What Does a Lineman Do?
A lineman, also posted as a line worker, lineworker, or journeyman lineman, builds, maintains, and repairs the overhead and underground lines that deliver electricity, or in the telecom version, the fiber and copper lines that deliver internet and phone service. Utility linemen work energized distribution and transmission lines from bucket trucks and by climbing poles, often at night and in storms. Employers are investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, municipal utilities, and line contractors. Employers require a line school certificate or a registered apprenticeship of about 7,000 hours for journeyman status, a Class A CDL, and a clean driving record.
Employers mix this title up with three others. An electrician wires buildings on the customer’s side of the meter under the National Electrical Code; a lineman works the utility’s side at distribution and transmission voltages. A cable installer connects the drop from the pole to the house and works inside at low voltage. A telecommunications technician works on the network equipment, switches, and test gear at the ends of the line.
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Hiring a Lineman: What to Expect
Linemen come from line schools such as Northwest Lineman College and Southeast Lineman Training Center, from IBEW and utility apprenticeships, from the military, and from line construction contractors. Screen for apprenticeship hours and the journeyman card, the voltage classes the candidate has worked, whether they use rubber glove or hot stick methods, the CDL and DOT medical card, climbing certification, and their history with storm work. Ask the highest voltage they have worked energized and under what method; a journeyman can answer in detail, and a groundman usually can’t.
Lineman postings often go wrong by using the title for a telecom or fiber job without saying so, which draws electric journeymen who expect utility pay and leave the interview when they learn the work is fiber. Employers also leave out per diem, the on-call rotation, and storm pay. Put electric or telecom in the first line, state the pay extras, and say whether the crew travels.
A posting for this role should state whether the work is distribution or transmission, electric or telecom, what the storm and on-call expectations are, and how much travel the job involves. A journeyman weighs those 4 things before the hourly rate, and utilities and line contractors hire from the same pool of journeymen, so a posting that leaves them out gets fewer qualified applicants.
On skilled trades and industrial searches, 4 Corner Resources submits qualified candidates in an average of 2.5 days, clients interview an average of 1.3 candidates per hire, and we submit 1.55 candidates per hire.
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Lineman Core Responsibilities
- Construct, maintain, and repair overhead distribution and transmission lines, including setting poles, stringing conductor, and installing crossarms, insulators, and hardware
- Install and maintain underground cable, splices, transformers, and switchgear in vaults and pad-mounted enclosures
- Work energized lines using rubber glove or hot stick methods per OSHA 1910.269 and the utility’s safety rules
- Install, replace, and troubleshoot transformers, reclosers, capacitor banks, and regulators
- Install and commission distribution automation devices such as SCADA-controlled reclosers, automated switches, line sensors, and fault indicators
- Build grid hardening projects, including replacing wood poles with steel or composite poles, reconductoring, and moving lines underground
- Operate bucket trucks, digger derricks, tensioners, and pullers, and climb poles with hooks where equipment cannot reach
- Restore service after outages and storms, including mutual aid travel and extended shifts
- Receive, update, and close outage tickets and work orders in the outage management system (OMS) and mobile work order apps on the truck’s tablet
- Perform switching and tagging under the dispatcher’s direction and confirm clearances before work begins
- Read construction prints, staking sheets, and one-line diagrams and build to the utility’s construction standards
- Complete job briefings, hazard assessments, and daily vehicle and equipment inspections
- Train and direct apprentices and groundmen on the crew
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Completion of a registered lineman apprenticeship or line school plus the hours for journeyman status
