Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers: Career Profile
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
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The Daily Work of Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of electrical power-line installers and repairers cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective electrical power-line installers and repairers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Aerial Lineman
- Cable Inspector
- Cable Installer
- Cable Installer Repairer
- Cable Layer
- Cable Repairer
- Cable Splicer
- Cable Systems Installer
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 318,910 electrical power-line installers and repairers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.3% over the projection horizon.
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,882 |
| Hourly median | $28.79 |
| 10th percentile | $36,953 |
| 25th percentile | $48,418 |
| 75th percentile | $71,346 |
| 90th percentile | $82,810 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $125,710 |
| Oregon | $123,180 |
| California | $122,520 |
| Connecticut | $120,340 |
| Nevada | $120,260 |
| Idaho | $120,240 |
| New York | $117,500 |
| New Jersey | $116,280 |
| New Hampshire | $115,430 |
| Vermont | $108,160 |
| Colorado | $108,040 |
| Hawaii | $107,810 |
| Rhode Island | $107,770 |
| Montana | $107,540 |
| Alaska | $107,330 |
| Massachusetts | $106,610 |
| Illinois | $105,970 |
| Minnesota | $104,800 |
| Wisconsin | $104,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,750 |
| Michigan | $103,310 |
| Kansas | $102,400 |
| Arizona | $101,980 |
| Indiana | $100,260 |
| Wyoming | $98,490 |
| North Dakota | $97,460 |
| District of Columbia | $96,240 |
| Iowa | $95,850 |
| Missouri | $93,580 |
| Maryland | $93,170 |
| Florida | $92,460 |
| South Dakota | $92,060 |
| Nebraska | $88,910 |
| Delaware | $87,460 |
| Ohio | $84,470 |
| Alabama | $84,340 |
| West Virginia | $83,920 |
| Maine | $83,030 |
| Utah | $81,380 |
| Tennessee | $80,160 |
| Arkansas | $79,140 |
| Georgia | $78,880 |
| New Mexico | $78,670 |
| Texas | $77,560 |
| Virginia | $77,190 |
| Kentucky | $76,050 |
| North Carolina | $75,630 |
| South Carolina | $75,010 |
| Louisiana | $74,300 |
| Mississippi | $68,810 |
| Puerto Rico | $67,880 |
| Oklahoma | $66,840 |
| Guam | $47,770 |
Where Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Earn the Most
Pay for electrical power-line installers and repairers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $122,215 | 13.4% | 0.80 |
| Middle Atlantic | $109,047 | 10.0% | 0.70 |
| New England | $105,835 | 4.1% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $104,195 | 4.0% | 1.13 |
| Great Lakes | $98,350 | 13.6% | 0.98 |
| Plains States | $96,388 | 8.8% | 1.40 |
| Southeast | $80,648 | 29.7% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $77,929 | 15.8% | 1.36 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $153,590 | 30 |
| Redding, CA | CA | $138,230 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $136,850 | 70 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $134,980 | 60 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | NY | $133,510 | 200 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $132,860 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $132,240 | 140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,640 | 300 |
Which Industries Hire Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
The largest employers of electrical power-line installers and repairers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 60,620 | $102,050 |
| Construction | 45,860 | $75,020 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 510 | $96,150 |
| Information | 370 | $56,640 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 310 | $60,930 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 290 | $109,700 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 270 | $84,370 |
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers work in the following industries:
Software Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for electrical power-line installers and repairers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Most electrical power-line installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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- Helpers–Electricians (Primary-Short)
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Degree Programs
Aspiring electrical power-line installers and repairers often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
3 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9051.00 (Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers).
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