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Electric Utilities
Duke Energy, PG&E, National Grid
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
These workers build, maintain, and repair the lines that move electricity from substations to homes and businesses. The job is a mix of climbing, troubleshooting, and emergency repair work, with the main tradeoff being solid pay and steady demand in exchange for dangerous outdoor conditions, heights, and off-hours callouts.
Also known as Power Line TechnicianLinemanLineworkerOverhead LinemanUtility Lineworker
Median Salary
$92,560
Mean $90,110
U.S. Workforce
~124K
10.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+6.6%
127.4K to 135.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~124K workers, with a median annual pay of $92,560 and roughly 10.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 127.4 K in 2024 to 135.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Line Crew Helper and can progress toward Crew Foreman or Line Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Troubleshooting, Monitoring Electrical Lines and Equipment, and Operation and Control of Switches, Breakers & Regulators, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Clear Communication, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up safe work areas, check equipment, and make sure the power is de-energized or grounded before repairs begin.
- Find problems in lines, transformers, switches, and breakers using wiring diagrams and electrical testing tools.
- Climb poles or work from bucket trucks to fix damaged overhead lines and replace worn hardware.
- Dig trenches and lay underground cable with trenching equipment and cable plows.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up safe work areas, check equipment, and make sure the power is de-energized or grounded before repairs begin.
02 Find problems in lines, transformers, switches, and breakers using wiring diagrams and electrical testing tools.
03 Climb poles or work from bucket trucks to fix damaged overhead lines and replace worn hardware.
04 Dig trenches and lay underground cable with trenching equipment and cable plows.
05 Drive trucks loaded with tools, parts, and materials between job sites and outage calls.
06 Work with other crew members and inspect lines from trucks, helicopters, or other vehicles to spot damage or obstructions.
Industries That Hire
🏗️
Utility Construction and Line Contractors
Quanta Services, MasTec, MYR Group
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Public Power and Municipal Utilities
Seattle City Light, Austin Energy, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
🔌
Electric Cooperatives
Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy, East Kentucky Power Cooperative
🌬️
Renewable Energy and Grid Modernization
NextEra Energy, Invenergy, Ørsted
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a trade job: the median is $92,560 and the mean is $90,110, even though the typical entry point can be a high school diploma.
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You do not need prior work experience to start, and long-term on-the-job training lets you earn while you learn.
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Demand is expected to keep rising, with 6.6% projected growth and about 10.7K annual openings over the next decade.
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The work is hands-on and visible, so you can see the result of a repair or restoration right away.
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Storm response and overtime can boost earnings when crews are needed to restore service quickly.
Challenges
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The work is dangerous: you deal with high voltage, heavy equipment, heights, and situations where a mistake can seriously hurt someone.
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It is not a remote-friendly career, and a lot of the job happens outdoors in heat, cold, rain, snow, or after storms.
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Emergency calls can disrupt nights, weekends, and holidays, so the schedule can be unpredictable.
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Advancement can be slow because the job ladder often depends on apprenticeship time, certifications, and years of field experience rather than quick promotions.
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The best pay often comes from overtime, outage work, or supervisor roles, so the base salary alone may not keep rising quickly after you become fully trained.
Career Progression
Line Crew Helper
0-2 years
$40K-$54K
Beginners carry tools, help set up work zones, and learn safety procedures while working closely with experienced lineworkers.
Apprentice Lineworker
1-4 years
$55K-$74K
Apprentices start handling more of the physical work, practice testing and repair steps, and build the skills needed to work on lines safely.
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$75K-$104K
Fully trained workers diagnose outages, repair lines and equipment, and may work long shifts during storms or emergency restoration.
Journeyman Lineworker
8-15 years
$105K-$129K
Experienced workers take on harder repairs, work more independently, and may lead smaller crews on complex jobs.
Crew Foreman or Line Supervisor
12+ years
$130K-$160K
Supervisors plan jobs, assign crews, and make sure work is completed safely, on schedule, and to utility standards.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 50.29% of workers in this role, with many people moving into a utility apprenticeship soon after graduation.
Post-secondary certificate in electrical linework or utility systems
A smaller but real pathway, held by 18.88% of workers, and it can help candidates learn the basics before joining an employer training program.
Employer apprenticeship or union lineworker training program
This is a realistic non-degree route because the job typically requires long-term on-the-job training, even though it is not captured as a single education category in the distribution.
Less than a high school diploma with direct training
A smaller share of workers, 18.08%, started below the high school level and learned the trade through hands-on training instead of formal schooling.
Key Skills
Technical
Troubleshooting 60%
Monitoring Electrical Lines and Equipment 56%
Operation and Control of Switches, Breakers & Regulators 56%
Operations Monitoring 56%
Electrical Testing Instruments, Clamp Meters & Hot Sticks 55%
Reading Wiring Diagrams & Utility Schematics 53%
Bucket Trucks, Trenchers & Cable Plows 52%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningClear CommunicationCoordinationCritical ThinkingSituational AwarenessTeamwork Job Outlook and Trends
+6.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
10.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 127.4K to 135.8 K over the next decade, representing 6.6% growth. Around 10.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.