Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

How to become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer

Official title: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

Also called: Class Gloving Electrical Lineman, Class Rubber Gloving Lineman, Electrical Lineman, Electrical Lineworker, Lineworker, Power Lineman, Power Lineman Technician, Service Man, Third Step Lineman, Troubleman

Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.

Main tasks

Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers.
Replace or straighten damaged poles.

How to become one

To enter the occupation, electrical power-line installers and repairers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. To become proficient, they typically require technical instruction and on-the-job training. Apprenticeships are common.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Line Erector (Power-Line Distribution Erector).
Apprenticeship: Line Repairer.
Apprenticeship: Transmission Line Worker.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $95,320 a year The middle half earn $67,270 to $109,740.
About 131,900 people work in this job now, and about 145,500 are projected by 2035. (+10.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

How much does an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $95,320 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $67,270 to $109,740.

Is an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 131,900 to about 145,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Line Erector (Power-Line Distribution Erector).

Will AI change the work of an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.