OCCUPATION: Telephone Installer

Name: Jeff Lyman

Company: Pacific Bell

Thumbs up: “My work environment changes from day to day and there are always new things to learn. Home telephone installation is relatively simple but business environments are a challenge.”

Thumbs down: “Anyone considering this job should know that it is often very physical, and I don’t mean just climbing poles. You have to crawl underneath houses and lift heavy, awkward ladders. We work on high-rise buildings and in manholes.”

Next step: “We use hand-held minicomputer terminals for trouble-shooting and testing. I’m looking forward to finding additional uses for them.”

Advice: “You can install a more efficient system with some knowledge of basic construction and electrical principles.”

Salary range: Approximately $18,300 to $37,000 per year.

Fringe benefits: Telephone installers receive paid medical, dental and vision insurance, paid vacation, sick leave and pension benefits.

Hours: Installers work eight- to 10-hour shifts. Some evening and weekend work required.

Educational and training requirements: High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training provided. Must have a driver’s license and ability to perform physical labor. Must be able to perceive colors and hear test tones.

Size of work force: Small. There are approximately 743 telephone installers employed in Orange County.

Job description: Installers link home and office telephone equipment to main telephone company switch panels. They perform trouble-shooting services and install new wiring in homes and offices.

Major employing industries: Telephone companies such as Pacific Bell and GTE.

Advancement: Installers may become supervisors or specialized technicians who, for example, focus entirely on installation of complicated inter-company communications systems.

For information: Call Pacific Bell’s 24-hour job information line at 1 (800) 924-JOBS. GTE’s 24-hour hot line is 1 (800) 482-5627.

Source: Pacific Bell and GTE.