How to hire an aerial lineman

How to hire an aerial lineman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step aerial lineman hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an aerial lineman job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new aerial lineman
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The aerial lineman hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect aerial lineman also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of aerial linemen.

   Type of Aerial Lineman	Description	Hourly rate
   Aerial Lineman	Line installers and repairers, also known as line workers, install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.	$23-45
   Locator	A locator or utility locator is a professional who is responsible for locating, identifying, and marking underground utilities before the start of construction or other projects in an area. Locators are required to read maps and blueprints to determine where utilities are located and protect those underground utilities from damage during excavation... Show more	$10-27
   Cable Splicer	Cable splicers are skilled employees who are responsible for installing, splicing, testing, and repairing high-voltage overhead, underground, or submarine cables or wires. To reach the location of these high-voltage cables, cable splicers are required to climb utility poles, utilize truck-mounted lift buck, and descend into underground manholes... Show more	$14-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Bucket Truck
   • CDL
   • Ladders
   • Hand Tools
   • DOT
   • Troubleshoot
   • OSHA
   • Utility Poles
   • Pole Transfers
   • Construction Equipment
   • Telecommunication
   • NESC
   • RF
   • CATV

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Dig in anchors and install down guys.
   • Operate ariel truck in placement of telephone cables.
   • Operate bucket truck, ditch witch, augers, boring machine.
   • Inspect and correct violations on poles to meet NESC requirements (Centurylink).
   • Operate heavy equipment, clipping, dead ending, power line maintenance, new build construction.
   • Position require climbing and descending of telephone poles in a safe and timely manner under OSHA requirements.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your aerial lineman job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An aerial lineman can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, aerial linemen' average salary in louisiana is 39% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level aerial linemen 48% less than senior-level aerial linemen.
   • Certifications. An aerial lineman with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an aerial lineman's salary.

   Average aerial lineman salary

   $68,702yearly

   $33.03 hourly rate

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   Entry-level aerial lineman salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 28, 2026

4. Writing an aerial lineman job description

   An aerial lineman job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an aerial lineman job description:

   Aerial lineman job description example

   • Ability to work aloft.
   • Must have manual dexterity and the ability to utilize various hand tools and test equipment.
   • Must be able to drive a truck or van including a truck/van with an aerial lift
   • Must be able to utilize and manipulate hand and splicing tools as well as test equipment.
   • Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

   • Must be able to see monitor to read and observe cable levels and displays and identify colors.
   • Must be able to type on a computer, and utilize a smart phone to read and update prints.
   • Must be able to kneel, crawl, push, pull, bend, stoop, lift and dig.
   • Must meet and maintain Company’s safe weight policy.

   WORK ENVIRONMENT

   Working conditions may be considered hazardous or unpleasant caused by traffic, weather, lighting conditions, climbing, or being underground. Will be exposed to dust, and some chemical fumes/ materials such heat shrink, and gases and fumes which are given off when shrink material is heated by torch, gasoline fumes, RTV, silicon lubricant, etc.

   MATERIALS AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT USED

   Hand tools, splicing tools, two-way test equipment, ladders, drills, power meter, field strength meter, voltmeter, truck, bucket truck, van, heat shrink, cleansers, computer, calculator, plant prints, lasher, ropes, chain hoist and electronic schematics.

   Management reserves the right to add or change job duties and requirements at any time.

   The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

   BENEFITS

   • Paid Training
   • Paid Time Off (holiday and vacation)
   • Performance Incentive Bonuses
   • Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability Insurance
   • 401K Retirement Plan with company match

   Please visit our website at www.btscable.com to apply online and learn more about our company.

   Broadband Telecom Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age handicap, disability, marital status, veteran status, reserve or National Guard status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find aerial linemen for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any aerial linemen they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level aerial linemen with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your aerial lineman job on Zippia to find and recruit aerial lineman candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit aerial linemen, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new aerial lineman

   Once you've found the aerial lineman candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new aerial lineman. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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