How Much Does a Fiber Optic Technician Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$74,330
Fiber optic technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $74,330 a year, or $35.73 an hour. Half of fiber optic technicians earn more than $74,330 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $103,680.
Pay percentiles for fiber optic technicians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21.79 | $45,310 |
| 25th | $26.11 | $54,310 |
| 50th (median) | $35.73 | $74,330 |
| 75th | $46.08 | $95,850 |
| 90th | $49.85 | $103,680 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9052). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for fiber optic technicians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $103,810 | $49.91 | +40% |
| Massachusetts | $103,410 | $49.72 | +39% |
| New Jersey | $102,090 | $49.08 | +37% |
| New York | $100,960 | $48.54 | +36% |
| California | $97,980 | $47.11 | +32% |
| District of Columbia | $97,600 | $46.92 | +31% |
| Alaska | $97,450 | $46.85 | +31% |
| Connecticut | $97,140 | $46.70 | +31% |
| Delaware | $93,850 | $45.12 | +26% |
| Maine | $92,120 | $44.29 | +24% |
| United States | $74,330 | $35.73 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many fiber optic technicians are there?
BLS counts about 97,720 fiber optic technicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers”. The most jobs are in Texas (9,700), California (8,810) and New York (8,530).
The mean (average) annual wage is $73,940, lower than the median of $74,330.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,194
- Biweekly
- $2,859
- Weekly
- $1,429
- Daily (8 hours)
- $286
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fiber optic technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for fiber optic technicians is $35.73. The middle 50% earn between $26.11 and $46.08 an hour.
Which state pays fiber optic technicians the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median wage for fiber optic technicians at $103,810, +40% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for fiber optic technicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of fiber optic technicians earn less than $45,310 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.