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Lineworker

Types of Degrees Lineworker Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Lineworker have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,514
Associate’s Degree	441
Master’s Degree	743

What Lineworker Majors Need to Know

Studies in Lineworker develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Lineworker graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Lineworker emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Public Safety and Security — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Lineworker program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Coordination — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Lineworker careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Lineworker graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.5 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	4.3 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.2 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.9 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Lineworker professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Inventory management software	Inventory management software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Zoom	Video conferencing software	—
Geographic information system GIS systems	Geographic information system	—
Bentley MicroStation	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Global positioning system GPS software	Mobile location based services software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Lineworker graduates include:

• Troubleman
• Service Man
• Electric Powerline Examiner
• Line Patrolman
• Journeyman Lineman
• Locate Technician
• Line Builder
• Third-Rail Installer
• High Voltage Electrician
• Line Mechanic
• Hot Stick Worker
• Electrical Lineworker
• Underground Utility Locator
• Trolley Wire Installer
• Locator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Lineworker graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	51.3%
Postsecondary certificate	17.4%
Less than a high school diploma	14.3%
Some college courses	11.7%
First professional degree	2.1%
Bachelor’s degree	1.9%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.8%
Doctoral degree	0.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Lineworker?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 98.6% of Lineworker degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	37	1.4%
Men	2,694	98.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Lineworker graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,857	68.0%
Asian	5	0.2%
Hispanic or Latino	211	7.7%
Black or African American	115	4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	43	1.6%
Two or More Races	78	2.9%
Race Unknown	422	15.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Lineworker Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Lineworker graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$39,714
4 years	$47,108
5 years	$52,808

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $52,808 — roughly 33% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Lineworker Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Lineworker graduates earn a median of $47,108 four years after completion — roughly 24% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers	35,577
Electrician	30,349
Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General	2,334
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other	163

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.