Power-Line Installer and Repairer

Industrial Careers

Mean Salary (US)

$78,310

PROJECTED JOB OUTLOOK 2020-30​

0%*

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Line Installers and Repairers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm 

*Despite limited employment growth, about 23,300 openings for line installers and repairers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Table of Contents

What is a Power-Line Installer and Repairer?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), the U.S. Department of Labor’s principal fact- finding agency for the federal government in the field of labor, economics, and statistics that provides data on employment and wages, Line Installers and Repairers, also known as line workers, install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.

They install and maintain the power grid—the network of power lines that moves electricity from generating plants to customers. They routinely work with high-voltage electricity, which requires extreme caution. The electrical current can range from hundreds of thousands of volts for long-distance transmission lines that make up the power grid to less than 10,000 volts for distribution lines that supply electricity to homes and businesses.

Line workers who maintain the interstate power grid work in crews that travel to locations throughout a large region to service transmission lines and towers. Workers employed by local utilities work mainly with lower voltage distribution lines, maintaining equipment such as transformers, voltage regulators, and switches. They also may work on traffic lights and street lights.

Duties

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers typically do the following:

  • Install, maintain, or repair the power lines that move electricity
  • Identify defective devices, voltage regulators, transformers, and switches
  • Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment
  • String power lines between poles, towers, and buildings
  • Climb poles and transmission towers and use truck-mounted buckets to get to equipment
  • Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers, and lines
  • Drive work vehicles to job sites
  • Follow safety standards and procedures

A complex network of physical power lines and cables provides consumers with electricity, landline telephone communication, cable television, and Internet access. Line installers and repairers, also known as line workers, are responsible for installing and maintaining these networks.

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Line Installers and Repairers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm 

How much does a Power-Line Installer and Repairer get paid?*

According to BLS,  the median annual wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers was $78,310 in May 2021.

These numbers may vary based on geography and labor market.

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Line Installers and Repairers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm 

Best-paying states for Line Installers and Repairers**

According to BLS, Hawaii, California, and Connecticut bring the biggest paydays for electrical linemen. On average, an electrical lineman in Hawaii will earn $104,480 per year — above the national mean.

**Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”). Data as of March 2022

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Line Installer and Repairer job outlook***

Overall employment of line installers and repairers is projected to show little or no change from 2020 to 2030.

Despite limited employment growth, about 23,300 openings for line installers and repairers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment of electrical power-line installers and repairers is expected to grow, largely due to a growing population. With each new housing development or office park, new electric power lines are installed and will require maintenance. In addition, the interstate power grid will continue to become more complex to ensure reliability.

***Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Line Installers and Repairers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm

Power-Line Installer and Repairer job skills and knowledge

According to O*NET Resource Center, people in this career often have these skills:

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
People in this career often know a lot about:
  • Mechanical – Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Source: O*NET Resource Center

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