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Does the thought of waking up every morning with excitement rushing through your veins thrill you?
Are you an adrenaline junkie who is physically fit and looking for a career that offers you possibilities for advancement?
Then, working as a Cell Tower Technician in South Carolina may just be the career you are looking for.
Growth in the industry is anticipated to be 7% per year for the next 5 years.
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Cell Tower Technician in South Carolina
Once you have settled on this career path, graduating from high school or getting your GED is imperative.
Being 18 years old is required by most schools and companies.
Have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record, as this career path often involves driving long distances.
You must be in great shape, so if you’re not, you need to get that way.
Find a program that will provide the training you require to follow this career.
Do all the necessary prerequisites to qualify for the course.
Apply for financial aid if it is offered.
Take the course and pass the necessary exams.
Apply for certification in all areas that your course prepared you for.
Use any job placement help that is provided.
Create a resume and get it out there.
Accept a job offer and get ready to begin the career of your choice.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Cell Tower Technician in South Carolina
Cell Tower Technicians are not required to have a license to be employed in South Carolina.
Your employer may require safety certification, as well as tower climbing.
Cell Tower Technician Programs in South Carolina
Aiken Technical College
https://www.atc.edu/About/News/aiken-tech-to-offer-tower-technician-training-course-this-fall
Aiken Tech offers a 12-day Tower Technician training course.
This course is free of charge for qualifying residents of South Carolina and $5000 for all others.
The course includes telecommunications regulations, worksite awareness of hazards, telecommunications standards, LTE installation, rigging, and electricity basics.
Physical training is also involved.
Tower climbing helps students to put what they have learned into real work situations.
Students earn tower technician certification along with OSHA, CPR, and First Aid Certification.
Those applying must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a high school diploma or GED and present transcripts
- Provide valid US documentation or a Green Card
- Be physically fit enough to lift a weight of 70 pounds
Pinnacle Career Institute
https://www.pcitraining.edu/programs/tower-technician
The Cell Tower Technician course is 30 weeks and is online.
Well, not completely online, there is a 10-day intensive hands-on boot camp where learning is put to the physical test.
This boot camp takes place on the PCI campus in Kansas City, MO.
At the completion of this boot camp, students are eligible to sit for the NWSAT Tower Technician Level 1 exam.
Students who complete the course are also eligible for OHSA-10, CPR, and First Aid certifications.
The first step is to stop by the campus for a tour or do a phone interview.
Potential students must fill out an application for admission.
This can be done online.
A high school or GED transcript is required for admittance.
As a condition of enrollment, PCI requires each student to sign an enrollment agreement.
Students must complete a two-part entrance exam.
The student readiness assessment and competency evaluation.
The student assessment evaluates:
- Laptop/internet access
- Time management and adaptability
- Preferred learning methods
- The competency evaluation will be related to the course you choose:
- Basic math and reasoning skills
- General problem-solving skills
- Specific problem-solving scenarios
The course for Tower Technician is designed to give students the necessary skills for an entry-level position as a Cell Tower Technician.
They are also qualified to be a Tower Climber, Communications Tower Technician, Tower Technician, or Mapping Technician.
Classes include:
- Introduction to Trade Skills and Professionalism
- Tower Site Planning and Fall Protection
- Tower Structures and Rigging Operations
- Appurtenance Installation and Specialized Outcomes,
- Tower Technician Practicum Preparation and Tower Practicum.
Students need to have a computer with internet access.
Office 365 or Microsoft Office Suite and Chrome browser should be loaded on your computer.
Financial aid is available, but it is the students’ responsibility to complete the FAFSA paperwork.
Tuition is all-inclusive and includes hotels and flights to Kansas City, MO.
Tuition is about $18,000.
Tryzub Tower Services
https://www.tryzubllc.com/tower-technician
Tryzub Tower Services offers a training program for its employees.
You can receive training as a tower technician, and the only things that you have to purchase are boots, work pants, and hand tools.
Estimated total cost: $500
Once hired, the company provides all the training and online courses listed for free.
- Hands-on Training: Auth/Competent Climber/Rescuer
- Hands-on Training: Competent Rigger
- Online Course: OSHA 10 & OSHA 30
- Online Course: First Aid/AED/CPR
- Online Course: RF Awareness
- Online Course: HazCom
- Online Course: Bloodborne and Airborne
- Online Course: Capstan
- In-Person Standardized Test: NWSA
This is a case of earning while you learn and ending up with a great job with extensive benefits.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College | 2276 Richland Ave E, Graniteville, SC 29829 |
| Tryzub Tower Services | 1004 8th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-3848 |
| Pinnacle Career Institute | 11500 N.W. Ambassador, Suite 221, Kansas City, MO 64153-1151 |
Salary for Cell Tower Technicians in South Carolina
The average salary for a Cell Tower Technician in South Carolina is $69,072.
However, most employees are not average.
The range of salaries is quite large.
Entry-level Cell Tower Technicians may earn as low as $55,624.
The highest earner can get up to $84,214 and even more.
Most people will earn between $62,032 and $76,998.
Many things influence the amount of salary you will get.
The area of Arizona where you are looking, the employer, and your experience.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $73,766 |
| Columbia | $61,771 |
| North Charleston | $52,062 |
| Mount Pleasant | $54,289 |
| Rock Hill | $54,404 |
| Greenville | $54,223 |
| Summerville | $53,831 |
| Goose Creek | $54,424 |
| Sumter | $53,742 |
| Florence | $53,323 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is South Carolina?
The average cost of living in South Carolina is $46,220.
It is the 27th cheapest place to live in the US.
With the average income of Cell Tower Technicians in South Carolina, you should be able to live comfortably.
The state income tax is 6.4%, which is half that of California.
Average home prices are $300,000, and apartments are about $1,000 a month.
Where are the best employment opportunities in South Carolina?
Columbia, the state capital, has the best Cell Tower Technician opportunities.
There are 26 cell towers in the area of Columbia.
Cell service is above 95% in South Carolina, which means there are plenty of cell towers.
What companies in South Carolina hire Cell Tower Technicians?
The state of South Carolina hires tower technicians.
Tryzub Tower Services offers opportunities for cell tower technicians.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Cell Tower Technician
Cell Tower Technician by State