- Energized line work experience at distribution voltages (4 kV to 35 kV) using rubber glove methods, and at transmission voltages where the role requires it
- Pole climbing certification and bucket truck and digger derrick operation
- Class A CDL with air brake endorsement and a current DOT medical card
- Working knowledge of OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V, and the utility’s switching and tagging procedures
- Ability to read staking sheets, construction standards, and one-line diagrams
- Ability to view circuit maps and update as-built records in GIS field apps such as Esri ArcGIS Field Maps
- Rigging, knot tying, and load calculation for conductor pulls and pole sets
- Physical ability to climb, lift 100 pounds, and work at height in all weather
Soft skills
- Strict about the safety rules even when the crew is tired and the outage is long
- Willing to answer the phone at 2 a.m. during a storm and to travel for mutual aid
- Clear in job briefings so the apprentice understands the hazard, not only the task
- Steady under the pressure of restoring service with customers watching
Education
- High school diploma or GED
- Line school certificate or completed apprenticeship through a utility, IBEW local, or line contractor
Certifications
- Journeyman lineman card or apprenticeship completion certificate
- Class A CDL with a clean driving record, DOT medical card, and OSHA 10 or ET&D 10
- First aid, CPR, and pole-top and bucket rescue certification
Preferred Qualifications
- Transmission line experience at 69 kV and above
- Experience with underground residential distribution (URD) and cable splicing
- Hot stick and live-line tool experience in addition to rubber gloving
- Experience with distribution automation devices and SCADA switching
- Crane operator certification (NCCCO) for digger derrick work
- Prior storm restoration and mutual aid experience
- Fiber splicing or aerial strand experience for telecom roles
- Make-ready and pole attachment experience on rural fiber buildouts for telecom roles
How Much Does a Lineman Make?
Typical national range: $73,333 to $90,597, with a national average of $80,456. Salary data reviewed October 2026 by 4 Corner Resources.
Lineman salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Lineman is:
$80,456
Sample Job Description Templates for Linemen
Journeyman Lineman (Electric Utility)
Position Overview
We are hiring a Journeyman Lineman to join our distribution operations team serving 90,000 customers across 3 counties. You will build and maintain overhead and underground distribution lines, perform energized work using rubber glove methods, and restore service during outages. The role reports to the Line Supervisor, works a 4-day schedule with a rotating on-call week, and is a bargaining-unit position under the IBEW agreement.
Responsibilities
- Construct and maintain overhead and underground distribution facilities to cooperative standards
- Perform energized work at 7.2/12.47 kV and 14.4/24.9 kV using rubber glove methods
- Install and change out transformers, reclosers, and regulators
- Install and maintain automated switches, reclosers, and line sensors used in distribution automation
- Respond to outages and restore service during storms and on-call weeks
- Record work and close outage tickets on the truck tablet in the outage management system
- Perform switching and tagging under dispatcher direction
- Direct apprentices and groundmen on the crew
Requirements
Hard skills
- Journeyman lineman status through a registered apprenticeship or equivalent
- 4 or more years of distribution line experience, including energized work
- Class A CDL with air brake endorsement and a DOT medical card
- Bucket truck, digger derrick, and climbing proficiency
Soft skills
- Follows the safety rules without shortcuts
- Reliable during on-call and storm duty
- Teaches apprentices on the job
Education
- High school diploma or GED; line school certificate preferred
Certifications
- Journeyman card, Class A CDL, CPR and first aid, and pole-top rescue required
Preferred qualifications
- URD cable splicing experience
- Prior cooperative or municipal utility experience
Apprentice Lineman
Position Overview
Our electric utility is accepting applications for the Apprentice Lineman program, a 4-year registered apprenticeship that leads to journeyman status. You will work on a line crew under a journeyman, progress through 7,000 hours of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and take on energized work as you qualify. The program reports to the Training Supervisor, and apprentices work a 4-day schedule plus storm duty.
