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What is a utility lineman and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a utility lineman. For example, did you know that they make an average of $33.28 an hour? That's $69,220 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 13,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreUtility LinemanUS Average
Salary
5.4

Avg. Salary $69,220

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.2

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 3.81%

Black or African American 9.72%

Hispanic or Latino 14.26%

Unknown 5.75%

White 65.67%

Gender

female 5.26%

male 94.74%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Utility lineman career paths

Key steps to become a utility lineman

  1. Explore utility lineman education requirements

    Most common utility lineman degrees

    High School Diploma

    45.8 %

    Associate

    29.2 %

    Bachelor's

    8.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific utility lineman skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Electrical Systems61.09%
    Line Trucks26.68%
    Street Lights6.33%
    DOT5.89%
  3. Complete relevant utility lineman training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New utility linemen learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a utility lineman based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real utility lineman resumes.
  4. Research utility lineman duties and responsibilities

    • Set up cranes at work location and establish a control access zone to prevent injury to others on the job site.
    • Used gaffs, ladders, and bucket trucks.
    • Have lineman skills of pole climbing with gaffs.
    • Edit, and maintain filing system for all engineer drawings utilizing AutoCAD.
  5. Prepare your utility lineman resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your utility lineman resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a utility lineman resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable utility lineman resume templates

    Build a professional utility lineman resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your utility lineman resume.
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
    Utility Lineman Resume
  6. Apply for utility lineman jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a utility lineman job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first utility lineman job

Zippi

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Average utility lineman salary

The average utility lineman salary in the United States is $69,220 per year or $33 per hour. Utility lineman salaries range between $49,000 and $95,000 per year.

Average utility lineman salary
$69,220 Yearly
$33.28 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do utility linemen rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

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2 stars

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Utility lineman reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

Love giving back to the community by keeping the lights on and a happy community

Cons

You could put yourself in danger if you're not careful.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

Taking pride on what you do


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

The opportunities that will come with education provided as well a new working environment , overall just learning something new. Being able to look forward to a new line of work.

Cons

None at this time


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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