What does a locator do?
A locator or utility locator is an individual 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. They must be able to operate small or medium-sized vehicles and direct traffic away from the worksite.
Locator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real locator resumes:
- Work on utility poles, platforms, aerial ladders and manholes and to perform job duties.
- Limit use & knowledge of GPR technology.
- Create splices from secondary voltage up to 24 KV.
- Supply technical support of DSL circuits for high speed internet customers.
- Install and repair phone and DSL service to residential and businesses.
- Locate and take GPS shots on gas pipeline also pick up copper wire
- Supervise a crew in utility locating, vacuum excavation, and GIS mapping.
- Locate underground utilities: telephone, electric, cable TV, and fiber optic.
- Locate buried underground utilities for customers under contract with USIC to protect and maintain facilities.
- Assist in the placing of OSP facilities: including aerial, bury, and underground facilities.
- Operate various electromagnetic equipment, GPR (grind penetrating radar) and soft dig test hole equipment.
- Mark underground utilities throughout the Charlotte area to include power, telephone, cable TV, and gas.
- Maintain OSHA safety certifications and regulations approve by federal and state requirements.
- Maintain high levels of communication and continuity with both contractors on site and those under contract with USIC.
- Used computers to document location of utilities with cameras, through written descriptions, and basic GPS techniques.
Locator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Locators are proficient in Necessary Paperwork, Working Independently, and TV. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of Locators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Necessary Paperwork, 16%
Read and interpret utility maps, completing necessary paperwork and taking pictures of each location.
- Working Independently, 14%
Produce a high production number while working independently Communicate with various contractors to ensure scope of work for excavation is covered.
- TV, 13%
Located the following utilities in Central Indiana: communications, electric, gas and cable TV.
- Water Lines, 7%
Excavate utilities such as water lines, power lines, gas mains, sewer laterals, and telecommunication lines.
- Professional Appearance, 6%
Operate company vehicle in a safe manner, and maintain professional appearance.
- Electronic Equipment, 5%
Locate underground utilities with electronic equipment* Work closely with contractors and clients* Familiar with gas, power, and telephone lines
Common skills that a locator uses to do their job include "necessary paperwork," "working independently," and "tv." You can find details on the most important locator responsibilities below.
Troubleshooting skills. This is an important skill for locators to perform their duties. For an example of how locator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "line installers and repairers must diagnose problems in increasingly complex electrical systems and telecommunication lines." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a locator: "train new employees in basic locating principles, safety practices, marking procedures, and troubleshooting. ".
Color vision. locator responsibilities often require "color vision." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "workers who handle electrical wires and cables must distinguish colors because the wires and cables are often color coded." This resume example shows what locators do with color vision on a typical day: "utilize radiodetection rd4000, computer based utility prints, proper paint colors for each utility, and basic hand tools. "
Mechanical skills. Another crucial skill for a locator to carry out their responsibilities is "mechanical skills." A big part of what locators relies on this skill, since "line installers and repairers must have the knowledge and skills to repair or replace complex electrical and telecommunications lines and equipment." How this skill relates to locator duties can be seen in an example from a locator resume snippet: "operated and maintains mechanical and electronic equipment. "
Physical strength. Another skill commonly found on locator job descriptions is "physical strength." It can come up quite often in locator duties, since "line installers and repairers must be strong enough to lift heavy tools, cables, and equipment on a regular basis." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day locator responsibilities: "level iii locator identified underground utilities using geophysical equipment. "
The three companies that hire the most locators are:
- USIC482 locators jobs
- Deloitte114 locators jobs
- Whole Foods Market95 locators jobs
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Compare different locators
Locator vs. Cable splicing technician
A fiber optic technician is someone who works with the optical cables and fibers used in communications data transmission. Fiber optic technicians fuse fibers together, install fiber cables, and splice fibers in buildings and beneath the ground. They take responsibility for fiber optic network installation and maintenance in schools, homes, businesses, and any other organizations. They identify the solutions to issues or problems to prevent fiber optic systems from their optimal performance.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, locator responsibilities require skills like "necessary paperwork," "working independently," "tv," and "water lines." Meanwhile a typical cable splicing technician has skills in areas such as "ladders," "dot," "test equipment," and "crawl spaces." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, cable splicing technicians reach similar levels of education than locators. Cable splicing technicians are 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Locator vs. Cable splicer apprentice
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that locator responsibilities requires skills like "necessary paperwork," "working independently," "tv," and "water lines." But a cable splicer apprentice might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "fiber optic," "electrical equipment," "kv," and "distribution systems."
Cable splicer apprentices earn similar levels of education than locators in general. They're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Locator vs. Fiber optic technician
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, locators are more likely to have skills like "necessary paperwork," "working independently," "tv," and "water lines." But a fiber optic technician is more likely to have skills like "ladders," "power meters," "test equipment," and "otdr."
Most fiber optic technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to locators. For example, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Locator vs. Construction lineman
Types of locator
Updated January 8, 2025
