What does a lineman apprentice do?
A lineman apprentice is responsible for assisting linemen in the installation and maintenance of electrical power systems. You will often report to the journeyman lineman or a technician. The tasks that you will perform varies and typically include assisting linemen with equipment, taking measurements, and performing repairs and maintenance electrical connections. In this role, you will learn some safe climbing techniques and working safely around high-voltage electrical equipment. A lineman apprenticeship typically includes classroom instruction and hands-on training.
Lineman apprentice responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lineman apprentice resumes:
- Promote a safe work area in accordance to OSHA standards.
- Maintain power lines, asset with crews with safety, etc ...
- Operate trenchers and cable plows to dig trenches for laying underground cables.
- Build 59 kV transmission power line over 13 miles, connecting two substations.
- Change out or install poles, cross-arms, insulators, transformers, capacitors, regulators, switches and other distribution apparatus.
- Participate in the construction or removal of telecommunication towers or associate support structures.
- Grind support for hotline work; use and maintenance of digger and bucket trucks; compressors; bobcats.
- Bury underground conduit and install peds as well.
Lineman apprentice skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Lineman Apprentices are proficient in CDL, Switches, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Color vision, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Lineman Apprentices that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CDL, 18%
Operated a Class A CDL Truck and carried a pole trailer often.
- Switches, 9%
Organized, planned, and conducted installation of poles, transformers, fuses, switches, and power lines.
- OSHA, 7%
Observed OSHA and customer safety requirements and tree trimming.
- Hand Tools, 6%
Gained extensive proficiency in use of hydraulic and hand tools, shotgun stick and hot sticks.
- Bucket Truck, 6%
Experience operating and maintaining Mini Excavator, Residential Fiber Optic drop installation utilizing bucket trucks and telephone pole climbing.
- Safety Practices, 5%
Load up conductor reels for wire pull in with good communication and safety practices.
Most lineman apprentices use their skills in "cdl," "switches," and "osha" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential lineman apprentice responsibilities here:
Color vision. Another essential skill to perform lineman apprentice duties is color vision. Lineman apprentices responsibilities require that "workers who handle electrical wires and cables must distinguish colors because the wires and cables are often color coded." Lineman apprentices also use color vision in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked under the direct supervision of a foremen building, maintaining, and restoring power lines for the texas utility oncor. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of lineman apprentices is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday lineman apprentice duties, as "line installers and repairers must be strong enough to lift heavy tools, cables, and equipment on a regular basis." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "monitor compliance to operational, safety, or inventory control procedures, including physical safety standards. "
Troubleshooting skills. For certain lineman apprentice responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "troubleshooting skills." The day-to-day duties of a lineman apprentice rely on this skill, as "line installers and repairers must diagnose problems in increasingly complex electrical systems and telecommunication lines." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what lineman apprentices do: "restore power to customers when outages occur.troubleshooting power outages and maintaining distribution lines. "
Mechanical skills. Another common skill required for lineman apprentice responsibilities is "mechanical skills." This skill comes up in the duties of lineman apprentices all the time, as "line installers and repairers must have the knowledge and skills to repair or replace complex electrical and telecommunications lines and equipment." An excerpt from a real lineman apprentice resume shows how this skill is central to what a lineman apprentice does: "operated various types of mechanical and electrical equipment, including substation apparatus and switchgear. "
Teamwork. Another skill commonly found on lineman apprentice job descriptions is "teamwork." It can come up quite often in lineman apprentice duties, since "because workers often rely on their fellow crew members for their safety, teamwork is critical." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day lineman apprentice responsibilities: "exhibited excellent teamwork and a strong work ethic by promoting camaraderie. "
The three companies that hire the most lineman apprentices are:
- Pike28 lineman apprentices jobs
- MasTec9 lineman apprentices jobs
- American Electric Power3 lineman apprentices jobs
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Compare different lineman apprentices
Lineman apprentice vs. Cable installer repairer
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a lineman apprentice are more likely to require skills like "cdl," "switches," "osha," and "hand tools." On the other hand, a job as a cable installer repairer requires skills like "tv," "communications systems," "voip," and "distribution systems." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that cable installer repairers earn slightly differ from lineman apprentices. In particular, cable installer repairers are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a lineman apprentice. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lineman apprentice vs. Underground conduit installer
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, lineman apprentice responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "switches," "osha," "hand tools," and "bucket truck." Meanwhile, an underground conduit installer has duties that require skills in areas such as "water lines," "underground utilities," "equipment operation," and "dig." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Underground conduit installers tend to reach similar levels of education than lineman apprentices. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lineman apprentice vs. Service crew leader
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, lineman apprentices are more likely to have skills like "cdl," "switches," "osha," and "hand tools." But a service crew leader is more likely to have skills like "cleanliness," "ladders," "food orders," and "safety standards."
Service crew leaders earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $47,085. Lineman apprentices earn the highest pay from the utilities industry, with an average salary of $51,303.service crew leaders typically earn similar educational levels compared to lineman apprentices. Specifically, they're 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lineman apprentice vs. Electric serviceman
Even though a few skill sets overlap between lineman apprentices and electric servicemen, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a lineman apprentice might have more use for skills like "switches," "osha," "hand tools," and "bucket truck." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of electric servicemen require skills like "electrical distribution lines," "electrical systems," "construction projects," and "mechanical problems. "
In general, electric servicemen hold similar degree levels compared to lineman apprentices. Electric servicemen are 0.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of lineman apprentice
Updated January 8, 2025
