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.

What you'd actually do

• 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.4% of electrical power-line installers and repairers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
• Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
• Millwrights

Quick questions

How much does a electrical power-line installers and repairer make?

The median pay is $45.83 per hour — roughly $95,500 a year, with the real range running from about $24.74/hr (10th percentile) to $61.87/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a electrical power-line installers and repairer?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a electrical power-line installers and repairer actually do all day?

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.