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Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

Occupation · NOC 2021 72204 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
72204
TEER
2
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
432
Median wage, Canada
C$36.00 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
501
NOC72204TEER 2
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANTELECOMMUNICATIONS<LINE<AND<CABLE<INST
722049<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

About this occupation

Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers install, repair and maintain telecommunication lines and cables, cable television transmission and distribution systems and associated hardware. They are employed by cable television, telephone and other telecommunications service companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Example job titles

  • apprentice lineman/woman - telecommunications
  • cable television installation technician
  • cable television maintenance technician
  • communication technician - construction
  • construction technician - cable television
  • telecommunication cable repairer
  • telecommunications line installer
  • telecommunications lineman/woman
  • telephone line technician

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Install, remove, maintain and repair aerial and underground telephone, coaxial and fibre optic cable television, and other telecommunication transmission and distribution lines, cables and associated hardware
  • Splice and repair various types and sizes of telephone and other telecommunication cables including single line, coaxial and fibre optic
  • Repair or replace faulty cables, power supplies, amplifiers and other associated transmission and distribution equipment
  • Inspect, monitor, test and adjust telecommunication transmission lines and cables and distribution systems
  • Analyze and record test results
  • Climb and work aloft on poles, ladders or other support structures or work in confined spaces such as trenches, tunnels and crawl spaces
  • Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments
  • Assist in the erection and removal of telecommunication poles, towers and associated support structures
  • May operate excavation machinery and other heavy equipment.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • For telecommunication line and cable installers and repairers, completion of a four-year telecommunications line and cable apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some industry- related or other specialized courses or completion of a two-year college program in electronics is usually required.
  • For cable television maintenance technicians, completion of a college program in electronics or a combination of college, correspondence or industry courses related to electronics and electrical systems and on-the-job training or completion of a four-year cable television technician apprenticeship program is required.
  • Trade certification for network cabling specialists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.

Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)

Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.

Approved positions by year

7915720162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
79157201620182020202220242026
Data table
201610
201720
20183
201928
202013
202115
2022157
202353
202452
202571
202610
By province or territory
  1. Ontario244
  2. British Columbia83
  3. Alberta70
  4. Quebec21
  5. Manitoba10
  6. Nova Scotia2
  7. Newfoundland and Labrador2
Employers with the most positions
  1. Canadian Network Installations Ltd59
  2. WesTower Communications Ltd.54
  3. Azimuth Three Enterprises Inc25
  4. Wesbell Communications Inc.21
  5. E-NET SOLUTIONS INC.19
  6. Anet Fiber Tech Inc.17
  7. Catek Technical Service INC10
  8. Mardec Group Inc10
  9. Turris9
  10. Wesbell Technologies Inc.8
  11. YPS Prime Solutions Ltd6
  12. NETECH CABLING INC.6
  13. International Telecom Inc6
  14. Augmented Networks Inc.5
  15. KP Technologies Ltd.5
By stream
  1. High-wage stream (TFWP)400
  2. Low-wage stream (TFWP)19
  3. LMIA for permanent residence only3

Work permits

Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20261015
2025400
2024025
2023300
2022150
2021150
202050
2019100
2018205
2016150
2015100

All work permits by year

204020152016201820192020202120222023202420252026
2040201520182020202220242026
Data table
201510
201615
201825
201910
20205
202115
202215
202330
202425
202540
202625

Permanent residence

Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).

New permanent residents by year

313625201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
3136252015201720192021202320252026
Data table
20155
201620
201735
201835
201995
202015
2021420
202260
2023240
2024625
2025480
202625
Express Entry invitations since 2015, by programme
  1. Provincial Nominee Program1,565
  2. Canadian Experience Class605
  3. Federal Skilled Worker10
  4. Federal Skilled Trades5

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$23.00C$36.00C$43.00
AlbertaC$23.00C$38.00C$55.00
British ColumbiaC$27.97C$39.32C$45.41
ManitobaC$22.50C$28.00C$41.67
New BrunswickC$20.00C$32.00C$43.51
Newfoundland and LabradorC$23.41C$33.48C$37.88
Nova ScotiaC$20.00C$32.00C$43.59
OntarioC$23.00C$36.00C$38.00
QuebecC$24.13C$33.87C$44.44
SaskatchewanC$22.00C$30.00C$40.90
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
501
Vacancies advertised
1,679
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$25.00