How to become a lineman apprentice

Most positions offered four years of paid apprenticeship on-the-job training (7,000 hours) as well as in-classroom training before becoming a Journeyman Lineman. To advance to becoming a Journeyman Lineman, it is helpful to have at least a two-year associate’s technical degree or certification from a trade school.

As of Jun 2, 2021, the average annual pay for a Lineman Groundman in the United States is $47,049 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $22.62 an hour. This is the equivalent of $905/week or $3,921/month.

Utility work is essential for keeping electricity running into our homes, but it is also highly dangerous. Linemen risk falls, electric shocks, burns, and other injuries while on the job every day, and these incidents can even be fatal.

According to NTOF data, the average annual fatality rate for power line workers is 56.3 deaths per 100,000 employees.

To be a lineman, you must have incredible physical and mental strength. Working on the line means hauling gear, pulling thick cable and wire, and not minding having to work long hours day or night. Every day is different, from challenging jobsites to working in all types of extreme weather.

Being a power lineman is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America. There are approximately 21 lineman deaths per 100,000 workers.

We typically work 16–18 hour days until the utility is confident they can take care of the remaining outages themselves. At one time, linemen worked 24/hrs taking naps until the power was back on, this however is a huge risk to the workers due to fatigue mixed with the inherent dangers of the job.