Occupation · SOC 49-9051
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
Median wage
$92,560
$50,020–$126,610
Projected growth
+6.6%
Average growth
Annual openings
840
per year
Employed (US)
123,680
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
147 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningTroubleshootingMonitoringOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingSystems Analysis
Knowledge areas
Building and ConstructionEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityTransportation
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareElectronic mail softwareGeographic information systemMobile location based services softwareInventory management software
Representative tasks
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.String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension.Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment.Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation.Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers' facilities.Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints.Splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment.Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires.Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduit running through the trenches.Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows.Cut and peel lead sheathing and insulation from defective or newly installed cables and conduits prior to splicing.Clean, tin, and splice corresponding conductors by twisting ends together or by joining ends with metal clamps and soldering connections.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety practices and equipment checks — perform under direct supervision before beginning work at a field job site.Work-site barriers and hazard markers — erect and position following standard protocols on active distribution corridors.Service vehicles loaded with tools and materials — drive to assigned job sites under dispatcher guidance and crew direction.Grounding devices and safety switches — attach to de-energized lines under close supervision to remove electrical hazards.Utility poles and truck-mounted buckets — climb or operate with a qualified lineman present during initial field rotations.Basic hand tools and conduit components — identify and handle correctly while assisting experienced crew on installation tasks.Power-line testing instruments — read and record outputs under direct instruction during routine line inspections.Work assignment details and crew instructions — receive, confirm, and follow to coordinate task preparation with team members.Damaged or downed-pole situations — recognize and report hazards immediately to the crew lead on a distribution job site.Safety checklists and equipment logs — complete accurately using standard forms after each field task under trainer review.
developing
Electrical distribution conduits, cables, and wires — install and connect with reduced oversight on residential and commercial service routes.Transformers, circuit breakers, and switches — maintain and replace as part of scheduled maintenance cycles on distribution systems.Power-line testing and reading instruments — apply independently to inspect energized and de-energized lines and identify common faults.Grounding procedures and switch operations — execute correctly to safely isolate sections of transmission systems during repair work.Truck-mounted aerial buckets — operate with confidence to access elevated equipment on active distribution and transmission corridors.Routine troubleshooting of line faults — perform using deductive reasoning and field observations on familiar distribution network segments.Crew coordination and task sequencing — manage own role and communicate progress with co-workers to complete multi-person assignments efficiently.Damaged utility poles — assess structural condition and assist in straightening or replacement operations using rigging and equipment.Inventory management and work-order software — use to log materials consumed and update job status after field completion.Quality control checks on completed installations — conduct against specification standards before energizing restored distribution circuits.
proficient
Full-scope installation and repair of distribution and transmission systems — execute autonomously across varied terrain, weather, and network configurations.Non-routine line faults and complex electrical failures — diagnose and resolve using systematic troubleshooting on high-voltage transmission infrastructure.Transformers, circuit breakers, and auxiliary switching equipment — calibrate, test, and commission independently after major storm or equipment failure events.Energized-line work and switching sequences — plan and carry out safely, applying advanced judgment on live distribution networks.Aerial and climbing operations in challenging conditions — perform with precision and arm-hand steadiness at height on transmission structures.Pole replacement and structural rehabilitation — lead the mechanical and rigging operations required to restore damaged distribution infrastructure.GIS and mobile location-based service tools — use to navigate network topology, log field findings, and update asset records in real time.Critical safety decisions under stress — make independently when unexpected hazards arise during live-line or emergency restoration work.Cross-crew coordination on large outage events — direct task sequencing and resource sharing across multiple field teams to restore service efficiently.Technical documentation and CAD-based line diagrams — read, interpret, and annotate accurately to support complex repair and upgrade projects.
advanced
Crew safety culture and hazard-awareness standards — establish and sustain at an organizational level across all field operations and job sites.Apprentice and developing-level lineworkers — mentor, coach, and formally evaluate against competency benchmarks throughout their training progression.Transmission and distribution system upgrade strategies — develop and recommend to engineering and management based on operational field intelligence.Emergency restoration plans for major outage events — design, activate, and lead across multiple crews and geographic service territories.Safety protocols and switching procedures — author, review, and update to incorporate regulatory changes and lessons learned from incident investigations.Fleet, tool, and materials inventories — oversee procurement planning and allocation decisions to ensure field readiness across the service district.GIS, CAD, and enterprise asset management platforms — champion adoption and provide guidance on best-practice use across field and office teams.Interdepartmental coordination with engineering, operations, and public safety — lead communication and decision-making during high-consequence network events.Performance metrics and quality outcomes for installation and repair work — analyze using spreadsheet and reporting tools and present findings to leadership.Regulatory compliance and public safety requirements — interpret, apply, and communicate to ensure organizational adherence on all line construction activities.
Also known as
113 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Cannon Crewmember (Army 13B)Relay ManLinemanEmergency Service RestorerUtility LocaterElectrical Systems Journeyman (Air Force 3E051)Line Installer, Street RailwayWire StretcherLineworkerUnderground Utility ForemanElectricians Mate, Nuclear Power (Navy EMN)Naval Engineering Specialty (Coast Guard ENG)Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Technician (Navy 003654)Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) (Navy GSE)Electrical Systems Craftsman (Air Force 3E071)Relay WorkerLine ErectorEmergency WorkerRadio Interference Trouble ShooterElectrical LineworkerHot Stick ManEmergency ManGas Turbine Electrical Systems Maintainer (Navy 003202)Utility LinemanTrouble Shooter IIHigh Voltage ElectricianService Restorer, EmergencyCable TesterLocatorCombat Engineer (Army 12B)Power Line Distribution ErectorUnderground Utility LocatorMobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) Technician (Navy B03A)SplicerElectrical Line WorkerElectric Utility LineworkerUninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Maintenance (Navy B02A)High Tension TesterUtility TechnicianAerial Lineman