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Energy Electrical Lineman
Hourly Rates up to Jobs Available
$73 10,500+

Lineman Job Description

Do you get a thrill out of living on the edge? A lineman job may be worth exploring.

Electrical linemen install, maintain and repair electric power lines and other equipment used in electrical distribution and transmission systems. Linemen are expected to work through the intricate processes of electrical work while maintaining balance and composure at great heights.

What does an electrical lineman do?

Electrical linemen go by many names. They are also called linemen, electric linemen, line installers and repairers, lineworkers and power line technicians. They regularly work high off the ground and around high-voltage electricity, so the job is considered dangerous.

Transmission lineman bring power to the pole, and they are the ones who climb 100 feet off the ground. Distribution lineman, who bring the power from the pole to the customer, usually only climb around 50 feet off the ground. Either may work on buried power lines.

Much of the work is done outdoors — good news for anyone who doesn’t want a desk job — and regardless of weather conditions.

How much does an electrical lineman earn?

The average lineman salary sits around $90,000 in the United States, and the range is generally between $84,303 and $94,524 per year. The amount of money you make on a yearly basis may be based on your experience, skill level and other accolades worth noting like your time spent in an apprenticeship program.

The apprentice lineman salary average is approximately $61,037, which is still a comfortable living wage for many. This range will also be based on experience, skill level and certifications.

Electrical linemen work on a power line pole
Electrical linemen frequently work about 100 feet off the ground with a view you don’t get in most jobs. (Credit: Sawat Banyenngam/Shutterstock)

Responsibilities

From handling electrical equipment and directing job sites, to digging trenches and installing transmission lines, a lineman is expected to take on a wide range of job responsibilities. Some of those include:

  • Install equipment ranging from utility poles to power lines to crossarms, insulators, switches and switchgear
  • Test equipment, including conductors, switches, voltage regulators and transformers
  • Climb poles and transmission towers and use truck-mounted buckets to reach power lines and other equipment
  • Dig holes and set (erect) poles using construction equipment
  • Drive work vehicles to job sites

FAQs on How To Become a Lineman

The bottom line:

For those who don’t want a desk job and aren’t afraid of working hard, becoming an electrical lineman has many perks. The work is outdoors, is critically important and requires a level of independence that you can’t find in many other jobs. If you take safety seriously and learn all that you can during training, you’ll be on course for a bright future.

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