The median annual wage of electrical power-line installers and
repairers was $58,030 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which
half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half
earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,680, and the top
10 percent earned more than $82,450. In May 2010, median annual
wages in industries employing the largest numbers of electrical
power-line installers and repairers were as follows:
Natural gas distribution | $81,710 | Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 61,540 | Local government | 56,250 | Building equipment contractors | 52,190 | Utility system construction | 49,620 |
The median annual wage of telecommunications line installers and
repairers was $50,850 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less
than $26,910, and the top 10 percent earned more than $73,320. In
May 2010, median annual wages in industries employing the largest
numbers of telecommunications line installers and repairers were as
follows: Other telecommunications | $62,490 | Wired telecommunications carriers | 57,540 | Cable and other subscription programming | 43,360 | Building equipment contractors | 39,890 | Utility system construction | 36,770 |
Many line installers and repairers belong to unions, principally the Communications Workers of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Utility Workers Union of America. For these workers, union contracts set wage rates, wage increases, and the time needed to advance from one job level to the next. Line installers and repairers install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics. DutiesElectrical power-line installers and repairers typically do the following: - Drive work vehicles to job sites
- Install, maintain, or repair the power lines that move and distribute electricity
- Identify defective devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, and switches
- Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment
- String power lines between poles, towers, and buildings
- Climb poles and transmission towers and use truck-mounted buckets to get to equipment
- Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers, and lines
- Follow safety standards and procedures
Telecommunications line installers and repairers typically do the following: - Drive work vehicles to job sites
- Install, maintain, or repair telecommunications equipment
- Inspect or test lines or cables
- Lay underground cable, including fiber optic lines, directly in trenches
- Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers, and lines
- Set up service for customers
Every
time you turn on your lights, call someone on the phone, watch cable
television, or access the Internet, you are connecting to complex
networks of physical power lines and cables that provide you with
electricity and connect you with the outside world. Line installers and
repairers, also known as line workers or linemen, are the people who install and maintain these networks. Line
installers and repairers typically specialize, and the areas in which
they specialize depend on the network and industry in which they work: Electrical power-line installers and repairers
install and maintain the power grid—the network of power lines that
moves electricity from generating plants to customers. They routinely
work with high-voltage electricity, which requires extreme caution. This
can range from hundreds of thousands of volts for the long-distance
transmission lines that make up the power grid to less than 10,000 volts
for distribution lines that supply electricity to homes and businesses. Line
workers who maintain the interstate power grid work in crews that
travel to work locations throughout a large region to take care of
transmission lines and towers. Workers employed by local utilities work
mainly with lower voltage distribution lines, maintaining equipment such
as transformers, voltage regulators, and switches. They may also work
on traffic lights and street lights. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
install and maintain the lines and cables used by local and
long-distance telephone services, cable television, the Internet, and
other communications networks. These services use different types of
cables, including fiber-optic cables. Unlike metallic cables that carry
electricity, fiber-optic cables are made of glass or plastic and
transmit signals using light. Working with fiber optics requires special
skills, such as the ability to splice and finish off optical cables.
Additionally, workers test and troubleshoot cables and networking
equipment. Because these systems are so complicated, many line workers also specialize by duty: Line installers
install new cable. They may work for construction contractors,
utilities, or telecommunications companies. They generally start a new
job by digging underground trenches or putting up utility poles and
towers to carry the wires and cables. They use a variety of construction
equipment, including digger derricks, which are trucks equipped with
augers and cranes used to dig holes in the ground and set poles in
place. Line installers also use trenchers, cable plows, and directional
bore machines, which are used to cut openings in the earth to lay
underground cables. Once the poles, towers, tunnels, or trenches are
ready, line installers string cable along poles and towers or through
tunnels and trenches. Line repairers are
employed by utilities and telecommunications companies that maintain
existing power and telecommunications lines. Maintenance needs may be
identified in a variety of ways, including remote monitoring equipment,
inspections by airplane or helicopter, and customer reports of service
outages. Line repairers often must replace aging or outdated equipment,
so many of these workers have installation duties in addition to their
repair duties. When a problem is reported, line repairers must
identify the cause and fix it. This usually involves testing equipment
and replacing it as necessary. To work on poles, line installers usually
use bucket trucks to raise themselves to the top of the structure,
although all line workers must be adept at climbing poles and towers
when necessary. Workers use special safety equipment to keep them from
falling when climbing utility poles and towers. Storms and other
natural disasters can cause extensive damage to networks of power lines.
