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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.
The Daily Work of Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of electrical power-line installers and repairers span:
- 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
Top electrical power-line installers and repairers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aerial Lineman
- Cable Inspector
- Cable Installer
- Cable Installer Repairer
- Cable Layer
- Cable Repairer
- Cable Splicer
- Cable Systems Installer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 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.
Salary for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for electrical power-line installers and repairers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
| 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 work in 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 |
Below are examples of industries where electrical power-line installers and repairers work:
Tech Stack
- 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
Daily working conditions for electrical power-line installers and repairers tends to involve 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
Getting Started in This Career
Typical electrical power-line installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Electricians (Primary-Short)
- Pipelayers (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Electricians (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future electrical power-line installers and repairers typically earn programs in:
Construction Trades
3 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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