Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers. Excludes “Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay” (49-2095).
National median · BLS
$95,320
▲ +2.98%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$91,970
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
131,070
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$51,470
25th
$67,270
Median (50th)
$95,320
75th
$109,740
90th — top pay
$128,690
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
BLS projects employment of electrical power-line installers and repairers to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 10,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
131,900 → 145,500
+13,600 jobs
Projected change
+10.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
10,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.4
Troubleshooting3.4
Monitoring3.3
Operation and Control3.3
Operations Monitoring3.3
Complex Problem Solving3.1
Coordination3.1
Critical Thinking3.1
Judgment and Decision Making3.1
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction3.6
English Language3.4
Education and Training3.3
Public Safety and Security3.3
Transportation3.3
Mechanical3.3
Customer and Personal Service3.1
Design3.0
Software and technology used
Bentley MicroStationMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordZoomComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareEmail softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What electrical power-line installers and repairers 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.
Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers.
Aerial LinemanCable InspectorCable InstallerCable Installer RepairerCable LayerCable RepairerCable SplicerCable Systems InstallerCable Systems MaintainerCable TesterCablemanClimberElectric InstallerElectric Power Line RepairerElectric Powerline ExaminerElectric ServicemanElectric Utility LineworkerElectrical High Tension TesterElectrical Line WorkerEmergency ManEmergency Service RestorerEmergency WorkerGround Crew Lines PersonGround Crew LinesmanHigh Tension TesterHigh Voltage ElectricianHot Stick ManHot Stick WorkerInstallerJourneyman LinemanLine BuilderLine CrewmanLine ErectorLine InspectorLine InstallerLine MaintainerLine MechanicLine PatrolmanLine RepairerLine Technician (Line Tech)LinemanLinesmanLocate TechnicianLocatorOverhead Line WorkerPole ClimberPower Line Distribution ErectorPower Line InstallerPower Line LinemanPower LineworkerRadio Interference Trouble ShooterRelay ManRelay WorkerSplicerStreet Railway Line InstallerThird-Rail InstallerTower ErectorTrolley Wire InstallerTrouble LinemanTrouble ShooterUnderground Conduit InstallerUnderground Utility ForemanUnderground Utility LocatorUtility Line LocatorUtility LinemanUtility Locate TechnicianUtility LocaterUtility LocatorUtility TechnicianWire Stretcher
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $95,320.