Responsibilities
- Assist the crew with setting poles, stringing conductor, and installing hardware
- Operate the digger derrick, bucket truck, and other equipment as qualified
- Learn and practice climbing, rigging, and energized work methods under supervision
- Complete the apprenticeship coursework and pass each step evaluation
- Perform job briefings, equipment inspections, and job site housekeeping
- Learn the mobile work order and GIS mapping apps used on the truck
- Respond to outages and storm duty with the crew
Requirements
Hard skills
- Line school certificate or 1 or more years as a groundman on a line crew
- Class A CDL, or a Class A permit with the license obtained within 6 months
- Ability to climb poles and pass the climbing evaluation
- Basic math and the ability to read construction prints
Soft skills
- Takes instruction and correction well
- Shows up on time in all weather
- Pays attention around energized equipment
Education
- High school diploma or GED
Certifications
- Class A CDL (or permit), DOT medical card, and the ability to pass a drug screen and physical
Preferred qualifications
- Northwest Lineman College, SLTC, or similar line school graduate
- Prior construction, military, or heavy equipment experience
Telecom and Fiber Line Technician
Position Overview
We are hiring a Fiber Line Technician to build and maintain our aerial and underground fiber network as we expand into new service areas. You will place strand and fiber on joint-use poles, install and splice fiber in aerial and underground enclosures, and troubleshoot outages with an OTDR. The role reports to the Outside Plant Supervisor and works days with a rotating on-call schedule. This is a telecom position, and electric utility experience is welcome but not required.
Responsibilities
- Place aerial strand and lash fiber cable on joint-use poles below the electric space
- Perform make-ready work and attachment transfers on joint-use poles to the pole owner’s standards
- Install underground fiber in conduit and direct-buried routes and set handholes and pedestals
- Splice fiber in aerial closures and underground enclosures and test with an OTDR and power meter
- Troubleshoot and repair fiber cuts and outages, including after-hours restoration
- Read construction drawings and splice diagrams and update as-built records in the GIS or fiber management software
- Maintain the bucket truck, splicing equipment, and tools
Requirements
Hard skills
- 2 or more years of outside plant construction experience with aerial and underground fiber
- Fiber splicing and testing with fusion splicers, OTDRs, and power meters
- Bucket truck operation and pole climbing with hooks for aerial work
- Class A or B CDL with a clean driving record
Soft skills
- Careful about working below energized electric lines
- Methodical in splice documentation
- Dependable on the on-call rotation
Education
- High school diploma or GED
Certifications
- OSHA 10, CDL, and pole climbing certification required; fiber certifications such as FOA CFOT preferred
Lead Lineman and Crew Foreman
Position Overview
Our line construction company is seeking a Lead Lineman to work as crew foreman on distribution construction, grid hardening, and storm restoration projects for utility customers across the Southeast. You will direct a 4-person crew, plan the day’s work from the staking sheets, hold job briefings, and perform energized work alongside the crew. The role reports to the General Foreman and includes per diem and a company truck when traveling.
Responsibilities
- Plan and direct daily work for the crew from construction prints and staking sheets
- Hold job briefings and enforce safety rules, including cover-up, grounding, and clearances
- Perform and supervise energized distribution work using rubber glove methods
- Coordinate switching, clearances, and outages with the customer utility’s dispatcher
- Track production, time, and material in the mobile timekeeping app and report to the General Foreman daily
- Lead the crew on storm restoration deployments, including extended travel
- Build grid hardening projects, including pole replacements, reconductoring, and undergrounding, to the customer utility’s standards
Requirements
Hard skills
- Journeyman lineman status with 6 or more years of distribution experience, including 2 or more years leading a crew
- Energized work experience up to 35 kV and familiarity with multiple utilities’ construction standards
- Class A CDL and DOT medical card
- Working knowledge of OSHA 1910.269 and the ability to conduct job briefings and incident reports
Soft skills
- Directs a crew with clear instructions and a calm tone
- Makes safe stop-work decisions under production pressure
- Communicates daily with utility inspectors and the General Foreman
Education
- High school diploma or GED; line school certificate preferred
Certifications
- Journeyman card, Class A CDL, OSHA 10 or ET&D 10, CPR and first aid, and pole-top and bucket rescue required
Preferred qualifications
- NCCCO crane operator certification
- Multi-state storm restoration experience