Take the First Step Toward Your Electrical Career Now!
The thought of working in an office, tucked away behind a desk makes you break out in hives. Well, you know all those wires at tree lines and buried in ditches next to the streets? Those are installed and maintained by linemen. If working in the outdoors, doing electrical work is something that sparks your interest, then learn more about what it takes to become a lineman.
Power lines travel from power plant, to power lines, to structures needing electricity. As a lineman, you have many important duties to keep that power flowing:
Another career option as a lineman is working in telecommunications. Some of your job duties will be the same. But, you’ll also:
Your job will require you to have strength and stamina to perform it optimally. You will find yourself in strange positions, sometimes for prolonged periods. You’ll also be expected to work in rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, and other weather-related conditions. Your color vision needs to be excellent: You’ll need to be able to determine the colors of wires, otherwise there could be devastating consequences. If you think you’re up to the task, then read on about how to become a lineman.
There are a few different ways to start working as a lineman, and a four-year college degree is not one of them. If you’re considering becoming a lineman, especially as an apprentice, then here is what you’ll first need to do:
Find a local electrician program. Once you’ve placed check marks next to the above list, here are your next steps and their accompanying information:
Experience through military training is also an acceptable path toward becoming a lineman. The work you’ll do has the potential to be dangerous, so it’s important to follow all the safety protocol you’ll learn. Depending on your employer, there may be a continuing education component to your job.
As a lineman, you can expect to work irregular and weekend hours. If there’s a storm and power goes out, you may be called into action to restore that power.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, linemen working as a power line installer and repairer can expect an average annual wage of close to $82,770 in 2022, with entry level workers earning $47,070. The 10% of power line installers and repairers earned close to $114,590 in 2022.
Opportunities will be great if you have either a two-year degree or apprenticeship training.