Life As an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer
Job Description & Duties Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
A Day in the Life of an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer
- Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
- Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows.
- 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.
- Splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment.
- Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.
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Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Other Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer Job Titles
- Tower Erector
- Electrical Lineworker
- Cableman
- Patrolman
- Cable Splicer
Job Opportunities for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
In the United States, there were 120,900 jobs for Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,800 new jobs for Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer by 2026. The BLS estimates 11,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer are Nevada, South Carolina, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Montana, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers is somewhere between $38,200 and $101,560.

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers who work in California, Oregon, or North Dakota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $65,120 |
Alaska | $88,050 |
Arizona | $81,950 |
Arkansas | $66,550 |
California | $92,910 |
Colorado | $78,260 |
Connecticut | $78,770 |
Delaware | $78,160 |
Florida | $54,050 |
Georgia | $56,330 |
Hawaii | $87,940 |
Idaho | $84,280 |
Illinois | $78,390 |
Indiana | $64,630 |
Iowa | $69,540 |
Kansas | $73,590 |
Kentucky | $62,900 |
Louisiana | $58,250 |
Maine | $55,980 |
Maryland | $67,870 |
Massachusetts | $88,280 |
Michigan | $74,900 |
Minnesota | $77,070 |
Mississippi | $60,060 |
Missouri | $69,400 |
Montana | $86,500 |
Nebraska | $68,100 |
Nevada | $72,620 |
New Hampshire | $74,090 |
New Jersey | $85,460 |
New Mexico | $64,500 |
New York | $77,340 |
North Carolina | $59,740 |
North Dakota | $88,370 |
Ohio | $68,280 |
Oklahoma | $56,360 |
Oregon | $93,900 |
Pennsylvania | $82,340 |
Rhode Island | $83,260 |
South Carolina | $58,980 |
South Dakota | $76,880 |
Tennessee | $66,690 |
Texas | $58,320 |
Utah | $73,720 |
Vermont | $80,300 |
Virginia | $63,600 |
Washington | $86,100 |
West Virginia | $63,920 |
Wisconsin | $78,200 |
Wyoming | $78,510 |
What Tools do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Inventory management software
How do I Become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?
What kind of Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters
References:
Image Credit: Fran Hogan via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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