Power Line Installers and Repairers

Power line installers and repairers install, maintain and repair wires and cables utilized in electrical power or distribution systems. They work on the networks of power lines that connect customers with generating plants. Electrical power line installers and repairers sometimes construct transmission towers and erect power poles. They're also responsible for maintaining power lines.

Power line installers and repairers travel by trucks, airplanes and helicopters in order to visually inspect the power lines. Electrical line workers need to have specialized knowledge of electrical power distribution systems, substations and transformers. Some sample job titles are electrical line worker, power lineman, line erector, and lineman.

Responsibilities

  • Perform inspections and tests
  • Determine causes of operating errors
  • Install and repair wiring and equipment
  • Perform routine maintenance on equipment
  • Determine the type of equipment and tools that are necessary for installation and repairs
  • Adhere to safety procedures
  • Take into consideration the costs and benefits of potential actions and select the most appropriate plan
  • Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets in order to access equipment

Job Characteristics

Workers that install and repair power lines sometimes need to work in harsh weather conditions to fix or replace equipment. They may have to work irregular hours and overtime in order to fix damaged equipment caused by storms. However, they work standard hours when installing new lines and performing normal maintenance.

Electrical line workers sometimes have to travel long distances. Electrical power line installers and repairs sometimes have to deal with serious hazards and need to follow safety procedures. The job may include climbing towers and poles and lifting heavy objects.

Power line installers and repairers need to be able to solve problems, read instructions and write reports. The job sometimes requires stamina, strength and coordination. They should be mechanically inclined.

Employment Outlook

The employment growth for electrical power line installers and repairers is forecasted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow by 7 percent from 2006 to 2016 which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. After gaining experience in stringing cable and performing service installation, line installers may move up to more complicated maintenance and repair positions. In addition, the median annual earnings for electrical power line installers and repairers in 2008 was $55,100.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Power line installers and repairers typically must have at least a high school diploma. Some employers look for candidates that have good reading and writing skills and basic knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Some employers prefer to hire workers that have obtained technical knowledge of electronics or electricity via a community college or vocational program.

Some educational programs collaborate with local companies and offer a one-year certificate that includes plenty of hands-on field work. Two-year associate degrees offer students a more broader knowledge of the types of technology used with electrical utilities. Courses are provided in electronics, electricity and related subjects. Employers often prefer to employ graduates from these programs.

Electrical line installers and repairers receive the bulk of their training on the job. They usually need to complete apprenticeships or other types of employer training programs. The training programs combine classroom learning with on-the-job training. Sometimes the programs are administered from a partnership of the employer and the union which represents the workers. The training and education requirements for apprentice electrical line installers have to follow the government safety regulations.

Resources

Major Employers

The top employment industries are electric power generation transmission and distribution, utility system construction, local government, building equipment contractors and natural gas distribution.

Schools for Power Line Installers And Repairers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Power Line Installers and Repairers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be power line installers and repairers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening3.623.12
Monitoring3.53.25
Critical Thinking3.383.38
Operation Monitoring3.383.38
Troubleshooting3.383.38

Power Line Installers and Repairers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be power line installers and repairers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Arm-Hand Steadiness43.25
Multilimb Coordination43.75
Near Vision43.88
Problem Sensitivity43.75
Oral Comprehension3.883.88

Power Line Installers and Repairers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be power line installers and repairers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Mechanical3.434.25
Customer and Personal Service3.364.54
Physics2.993.24
English Language2.852.74
Mathematics2.843.3

Power Line Installers and Repairers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being power line installers and repairers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.785.64
Getting Information4.573.71
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material4.574.79
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.545.79
Controlling Machines and Processes4.495.8

Power Line Installers and Repairers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being power line installers and repairers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Dependability4.2
Attention to Detail4.04
Self Control4
Leadership3.86
Cooperation3.84

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Power Line Installers and Repairers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Power Line Installers and Repairers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell3,250$56,620
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land2,640$59,570
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim2,140$92,720
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington1,860$57,510
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach1,550$51,540
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson1,240$63,120
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn1,040$74,490
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario1,000$90,050
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood990$79,930
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson980$72,130

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Total employment and salary for professions similar to power line installers

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Power Line Installers and Repairers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.