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Have you ever wondered how very tall cell towers are built, maintained, and fixed when there’s an issue?
There are groups of brave individuals who climb to the top of these towers to install, repair, and maintain the equipment for telecommunications and broadcasting companies.
These towers are essential to keep society connected and operating.
In Michigan, these communication towers ensure all citizens, from major cities in the Lower Peninsula, like Detroit, to the small towns in the Upper Peninsula, like Houghton, can connect for business, socialization, and communication.
If you’re interested in helping to keep Michigan running by working on communications towers, keep reading to learn more about how to become a cell tower technician in the state!
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Cell Tower Technician in Michigan
The steps to becoming a cell tower technician take some motivation, but aren’t as complicated as many other professions.
These steps include:
Complete a High School Diploma
Although the State of Michigan doesn’t require a minimum education, all training programs and employers require a high school diploma.
If you have been taking technical classes or coursework that’s heavy in math, science, and mechanics, then you have already started building the technical foundation to enter this field without knowing it.
Enter into a Training Program
The next step to becoming a Michigan cell tower technician is to find a training program.
If you need the face-to-face interaction with the instructor to learn, then consider taking an in-person program.
If you need the flexibility of online learning, then there are plenty of national programs to consider.
Online programs with an in-person element to learn climbing basics are the best options.
Also, try to find a program that awards you with safety certifications upon graduation, since most employers look for these designations when hiring.
The other option is to enter an apprenticeship program, which gives you firsthand training with a professional climber and pays you as an employee.
Also, if you have the skills for success, management may consider hiring you at the end of the apprenticeship.
One of the only downsides to an apprenticeship is that you will need to earn the minimum certifications on your own time.
Create a Resume
Once you have completed the training program or apprenticeship, it’s important to create a resume and cover letter.
The resume will showcase your work experience, skills, and education, while the cover letter is an important summary of your resume.
Search for a Job
The resume will allow you to apply for jobs online.
Joining industry organizations will provide additional job opportunities beyond an internet search and help you network with other industry professionals.
Continuing Education
Once yoy have found a job and gained some experience, it’s always beneficial to attend workshops or take classes that will teach you the latest techniques and technologies to improve your career.
This is especially important if you plan to move into a management role.
Licensing Requirements to Become
Although Michigan doesn’t require a license to become a cell tower technician and work in the state, employers want to see new employees with relevant safety certifications or earn them after starting the job.
The best training programs provide the basic certifications to graduates.
The most common certifications include:
- Climber Rescue – this certification is more specialized training that shows the candidate can rescue a fellow climber during an emergency.
- Competent Climber – ensures the certificate holder knows the safety fundamentals of working at high altitudes on various types of towers.
- CPR and First Aid – required for all climbers so they know how to act during an emergency.
- Fall Protection and Rescue – this certification goes hand-in-hand with CPR and First Aid, as it confirms those who work at high altitudes know what to do in the event of a fall or if a fellow technician needs to be rescued.
- National Wireless Tower Safety Association – NWTSA is a preferred qualification that certifies the candidates understand the basics of the profession. There are multiple levels of this certification.
- OSHA 10/30 – OSHA 10-hour was created for new hires so that they know the basics of workplace safety. OSHA 30-hour is a more advanced safety certification for those with more field experience.
- RF Safety and Awareness – this certificate educates technicians about the different types of radio frequency risks when working with this equipment.
Cell Tower Technician Training Programs in Michigan
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
KVCC holds a six-week Cell Tower Technician Academy that covers electrical and cell site basics, fiber optics, safety at heights, and the change to become certified through the National Wireless Safety Alliance for those who complete the training.
Tuition costs $3,200, and KVCC is a member of the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE).
NATE Tower Technician Certification Program
The NATE Tower Technician Certification program is a 10-day training that covers safety topics like fire extinguisher usage, first aid and CPR, hazard communication, and heat illness prevention.
The curriculum also teaches climbing topics like becoming a qualified rigger, how to be a competent tower climber, tower rescue, being a scaffold user, and the OSHA 30-hour workplace safety information.
Graduates will complete the program with several certifications necessary for hiring.
Pinnacle Career Institute
PCI Training is on every state’s training program list because it is one of the best options in the industry.
Offering a hybrid format consisting of a conceptual online lecture with firsthand climbing, graduates will earn the Telecommunication Tower Technician I, First Aid and CPR, OSHA-10, and climbing certifications.
The in-person aspect requires a 10-day commitment in Kansas City, where students will learn basic climbing skills and the related equipment using an actual telecommunications tower.
The mandatory Kansas City trip cost is part of the tuition.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College | 6767 W "O" Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 |
| NATE Tower Technician Certification Program | 8 Second Street SE, Watertown, SD 57201. |
| Pinnacle Career Institute | 11500 N Ambassador Dr Suite 221, Kansas City, MO 64153, United States |
Salary
U.S. cell tower technicians make a median annual salary of $73,700.
At the low end in the 10th percentile, these professionals earn $59,300, and at the high end in the 90th percentile, technicians make $89,800.
Michigan cell tower technicians can expect to start at around the same salary, with similar median and high-end salaries.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $62,593 |
| Grand Rapids | $66,087 |
| Warren | $68,575 |
| Sterling Heights | $58,671 |
| Ann Arbor | $62,055 |
| Dearborn | $60,343 |
| Lansing | $53,882 |
| Flint | $68,898 |
| Livonia | $58,295 |
| Troy | $60,099 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 30 | $69,950 | $33.63 | $78,400 | $53,830 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the working conditions for a cell tower technician in Michigan?
Cell tower technicians mostly work outdoors, so they are exposed to the elements.
In the spring and fall, being outside in Michigan can be a pleasant experience, with beautiful views from several hundred feet atop a tower.
However, rain is frequent in the spring, so climbers must still do their job, unless there is lightning.
Summers can be incredibly humid, depending on where you are located in Michigan, so be prepared to be uncomfortable.
Luckily, there can be a nice breeze at the top of a cell tower to cool you off.
Michigan winters can be absolutely brutal, and technicians must climb towers in snowstorms, so this is likely the more difficult time of the year.
What technical skills are needed to be a successful Michigan cell tower technician?
The core technical skills held by the best Michigan cell tower technicians include a strong understanding of wireless communication technology, proficiency with spectrum analyzers and RF meters, and the ability to work on telecommunications equipment.
Other critical technical skills include reading schematics and blueprints to understand layouts, and the ability to use various hand tools required for repairs and installation.
What are the main daily responsibilities of a cell tower technician in Michigan?
Given that most of the day is spent outside, cell tower technicians are mostly on towers at high altitudes above 200 feet, where they are working on telecommunications equipment.
Before, during, and after the work is complete, these professionals must conduct safety checks.
In urban areas, like Detroit, cell tower technicians will be working on equipment atop building rooftops to maintain cellular networks.
Other responsibilities include troubleshooting signal problems and equipment failures, and working on utility poles that hold communication lines connected to the cell towers.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Cell Tower Technician
Cell Tower Technician by State