipment.

#19412 · Core · 80% automatable

Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.

text generation — Document routine operational activities from inputs

Document operational activities.

#19399 · Core · 20% automatable

Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.

visual inspection — Diagnostic data helps but physical inspection decides

Inspect telecommunications equipment to identify problems. Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.

#19415 · Core · 10% automatable

Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers.

physical manipulation — Operating heavy equipment by hand in field

Move large objects using heavy equipment.

#19414 · Core · 35% automatable

Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras.

visual inspection — Capturing relevant images in field is human act

Record images needed to address work issues.

#19411 · Supplemental · 3% automatable

Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.

situated mobility — Climbing structures requires physical mobility

Climb equipment or structures to access work areas.

#19400 · Supplemental · 3% automatable

Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.

situated mobility — Climbing structures requires physical mobility

Climb equipment or structures to access work areas.

#19405 · Supplemental · 10% automatable

Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.

physical manipulation — Crane/hoist operation demands real-time physical control

Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.

#19406 · Supplemental · 10% automatable

Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.

physical manipulation — Physical maintenance of machinery

Maintain work equipment or machinery.

#19413 · Supplemental · 45% automatable

Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.

situated mobility — Work conditions require physical site assessment

Gather information about work conditions or locations.

#19403 · Supplemental · 13% automatable

Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.

physical manipulation — Physical component-level repair work

Install electrical components, equipment, or systems. Repair electrical components.

#23510 · Core · 15% automatable

Calibrate and align components, using scales, gauges, and other measuring instruments.

physical manipulation — Physical calibration to specifications

Calibrate equipment to specifications.

#23511 · Core · 25% automatable

Examine malfunctioning radio equipment to locate defects such as loose connections, broken wires, or burned-out components, using schematic diagrams and test equipment.

visual inspection — Diagnostic data helps but physical inspection decides

Inspect telecommunications equipment to identify problems.

#23512 · Core · 10% automatable

Insert plugs into receptacles and bolt or screw leads to terminals to connect equipment to power sources, using hand tools.

physical manipulation — Physical power supply connection work

Control power supply connections. Connect electrical components or equipment.

#23513 · Core · 12% automatable

Install, adjust, and repair stationary and mobile radio transmitting and receiving equipment and two-way radio communication systems.

physical manipulation — Hands-on equipment adjustment for performance

Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance. Install audio or communications equipment.

#23514 · Core · 20% automatable

Monitor radio range stations to detect transmission flaws and adjust controls to eliminate flaws.

visual inspection — Diagnostic data helps but physical inspection decides

Inspect telecommunications equipment to identify problems. Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.

#23515 · Core · 8% automatable

Mount equipment on transmission towers and in vehicles such as ships or ambulances.

physical manipulation — Manual tool and equipment positioning in field

Position equipment using hand tools, power tools, or heavy equipment.

#23516 · Core · 18% automatable

Remove and replace defective components and parts such as conductors, resistors, semiconductors, and integrated circuits, using soldering irons, wire cutters, and hand tools.

physical manipulation — Physical component-level repair work

Repair electrical components.

#23517 · Core · 13% automatable

Repair circuits, wiring, and soldering, using soldering irons and hand tools to install parts and adjust connections.

physical manipulation — Hands-on wiring repair in physical environment

Connect electrical components or equipment. Solder parts or connections between parts. Repair electrical circuits or wiring.

#23518 · Core · 22% automatable

Test batteries, using hydrometers and ammeters, and charge batteries as necessary.

physical manipulation — Electrical probing and meter work by hand

Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning. Repair electronic equipment.

#23519 · Core · 20% automatable

Test emergency transmitters to ensure their readiness for immediate use.

visual inspection — Physical safety-equipment checks need hands-on presence

Inspect safety equipment to ensure proper functioning.

#23520 · Core · 30% automatable

Test equipment functions such as signal strength and quality, transmission capacity, interference, and signal delay, using equipment such as oscilloscopes, circuit analyzers, frequency meters, and wattmeters.

data analysis — AI reads test data; physical test setup is human

Test communications equipment to ensure proper functioning.

#23521 · Core · 8% automatable

Turn setscrews to adjust receivers for maximum sensitivity and transmitters for maximum output.

physical manipulation — Manual torqueing of nuts and bolts

Adjust the tension of nuts or bolts.

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Community Sentiment

Do you agree?

Do you agree with the AI automation risk score calculated for this occupation?

Method

How this was scored

1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.

Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.

Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast

See the full method →

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