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Groundman vs power line lineman

The differences between groundmen and power line linemen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a power line lineman has an average salary of $69,711, which is higher than the $64,471 average annual salary of a groundman.

The top three skills for a groundman include hand tools, safety rules and physical labor. The most important skills for a power line lineman are hand tools, CDL, and OSHA.

Groundman vs power line lineman overview

GroundmanPower Line Lineman
Yearly salary$64,471$69,711
Hourly rate$31.00$33.51
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs4,22149,714
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 55%High School Diploma, 41%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

What does a groundman do?

A ground man is primarily responsible for performing support tasks for power line construction, repair, or maintenance. Their responsibilities include preparing sites by digging holes, setting up poles, and even notifying clients for any power or service interruption. They also assist linemen or technicians by clearing any obstructions, providing guidelines, handing any needed tools or objects, and even operating different devices and machines. Furthermore, a groundsman is also responsible for clearing out sites after operations, ensuring the public's safety and the area's cleanliness.

What does a power line lineman do?

Power line linemen earn an average of $74K per year. They must have understanding of electrical and power equipment, electrical currents, voltage, and resistance, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills. Those interested in this as a career will require a high school diploma or GED and knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, and electrical systems. They set up and maintain power lines for utility companies and are the first responders when natural disasters cause blackouts.

Groundman vs power line lineman salary

Groundmen and power line linemen have different pay scales, as shown below.

GroundmanPower Line Lineman
Average salary$64,471$69,711
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $91,000Between $50,000 And $96,000
Highest paying CityBeaverton, OR-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyMDU Resources-
Best paying industryEnergy-

Differences between groundman and power line lineman education

There are a few differences between a groundman and a power line lineman in terms of educational background:

GroundmanPower Line Lineman
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 55%High School Diploma, 41%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyBusiness
Most common college--

Groundman vs power line lineman demographics

Here are the differences between groundmen' and power line linemen' demographics:

GroundmanPower Line Lineman
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 95.5% Female, 4.5%Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 1.2% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.2% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between groundman and power line lineman duties and responsibilities

Groundman example responsibilities.

  • Operate chain saws, pruners, brush chippers, and climb trees using climbing equipment.
  • Work on grind grid, install pedestals, switches, breakers, bus, center tech.
  • Gain experience with fiber optics, team building, OSHA safety standards, cable and internet systems
  • Cut down trees using appropriate notches, hinges, and wedges.
  • Work with ropes and pulleys.
  • Learned about OSHA laws and work safety.
  • Show more

Power line lineman example responsibilities.

  • Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers, cable plows and backhoes.
  • Set up cranes at work location and establish a control access zone to prevent injury to others on the job site.
  • Obtain multiple certifications for various machines.

Groundman vs power line lineman skills

Common groundman skills
  • Hand Tools, 17%
  • Safety Rules, 13%
  • Physical Labor, 11%
  • CDL, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Distribution Systems, 8%
Common power line lineman skills
  • Hand Tools, 20%
  • CDL, 18%
  • OSHA, 16%
  • Electrical Distribution, 11%
  • Distribution Systems, 10%
  • Distribution Lines, 9%

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