Journeyman lineman vs plumber

The differences between journeyman linemen and plumbers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a journeyman lineman, becoming a plumber takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a journeyman lineman has an average salary of $77,257, which is higher than the $55,337 average annual salary of a plumber.

The top three skills for a journeyman lineman include CDL, switches and customer service. The most important skills for a plumber are plumbing, hand tools, and plumbers.

Journeyman lineman vs plumber overview

	Journeyman Lineman	Plumber
Yearly salary	$77,257	$55,337
Hourly rate	$37.14	$26.60
Growth rate	7%	2%
Number of jobs	9,469	12,307
Job satisfaction	-	4.4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	12	4

What does a journeyman lineman do?

A journeyman lineman specializes in the installation, repair, and maintenance of electrical systems and other supplementary equipment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around climbing up and working on power lines and electrical cables, reading and understanding wiring systems, reporting progress or issues to supervisors, performing regular inspections and providing corrective measures, and removing any obstructions in wires or power lines. Because of the risks surrounding the job, it is crucial to adhere to all the safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment.

What does a plumber do?

Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.

Journeyman lineman vs plumber salary

Journeyman linemen and plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Journeyman Lineman	Plumber
Average salary	$77,257	$55,337
Salary range	Between $52,000 And $114,000	Between $36,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	Eureka, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	Oregon
Best paying company	Pacific Gas and Electric	Kern Community College District
Best paying industry	Utilities	Finance

Differences between journeyman lineman and plumber education

There are a few differences between a journeyman lineman and a plumber in terms of educational background:

	Journeyman Lineman	Plumber
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering Technology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Journeyman lineman vs plumber demographics

Here are the differences between journeyman linemen' and plumbers' demographics:

	Journeyman Lineman	Plumber
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3%	Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 2.2% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	3%	2%

Differences between journeyman lineman and plumber duties and responsibilities

Journeyman lineman example responsibilities.

Install switchgear, capacitors, voltage regulators, risers, lightning arrestors, and other protective devices.
Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturb or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
Use a variety of construction equipment to complete installations, such as digger derricks, trenchers, or cable plows.
Maintain and repair all overhead distribution equipment to include cabling, transformers, and all associate overhead distribution equipment.
Perform preventative maintenance, troubleshot breakdowns and repair malfunctioning HVAC systems and components, utilize measuring and testing instruments.
Certify welder (MIG) ASE.

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Plumber example responsibilities.

Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
Replace old copper and cast iron plumbing, install PEX water lines, CPVC lines and PVC lines.
Learned how to read blueprints, use plumbing math and read sub/spec data.
Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using various techniques, including caulking, soldering, and brazing.
Install, repair and maintain plumbing systems and components including toilets, urinals, faucets, hose bibs drains, etc.
Dig trenches for new pipeline.

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Journeyman lineman vs plumber skills

Common journeyman lineman skills

CDL, 13%
Switches, 11%
Customer Service, 6%
Climb Poles, 5%
Electrical Equipment, 5%
OSHA, 5%

Common plumber skills

Plumbing, 23%
Hand Tools, 7%
Plumbers, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
Cast Iron, 4%
Pipe Systems, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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