14 Fantastic Jobs You Can Get with Your FCC General Radio Operator License

Give yourself an Edge

At Aircraft Maintainer we want you to have an edge when job searching. We know you made a great decision to get an FCC GROL as a way to set yourself apart from other maintainers. (Don’t have your FCC GROL yet? Click HERE and we can remedy that situation) Since you already did the work to get the license, we did the research work for you so you’ll know about the jobs you qualify for with your General Radio Operator License.

For some electronics-related careers – such as import and export coordinators and even sales managers in the electronics industry – having an FCC license is not mandatory, but it may be preferred by employers, as you will be more familiar with all of the technical terminology, upkeep, and care that customers will likely have questions about. 

However, check out the following jobs to see where you might land with an FCC GROL.

Avionics Technician

Avionics technicians inspect and test all the electrical and computer systems that keep airplanes, helicopters, and spacecraft flying. They assemble and install the avionics equipment on various aircraft and aerospace projects, including radar systems, radio communications equipment, and flight controls. In addition to servicing and installing avionics equipment, avionics technicians test avionics systems to ensure they function properly before an aircraft can take off. They also repair malfunctioning systems.

It is not mandatory for avionics technicians to hold an FCC GROL license or certification in order to test aircraft instruments, assemble parts, fix broken ones, or install software and instrument panels. However, those having a General Radiotelephone Operators License, to specialize in communications equipment, enables them to work alone or to supervise others on the job. In this case, the salary possibility is higher with the addition of the GROL.

A salary anywhere from $55k-$90k, is what an Avionics Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Aircraft Electronics Technician

An aircraft avionics technician tests, inspects, and repairs different pieces of avionics equipment, such as fuel system gauges, radar and navigation systems, radios, and other technical equipment necessary for flying an aircraft. In this career, your duties and responsibilities include keeping careful documentation and logs of your maintenance work, adjusting or replacing components and systems that are malfunctioning, installing electrical systems, and setting up test equipment and operational support tools for ground crews. You use many different hand tools as an aircraft avionics technician, including soldering irons, voltmeters, oscilloscopes, and circuit testers.

A salary anywhere from $48k-$76k, is what an Aircraft Electronics Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Microwave Radio Technician

A microwave technician or Radio Frequency (RF) Technician is a technician whose responsibilities are to install and perform maintenance on RF systems. Your duties in this career are to perform installations of systems like wireless internet access points, cell phone towers, amplifiers, and other equipment used for transferring radio signals. You also maintain the systems, meaning you perform tests to confirm that all equipment is properly functioning, troubleshoot any errors that may occur, and perform repairs on all equipment if any malfunctions occur. 

As a microwave technician, travel is often necessary, as you do much of your work on-site.

A salary anywhere from $40k-$70k, is what a Microwave Radio Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Land Mobile Radio Field Service Technician 

LMR, or Land Mobile Radio, is push-to-talk two-way communication between radio transceivers. This can happen in a variety of mediums, including handheld, vehicle-mounted, and fixed base. LMR is utilized in a variety of industries including mission-critical communications in public safety and private communications for commercial industries. LMR is a primary communication method for these industries, enabling secure and instant daily communication. Public land mobile radio systems are made for use exclusively by public safety organizations such as police, fire, ambulance and EMT services, and other governmental organizations. These systems use special frequencies reserved specially for these services and as such, they need a specialist to repair and maintain them. Private land mobile radio sysrems are designed for private commercial use, by firms such as taxi or delivery services.

Your duties in this career are to maintain the systems, meaning you perform tests to confirm that all equipment is properly functioning, troubleshoot any errors that may occur, and perform repairs on all equipment if any malfunctions occur.

A salary anywhere from $68k-$80k, is what a Land Mobile Radio Field Service Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Radio Frequency Technician

Also known as radio mechanics, install, maintain, and upgrade RF systems, such as wireless Internet access points, cellular telephone antennas, satellite systems, amplifiers, two-way radios, and other radio equipment. Other tasks may include testing RF systems and signal strength, assembling systems, maintaining records, and instructing customers on how to properly use the equipment. Most RF technician jobs involve driving to client locations. Such technicians should be comfortable with heights. There is some risk of injury associated with this career due to the fact that technicians often work on towers or other high places, work closely with electricity, and use a range of potentially dangerous tools to complete their tasks. 

The majority of telecommunications technicians, such as RF systems technicians, work full-time, although overtime, on-call, evening, night, and weekend hours are a possibility.

A salary anywhere from $46k-$60k, is what a Land Mobile Radio Field Service Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Wireless Technician (Two-Way Radio Communications)

Your duties in this line of work include installing, troubleshooting, repairing, aligning, and maintaining communication systems. This position is also responsible for optimizing, maintaining, and repairing two-way and wireless communications systems such as complex radio systems and 911 communications centers for customers. 

The physical environment requires work to be done both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. The majority of wireless technicians can expect the ability to travel as needed, including overnight travel in some cases.

A salary anywhere from $42k-$65k, is what a Wireless Technician (Two-Way Radio Communications) can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Two Way Radio and Microwave Field Technician

As a Two Way Radio and Microwave Field Technician you will be responsible for optimizing, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing analog and digital Two Way Radios and other wireless communication systems at various sites. Other responsibilities include installation, preventative maintenance, testing, repairing, and modifying various 2-way radio infrastructures. Wireless communications systems include: complex radio systems for public safety and private businesses.

