Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Machines can already do 49% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 75%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 49% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 20% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2027, and 75% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 179,740 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $134,050 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 76% for contact with people.
- Also called: Communications Engineer, Communications Infrastructure Engineer, Communications Systems Technician (Communications Systems Tech), Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions | 7% | 85% to 97% | |
| Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors | 7% | 10% to 27% | |
| Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases | 7% | 30% to 54% | |
| Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems | 6% | 47% to 71% | |
| Monitor and analyze system performance, such as network traffic, security, and capacity | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures | 5% | 65% to 92% | |
| Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences | 4% | 45% to 80% | |
| Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications | 4% | 25% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills telecommunications engineering specialists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Landscape Architects63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,870
- Architectural and Engineering Managers50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $171,270
- Environmental Engineers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $107,110
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $130,220
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Telecommunications Engineering Specialists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2027. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of telecommunications engineering specialists?
Machines can do 49% of the tasks of telecommunications engineering specialists today and 75% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-1241.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Telecommunications Engineering Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/telecommunications-engineering-specialists/