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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$95,320

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$51k – $129k

Job outlook

+7% (faster than average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Entry / Junior

    $51,470

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Established

    $95,320

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Senior

    $112,005

Key skills

A typical 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.
  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.