All About Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

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

Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer Responsibilities

• Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
• Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers’ facilities.
• String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension.
• Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.
• Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows.
• Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Emergency Service Restorer
• Tower Foreman
• Groundhand
• Cable Splicer Assistant
• Cable Inspector

Job Outlook for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

In the United States, there were 120,900 jobs for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.9% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,800 new jobs for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 11,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers are Texas, Georgia, and California.

Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Montana, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Make between $38,200 and $101,560 a year. The median salary is $70,910.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Oregon	$93,900
California	$92,910
North Dakota	$88,370
Massachusetts	$88,280
Alaska	$88,050
Hawaii	$87,940
Montana	$86,500
Washington	$86,100
New Jersey	$85,460
Idaho	$84,280
Rhode Island	$83,260
Pennsylvania	$82,340
Arizona	$81,950
Vermont	$80,300
Connecticut	$78,770
Wyoming	$78,510
Illinois	$78,390
Colorado	$78,260
Wisconsin	$78,200
Delaware	$78,160
New York	$77,340
Minnesota	$77,070
South Dakota	$76,880
Michigan	$74,900
New Hampshire	$74,090
Utah	$73,720
Kansas	$73,590
Nevada	$72,620
Iowa	$69,540
Missouri	$69,400
Ohio	$68,280
Nebraska	$68,100
Maryland	$67,870
Tennessee	$66,690
Arkansas	$66,550
Alabama	$65,120
Indiana	$64,630
New Mexico	$64,500
West Virginia	$63,920
Virginia	$63,600
Kentucky	$62,900
Mississippi	$60,060
North Carolina	$59,740
South Carolina	$58,980
Texas	$58,320
Louisiana	$58,250
Oklahoma	$56,360
Georgia	$56,330
Maine	$55,980
Florida	$54,050

What Tools & Technology do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Data entry software
• Computer aided design and drafting CADD software

How to Become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer

What education or degrees do I need to become an Electrical Power-Line Installer or Repairer?

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

Where Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Are Employed

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Are you already one of the many Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons