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Line hanging and laying workers

How to become a Power Line Worker

Also called: Power line stringer, Transmission line worker, Power line maintenance worker, Underground cable layer

Erects, lays and connects overhead power lines.

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but most people join a company that specialises in overhead power line work. Recruitment is mostly through schools and Hello Work (public employment service). For the first few years after joining, people get practical training through real work. Large companies have their own skills training facilities and run many kinds of skills training. Some companies run an in-house work crew leader certification scheme as a standard of skill for recognising fully skilled workers. Typically, after six or seven years' experience you become a crew leader in charge of about five to ten workers. The crew leader prepares materials and equipment according to the planned schedule, decides where workers go, checks the work and safety measures thoroughly with the site agent (the person in overall charge of the job) and others involved, and is responsible for the work going smoothly and safely. Most of the work is high up on pylons, so physical strength, good balance and nimble hands are needed.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Power Line Worker?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but most people join a company that specialises in overhead power line work. Recruitment is mostly through schools and Hello Work (public employment service). For the first few years after joining, people get practical training through real work. Large companies have their own skills training facilities and run many kinds of skills training. Some companies run an in-house work crew leader certification scheme as a standard of skill for recognising fully skilled workers. Typically, after six or seven years' experience you become a crew leader in charge of about five to ten workers. The crew leader prepares materials and equipment according to the planned schedule, decides where workers go, checks the work and safety measures thoroughly with the site agent (the person in overall charge of the job) and others involved, and is responsible for the work going smoothly and safely. Most of the work is high up on pylons, so physical strength, good balance and nimble hands are needed.

How much does a Power Line Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥6,281,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Electric construction workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Power Line Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 14% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Vocational college (専門学校) course: Electrical and electronic engineering.

Will AI change the work of a Power Line Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026