A salary anywhere from $39k-$67k, is what a Two-Way Radio and Microwave Field Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Electronic Communications System Tech – Field

Your duties in this line of work include installing, troubleshooting, repairing, aligning, and maintaining communication systems. In some cases you will be tasked with installing, configuring, and maintaining 2-way radio equipment. The support of digital and analog system infrastructure including the interagency ROIP dispatch system, microwave links, repeaters, and base stations can also be included.

The physical environment requires work to be done both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. Expect to do some traveling to different sites in this career.

A salary anywhere from $65k-$80k, is what an Electronic Communications System Tech-Field can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Replay Operator/Scoring System Technician

Your duties in this career include being responsible for operation and organization of all video and broadcast systems in the  video control room, usually to do with sporting events. This includes in-house video production equipment, editing systems, control room equipment, supporting arena events, such as, concerts, sporting events (arena football, wrestling, college basketball, etc.), other events (religious gatherings, corporate events)  Operational understanding of common video control room systems including replay, video switching, content playback, LED control, video shading, lighting control and graphics is also expected.

If you are a sports fan, this is a great career to get paid to attend games and events. You will likely be working in an event arena, a university campus, or possibly an outdoor racing track.

A salary anywhere from $41k-$52k, is what a Replay Operator/Scoring System Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience). **In some cases, this job can be a freelance one, being hired during the season a sporting event is being played.**

Signal & Communications Technician

Signal & Communications technicians maintain, construct, and repair the equipment used for electronic communications, cable televisions, satellites, wireless devices, phones, radio, and broadband equipment. They may work on fiber optic lines, transmitters, antennas, and signal processing equipment. They may also operate network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and RF generators. These technicians may be on call around-the-clock and work for telephone, cable, equipment repair, and research companies. Accordingly, some may work on new equipment in factory and manufacturing settings, while others may install or repair new or existing products in the field. Technicians may also work as cable systems installers, mobile radio technicians, electronic technicians, telecommunications specialists, wireless system supporters, and fiber optics systems specialists. To perform their duties, signal & communications technicians may need to use ladders or bucket trucks to work on aerial lines. In some cases, these workers may also use underground equipment to complete their tasks.

A salary anywhere from $50k-$75k, is what a Signal & Communications Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Tower Climber

Tower climbers are also known as wireless service technicians, cell sit technicians, cell site engineers, aerial technicians, field technicians, tower hands and tower dogs. They specialize in maintenance, installation, and decommissioning of cellular and radio tower components such as coaxial cable, antennas, radios, fiber optic cable and broadcast equipment for cell phones, television, radio, etc. Tower climbers perform routine inspections and tests on broadcasting towers, and may also be called upon to perform repairs and to provide input when plans for new equipment are being developed. The climbing component is the dangerous part of the job, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle for a professional tower climber. A professional cell tower climber is expected to be well-versed in communications technology, cable splicing, and other technical responsibilities.

A salary anywhere from $44k-$71k, is what a Tower Climber can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Electro-Mechanical Technician

An electro-mechanical technician uses mechanical technology and knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They operate, test, and maintain robotic, unmanned, automated or electromechanical equipment. They work alongside mechanical and electrical engineers and in various industrial environments to include plastics, energy, computer, communications equipment manufacturing, and aerospace. An electro-mechanical technician has the tasks of testing and operating machines in factories or other worksites. This equipment may include aircraft, unmanned submarines, or similar types of equipment for uses in deep-ocean exploration, oil drilling, or hazardous waste removal. These technicians must also read schematics, blueprints, and diagrams to find the sequence and method of assembly of a piece of equipment, machine, or part. He or she verifies parts dimensions using precision measuring instruments to be sure specifications are met.

A salary anywhere from $45k-$68k, is what an Electro-Mechanical Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Wireless Network Field Technician

A Wireless Network Field Technician is responsible for network development and maintenance in the field. The individual works with the organization’s technical team and its clients to install, configure, maintain, and fix all LAN/WAN and other equipment issues, ensuring efficient network functionality. The technician maintains computer equipment, mobile devices, phones, cabling, routers, switches, and printers, among others, to address all of the client’s networking requirements either remotely or at the clients’ premises. Technicians must be prepared to work directly with clients as that may not come from technological backgrounds. Additionally, technicians must be prepared to do physical work like lifting and relocating equipment, climb heights to carry out cabling work, and wok in enclosed spaces when required.

A salary anywhere from $56k-$80k, is what a Wireless Network Field Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

Broadcast Maintenance Technician (Multimedia)

Broadcast technicians perform the following duties: Install and operate all equipment, such as audio mixing consoles, media control systems, oscilloscopes, frequency analyzers, and satellite receivers, used to broadcast radio and television programs. These technicians also maintain equipment to ensure that it functions properly.

A salary anywhere from $44k-$71k, is what a Broadcast Maintenance Technician can expect to earn (variances should be expected depending on which state hired/company/extra credentials/experience).

 

Wow! Those are some great jobs! Are you ready to get your FCC GROL now? Check out more information how HERE.

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