When a connection goes out, line repairers must work quickly to restore
service to customers.
Good health, education, and vacation benefits are common in the occupation. HOW TO BECOME A LINE INSTALLER OR REPAIRER: To become proficient, most line installers and repairers require
long-term on-the-job training and some technical instruction. Formal
apprenticeships are common. Education and TrainingMost
companies require line installers and repairers to have a high school
diploma or equivalent. Employers look for people with basic knowledge of
algebra and trigonometry and good reading skills. Technical knowledge
of electricity or electronics obtained through military service,
vocational programs, or community colleges is helpful. Many
community colleges offer programs in telecommunications, electronics, or
electricity. Some programs work with local companies to offer 1-year
certificates that emphasize hands-on field work. More advanced 2-year
associate’s degree programs provide students with a broad knowledge of
the technology used in telecommunications and electrical utilities.
These programs offer courses in electricity, electronics, fiber optics,
and microwave transmission. Line installers and repairers get most
of their training on the job. Electrical line installers and repairers
often must complete formal apprenticeships or other employer training
programs. These programs, which can last up to 5 years, combine
on-the-job training with technical instruction and are sometimes
administered jointly by the employer and the union representing the
workers. Safety regulations define the training and educational
requirements for apprentice electrical line installers, but licensure is
not required. Line installers and repairers working for telephone
and cable television companies receive several years of on-the-job
training. They also may attend training or get technical instruction
from equipment manufacturers, schools, unions, or industry training
organizations. CertificationAlthough it is not mandatory,
certification for line installers and repairers is available from
several associations. For example, the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee offers certification for line installers and repairers in several specialty areas. The Fiber Optic Association
also offers certification programs specifically in fiber optics: the
FOA Certification presents three levels of fiber optic certification for
telecommunications line installers and repairers. AdvancementEntry-level
line workers generally begin with classroom training and an
apprenticeship. Their on-the-job training begins with basic tasks, such
as ground work and tree trimming. As they learn additional skills from
more experienced workers, they may advance to stringing cable and doing
service installations. In time, they advance to more sophisticated
maintenance and repair positions in which they are responsible for
increasingly large portions of the network. After 3 to 5 years of
working, qualified line workers reach the journey level. A journey-level
line worker is no longer considered an apprentice and can do most tasks
without supervision. Journey-level line workers may also qualify for
positions at other companies. Workers with many years of experience may
become first-line supervisors or may become trainers. Important QualitiesColor vision.
Workers who handle electrical wires and cables must be able to
distinguish colors because the wires and cables are often color coded. Mechanical skills.
Line installers and repairers must have the knowledge and skills to
repair or replace complex electrical and telecommunications lines and
equipment. Physical strength. Line installers and repairers must be strong enough to lift heavy tools, cables, and equipment on a regular basis. Stamina.
Line installers and repairers often must climb poles and work at great
heights with heavy tools and equipment. Therefore, these workers must be
able to be physically active for long periods without tiring. Teamwork. Because workers often rely on their fellow crew members for their safety, teamwork is critical. Technical skills.
Line installers use sophisticated diagnostic equipment on circuit
breakers, switches, and transformers. They must be familiar with
electrical systems and the appropriate tools needed to fix and maintain
them. Troubleshooting skills. Line
installers and repairers must be able to diagnose problems in
increasingly complex electrical systems and telecommunication lines. Workers who drive company vehicles usually need a commercial driver's license. |