All About Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Occupation Description Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
What Do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires.
- Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints.
- Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.
- Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows.
- Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
- Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
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Things an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer Should Know How to Do
When polled, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer
- Hot Stick Man
- Ground Crew Linesman
- Overhead Foreman
- Electric Powerline Examiner
- Climber
Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer Job Outlook
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 average yearly salary of an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer ranges 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 & Technology 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 to Become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer
Individuals working as an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Work?

Below are examples of industries where Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers work:

You May Also 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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