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If you are a team player who loves the thought of working in the outdoors, working as a Cell Tower Technician in California may be exactly what you are looking for.
It provides a unique view of the world.
Climbing to the top of a cell tower is an adrenaline rush.
When you crave a sense of adventure, this good-paying occupation may be right for you.
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Cell Tower Technician in California
To become a Cell Tower Technician in California, you should be a high school graduate or have a GED.
You need to have a driver’s license since driving to work sites is often required.
Being in good physical shape and able to lift 50 pounds is a requirement.
Being comfortable working hundreds of feet above the ground is a necessity.
Find a training program that can give you the education you need to perform the tasks required of a Cell Tower Technician.
Complete the requirements of the course and take the test at completion.
Apply to get the certification that the course prepares you for.
Find an employer to begin your dream job.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Cell Tower Technician in California
There are no specific licensing requirements for individual Cell Tower Technicians in California.
Many companies are required to have licenses, which are handled by employers.
Cell Tower Technicians may want to get certification in safety procedures from OSHA.
Cell Tower Technician Programs in California
Pinnacle Career Institute
https://www.pcitraining.edu/programs/tower-technician
Pinnacle Institute offers a 30-week program that is mostly online.
For ten days, students in the program will attend an intensive boot camp where they will practice what they have learned.
This part of the program takes place in Kansas City, MO.
The flight and accommodation arrangements to Kansas City are included in your tuition.
Students receive technical training as well as things like resume writing, job search, and interview skills.
Exams take place after the boot camp.
This is to certify participants in CPR and First Aid, as well as OSHA-10 and NWSA certification in Telecommunications Tower Technician 1.
Financial aid is available to qualifying students:
- Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loan programs
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Pell Grants
Participants are responsible for filling out and submitting their own FAFSA paperwork.
All-inclusive tuition is now offered, which makes it easier to budget the cost.
The tuition is about $18,000.
Applicants need to have a high school diploma or GED.
Potential students must complete an Online Readiness Assessment and Admissions Entrance Exam.
The lowest score that will be accepted for the Online Readiness Assessment is 15.
The Admissions Entrance Exam must be passed with at least a 75.
Applicants must have a computer with internet access.
The computer should have Chrome loaded as well as Office 365 or Microsoft Office Suite.
You should have a dedicated email to keep in contact.
Pacific Safety Solutions
Pacific Safety Solutions offers its programs in Vista, California, for tower climbers.
This beginner course is designed for students who have already found a job as a Cell Tower Technician but lack experience climbing.
It will introduce students to fall protection equipment.
Every piece of equipment will be demonstrated, and its performance explained.
The course is a combination of classroom theory and exercises to demonstrate how the equipment works.
Tower climbing techniques will also be taught, as well as the response to any fall emergency that can happen.
The climbers will be under the direction of climbers and rescuers who have a great deal of experience.
The employer is responsible for determining that the student is medically fit and able to climb.
The classes are small with a maximum of eight students.
This is a two-day program.
The cost of the training program is $1145.00.
They also offer a one-day refresher course.
Safety One Emigrant Gap, CA
The main campus of Safety One is in Littleton, CO, but they have a training facility in Emigrant Gap, CA.
This is a one-day course that is also designed for those who have been hired to do the job and need the safety training.
It is an OSHA requirement that tower climbers receive this minimum training.
It is a combination of classroom and hands-on training.
It identifies hazards and provides solutions.
All the required safety equipment is gone over, and inspection techniques are taught.
It teaches proper climbing techniques.
It is the first step in training, and graduates receive a card.
When their supervisor believes that they have reached the next level, they will be upgraded.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Pinnacle Career Institute | 11500 NW Ambassador Dr, Suite 221, Kansas City, MO 64153 |
| Pacific Safety Solutions | 921 Poinsettia Ave, Ste 4, Vista, CA 92081, US |
| Safety One Emigrant Gap CA | 8181 W. Brandon Dr. Littleton, CO 80125 |
Salary for a Cell Tower Technician in California
The average salary for Cell Tower Technicians in California is $81,308.
The salary range is from about $65,000 to $99,000.
The amount of salary depends on your education and experience.
Salary is also dependent on the area of the state where you are looking for a job.
Large cities, Silicon Valley, and the Greater San Francisco Bay Area will have higher salaries.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $69,246 |
| San Diego | $61,364 |
| San Jose | $57,919 |
| San Francisco | $69,817 |
| Fresno | $69,829 |
| Sacramento | $64,874 |
| Long Beach | $67,247 |
| Oakland | $61,362 |
| Bakersfield | $66,122 |
| Anaheim | $50,392 |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 210 | $83,190 | $40.00 | $109,770 | $60,350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 160 | $63,290 | $30.43 | $102,320 | $44,480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 40 | $78,560 | $37.77 | $102,570 | $59,350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 80 | $68,510 | $32.94 | $101,640 | $46,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 80 | $95,240 | $45.79 | $121,050 | $67,210 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California have safety regulations to protect Cell Tower Technicians?
Safety is a major consideration when Cell Tower Technicians are working hundreds of feet in the air.
Title 8 California Code of Regulations covers Telecommunication Safety Orders.
Subchapter 21, Telecommunication Safety Orders, Article 1. Telecommunications deals with safety.
Section 8615(g) covers fall protection.
It requires that employees use a fall arrest system, work positioning system, or full restraint system.
Can you make enough as a Cell Tower Technician to afford to live in California?
The average salary for a Cell Technician in San Francisco, CA, is $92,000, and in San Jose, CA $92,900.
The median income in San Francisco for households is $96,000, and $76,000 for individuals.
You will be able to survive on an income of $92.000, but depending on the number of people in your household, it could be tight.
San Jose has been ranked as the most expensive large city in the US.
However, other cities are more affordable than these two.
Where in California are the most jobs for Cell Tower Technicians located?
There are 961 towers in the state of California.
They are scattered throughout the state.
There are 54 cell towers near Los Angeles and 21 within the city proper.
This makes LA a great place to begin your search for employment as a Cell Tower Technician.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Cell Tower Technician
Cell Tower Technician by State