Electrician
Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, panels and equipment safely to code.
- $63,190
- 4–5 years (paid apprenticeship)
Skilled Trades & Construction career
Electrical Lineworker
Also called: Lineman · Power Line Technician · Journeyman Lineworker · Line Installer and Repairer
What electrical lineworkers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an electrical lineworker do?
Electrical lineworkers install, maintain and repair the overhead and underground power lines that carry electricity from power plants to homes and businesses, often working at heights on energized equipment and restoring power after storms. The median pay is $95,320 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 3–4 years (apprenticeship), and employment is projected to grow +10.3% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$95,320$45.83/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+10.3%2025–35, much faster than average
- Openings per year10,900Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to train3–4 years (apprenticeship)Typical program length
- U.S. jobs131,900Employment, 2025
What electrical lineworkers do
Lineworkers climb poles and work from bucket trucks to install and repair conductors, transformers, insulators and other equipment on transmission and distribution systems. They respond to outages, rebuild lines after storms and set new poles for growing neighborhoods: following some of the strictest safety rules in any trade.
Most lineworkers complete a pre-apprenticeship line school and then a paid apprenticeship of roughly three to four years with a utility or line contractor. A CDL is commonly required. It is demanding, sometimes dangerous work, and among the best-paid careers that don’t require a college degree.
Typical duties
- Install and maintain overhead and underground power lines
- Climb poles and operate bucket trucks and digger derricks
- Replace transformers, insulators, crossarms and conductors
- Restore power after storms and emergencies
- Follow switching orders and isolate and ground lines
- Inspect and test lines and equipment
- Trim or coordinate vegetation clearance near lines
Work environment and schedule
Lineworkers work outdoors in all weather, at heights and around high-voltage electricity. They often travel for storm restoration and may work long, irregular hours during emergencies. The work is physically demanding and requires strict safety discipline.
Schedule: Full-time with frequent overtime. On-call rotations and storm duty can mean long shifts, nights, weekends and travel to other states for mutual aid.
A day in the life
- Tailboard briefing: review the job, hazards, energy sources and minimum approach distances.
- Inspect rubber gloves, sleeves and fall protection, then set up the work zone with cones and signs.
- Replace a damaged crossarm from the bucket using insulated tools and cover-up.
- Set a new pole with the digger derrick and frame it for a three-phase extension.
See a full day in the life of an electrical lineworker →
Electrical Lineworker salary
Half of electrical lineworkers earned more than $95,320 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $51,470 for the lowest 10% to $128,690 for the top 10%.
Full electrical lineworker pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an electrical lineworker
- Finish high school and get in shape
- Earn a CDL
- Attend a lineworker pre-apprenticeship school
- Join a line apprenticeship
- Top out as a journeyman
A high school diploma or GED is required. Many lineworkers attend a pre-apprenticeship lineworker school (often 10–16 weeks), then complete a paid apprenticeship of roughly three to four years. A CDL is commonly required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an electrical lineworker →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Pole climbing
- Bucket truck and digger derrick operation
- Rigging and conductor work
- Hot-stick and rubber-glove work methods
- Grounding and switching procedures
People skills
- Teamwork and trust
- Calm under pressure
- Physical and mental toughness
- Communication on the job site
All electrical lineworker skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent pay without a four-year degree
- Paid apprenticeship training
- Essential work keeping the power on
- Strong demand from grid upgrades and storm restoration
Cons
- High-hazard work with electrocution and fall risks
- Long hours and travel during storms
- Physically demanding in extreme weather
- Requires a multi-year apprenticeship
Certifications and licenses
- Journeyman lineworker: Earned by completing a registered apprenticeship and passing journeyman tests.
- CDL Class A: Commonly required to drive line trucks.
- OSHA 1910.269 training: Covers electric power generation, transmission and distribution safety.
- First aid and CPR: Required for lineworkers who may need to perform pole-top or bucket rescue.
Career path
- Groundworker or Line Apprentice: Support crews and learn climbing and rigging.
- Journeyman Lineworker: Build and maintain energized lines.
- Crew Leader or Troubleshooter: Lead crews or respond to outages.
- Line Supervisor or Operations Manager: Oversee construction and maintenance programs.
Learn the job before day one
Our Electrical Lineworker training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as inspect rubber insulating gloves and hold a tailboard briefing, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Wind Turbine Technician
Climb, inspect, maintain and repair wind turbines that generate clean power.
- $64,120
- 6–24 months
Solar Panel Installer
Install and maintain rooftop and ground-mounted solar energy systems.
- $53,140
- 1–6 months
Heavy Equipment Operator
Operate excavators, dozers, loaders and graders to move earth and build infrastructure.
- $59,850
- Months to 4 years
Compare: Lineworker vs. Electrician · Lineworker vs. Wind Turbine Technician · Lineworker vs. Solar Panel Installer · Lineworker vs. Heavy Equipment Operator
Electrical Lineworker FAQ
How long does it take to become a journeyman lineworker?
Typically three to four years in a paid apprenticeship, often after a lineworker pre-apprenticeship school.
Do lineworkers need a college degree?
No. Lineworkers train through line schools and apprenticeships, and a CDL is commonly required.
How much do lineworkers make?
Lineworkers are among the best-paid skilled trades in BLS pay data (see the salary page for current figures), and overtime and storm work can push earnings much higher.
How much does an electrical lineworker make?
The median annual wage for electrical lineworkers was $95,320 ($45.83 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $51,470 and the highest 10% earned more than $128,690.
How long does it take to become an electrical lineworker?
Most people need about 3–4 years (apprenticeship) of training. A high school diploma or GED is required. Many lineworkers attend a pre-apprenticeship lineworker school (often 10–16 weeks), then complete a paid apprenticeship of roughly three to four years. A CDL is commonly required.
Do you need a degree to be an electrical lineworker?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus long-term on-the-job training.
More electrical lineworker questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 49-9051 (Electrical power-line installers and repairers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Electrical power-line installers and repairers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.