Satellite Communications Technician labor category
Satellite Communications Technician is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Satellite Communications Technician does
They translate technical requirements into functional connectivity by configuring satellite modems, power amplifiers, and antenna tracking systems. Roles are typically structured by seniority and expertise. Level I technicians generally provide basic system support and monitoring with 0 to 3 years of experience. As technicians progress through Levels II, III, and IV, the scope expands to include network architecture design, system integration, high-level troubleshooting of complex link budgets, and the oversight of large-scale communication infrastructure. Educational backgrounds often favor degrees in electronics or telecommunications, though direct field experience is heavily valued. Successful candidates must be adept at working in fast-paced environments where mission-critical uptime is the primary objective, often supporting diverse geographical locations and remote tactical sites.
Typical Satellite Communications Technician duties
- Install and configure satellite communication terminals, antennas, and associated radio frequency equipment.
- Monitor network performance and perform routine diagnostics to identify and resolve signal interference or equipment failure.
- Perform preventive maintenance on hardware components to ensure continuous operation of communication links.
- Update system software and firmware while maintaining compliance with established cybersecurity protocols.
- Coordinate with satellite service providers and site engineers to optimize signal transmission and reception quality.
Satellite Communications Technician levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 24 rates.
Common certifications: CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Certified Electronics Technician, FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License, BICSI Installer 1, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), ITIL Foundation, General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)
Clearance for this labor category
About 4% of Satellite Communications Technician GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Satellite Communications Technician
Sample Satellite Communications Technician resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Maintained 99.9% network uptime across 15 remote satellite communication sites supporting 500+ daily users.
- Executed the installation and integration of $2M worth of satellite communication hardware, reducing signal latency by 15%.
- Led a technical team of 5 in the successful migration of legacy satellite systems to modern high-throughput terminals over a 6-month contract period.
What level Satellite Communications Technician are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
Not enough GSA CALC+ rate data for this level yet (fewer than 20 rates). The level estimate still applies; pay ranges appear once more rates are synced.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Satellite Communications Technician. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Satellite Communications Technician labor category: quick answers
How does military experience map to civilian satellite technician roles?
Experience in military communication MOS fields is highly relevant and often substitutes for civilian certifications or specific degree requirements. Emphasize your hands-on time with hardware, troubleshooting protocols, and any experience managing remote technical sites.
Are high-level clearances frequently required for this role?
While the vast majority of satellite communication contract roles are unclassified or only require a standard public trust designation, some specialized government programs may require a Secret or Top Secret clearance. Check the specific job posting to see if a clearance is a mandatory entry requirement.
What is the typical pay progression for this career path?
Pay scales are structured by levels of responsibility, with median rates ranging from approximately $82 per hour at the entry level to over $240 per hour for senior-level expert architects. Progression usually depends on your ability to handle complex system integrations and oversee large-scale network deployments.
Do I need a bachelor degree to get hired?
While a bachelor degree is preferred in some corporate environments, many government contracts value relevant technical certifications and hands-on field experience equally. Focus on obtaining industry-standard certifications to complement your existing military training.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
They translate technical requirements into functional connectivity by configuring satellite modems, power amplifiers, and antenna tracking systems. Roles are typically structured by seniority and expertise. Level I technicians generally provide basic system support and monitoring with 0 to 3 years of experience. As technicians progress through Levels II, III, and IV, the scope expands to include network architecture design, system integration, high-level troubleshooting of complex link budgets, and the oversight of large-scale communication infrastructure. Educational backgrounds often favor degrees in electronics or telecommunications, though direct field experience is heavily valued. Successful candidates must be adept at working in fast-paced environments where mission-critical uptime is the primary objective, often supporting diverse geographical locations and remote tactical sites.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Satellite Communications Technician level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator