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If you are someone who likes working outdoors and craves a job with lots of potential for advancement and adventure.
Working as a Cell Tower Technician offers all of these and more.
If you enjoy being part of a team, there are opportunities in this field.
Cell phones aren’t going anywhere, and the networks are expanding daily.
Arizona offers opportunities for those who choose this career path.
Article Table of Contents
- 1 Steps to Become a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
- 2 Licensing Requirements to Become a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
- 3 Cell Tower Technician Programs in Arizona
- 4 Salary for a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 How does the heat in Arizona affect the ability to work as a Cell Tower Technician?
- 5.2 How does the salary in Arizona for Cell Tower Technicians compare to the national average?
- 5.3 Is Arizona an affordable place to live?
- 5.4 How do the tasks performed by a Cell Tower Climber and a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona differ?
Steps to Become a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
The first thing that needs to be done is to graduate from high school or get a GED.
More education will help you to be considered for higher-level employment.
Most schools require that you be at least 18 years of age or have written permission from your parents or guardian.
Get a driver’s license and keep your driving record clean.
Decide what kind of classes you want to take, in person or online.
Apply to the program of your choice.
Decide how you will pay for the classes you need.
You may need to take a blood test, a drug test, as well as a background check.
You must be in good physical condition and able to carry up to 75 pounds.
There may be weight restrictions to take the course.
Complete all the requirements of your chosen course and take the certification test.
Get your resume out there, or use the available options from your school.
Get the job of your dreams and begin your new career.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
The state of Arizona doesn’t have specific licensing requirements for Cell Tower Technicians.
Employers may require certification or may provide the opportunity for you to get certified.
OSHA certification is an option worth considering.
Cell Tower Technician Programs in Arizona
Tower Safety
Tower Safety offers on-site classes in Phoenix, AZ.
The entire facility is climate-controlled.
Students will have nine distinctive towers to practice on.
The Authorized Climber Cell Tower Training and Rescue takes 16 hours.
The Certification of Completion includes OSHA and CFRs 1910 and 1926 relating to wireless communication.
The coursework includes classroom work as well as work on the physical towers.
This course is designed to protect tower workers.
Tower Safety also offers a two-day Fiber Optic Technician course with certification.
This combines well with the Authorized Cell Tower Training to bring the specialization employers are looking for.
The cost of the course is about $1,000; call for more information.
These courses will prepare graduates to begin a career as a Cell Tower Technician.
Online courses are also available to extend your knowledge.
Pinnacle Career Institute
https://www.pcitraining.edu/programs/tower-technician
Unlike some of the shorter courses, you will need 30 weeks for Pinnacle Career Institute’s program, which is mostly online.
For ten days of the program training that takes place in Kansas City, MO.
This is an intensive boot camp with 80 hours of intensive training to put everything you have learned into a real-life situation.
Tuition includes flight and accommodation arrangements to Kansas City.
Technical training, as well as resume writing, job search, and interview skills, are taught as part of the classroom work.
Graduates can take the OSHA-10 test to become certified.
Tests for certification in CPR and First Aid, and Telecommunications Tower Technician 1 (TTT-1) from NWSA are all included.
The Exam takes place after the boot camp.
Financial aid is available through Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loan programs available for those who qualify.
It is the students’ responsibility to file the FAFSA paperwork.
All-inclusive tuition is offered.
This option makes it easier to budget.
The tuition is about $18,000.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.
Students need to complete an Online Readiness Assessment and Admissions Entrance Exam.
The lowest accepted score for the Online Readiness Assessment is 15.
The Admissions Entrance Exam has a minimum passing score of 75 points.
Chrome is the browser of choice.
Applicants must have a computer and internet access.
You need to have Office 365 or Microsoft Office Suite loaded on your computer.
It is suggested that you have a dedicated email address to maintain a daily check-in.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Tower Safety | 3212 S 36th St, Phoenix, AZ 85040 |
| Pinnacle Career Institute | 11500 N.W. Ambassador, Suite 221, Kansas City, MO 64153-1151 |
Salary for a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona
The average pay for a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona is $71,828.
There is a wide range of potential pay in this field.
The top 10% can earn $87,575 or more.
The majority of Cell Rower Technicians will earn between $64,508 and $80,071.
Entry-level salary is in the range of $57,844.
Your salary depends on several different factors.
The more experience you have, the more you will earn.
Certain locations will pay better than others.
Your level of education and skill has an effect on your salary.
Your employer is one of the biggest factors.
Small companies often can’t offer the salary that large companies can.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | $59,380 |
| Tucson | $73,766 |
| Mesa | $62,198 |
| Chandler | $84,082 |
| Gilbert | $50,620 |
| Glendale | $55,881 |
| Scottsdale | $53,734 |
| Peoria | $57,046 |
| Surprise | $57,123 |
| Tempe | $59,972 |
Regional Salary in Arizona
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 100 | $91,700 | $44.09 | $110,880 | $57,780 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the heat in Arizona affect the ability to work as a Cell Tower Technician?
Heat is a factor in Arizona for Cell Tower Technicians.
ASU (Arizona State University) recently did a study and found that about 15% of the workforce is heat-affected.
This is a safety factor that most employers take into account when scheduling work hours.
OSHA has released tips for employers to implement.
How does the salary in Arizona for Cell Tower Technicians compare to the national average?
The salary for Cell Tower Technicians in Arizona is slightly lower than the national average at all levels.
The cost of living in Arizona is $54,000.
This means that you should be able to live on the salary that you would make.
It is cheaper to live in Arizona than it is in California, Colorado, and Nevada.
Is Arizona an affordable place to live?
Affordability is a relative thing.
Arizona is 37th in the country when it comes to affordability.
This puts it well into the bottom half of the country.
As an example, its neighbor New Mexico is 19th.
However, Arizona has abundant and well-priced housing, which is a big plus.
Especially when it comes to rentals, they are affordable.
How do the tasks performed by a Cell Tower Climber and a Cell Tower Technician in Arizona differ?
A cell tower climber works on the construction of towers and maintains that basic structure.
A Cell Tower Technician deals with the sensitive and complex technical parts of the towers that actually transmit the signals.
As far as requirements, physical fitness is one that both jobs share, and not being afraid of heights.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Cell Tower Technician
Cell Tower Technician by State