Lineman Career Guide 2025: Apprenticeship, Journeyman Pay, Storm Work
Complete guide to becoming a lineman. Learn about IBEW and UWUA union apprenticeships, journeyman certification, $92K median salary, storm restoration work earning $150K-$200K+, transmission vs. distribution paths, and major utility employers.
📋 What You'll Learn
- ✓ How to become a lineman via IBEW/UWUA apprenticeships or lineman schools
- ✓ Salary ranges: $42K apprentice → $92K journeyman → $150K+ storm work
- ✓ Distribution vs. transmission linework, underground vs. overhead systems
- ✓ Storm restoration opportunities and traveling lineman lifestyle
- ✓ Major employers: investor-owned utilities, co-ops, municipal utilities, contractors
Nobody Dreams of Climbing Poles in Ice Storms
Let's be real: nobody grows up dreaming of being 50 feet up a pole at 2 AM in freezing rain, working on 7,200-volt lines. But here's why we do it—linemen make $85K-$125K+ because most people won't do what we do. You're working on energized high-voltage equipment where one mistake means you're dead. Not injured—dead. That's not me being dramatic, that's Tuesday during storm season.
I'll never forget Hurricane Ian in 2022. Over 2.6 million customers lost power, and within 72 hours, 30,000+ linemen from 46 states rolled into Florida like a blue-collar army. These guys worked 16-hour days in brutal heat, sleeping in hotel parking lots, rebuilding entire neighborhoods' electrical systems from scratch. And yeah, they got paid—$5K-$10K per week during those three weeks.
My buddy Jake worked Duke Energy in North Carolina for 12 years. He told me straight up: "Best decision I ever made was skipping college and going into the trades." He's clearing $140K annually with overtime and storm work, owns his house outright, and has a pension that'll pay him 70% of his salary when he retires at 55. Meanwhile, his college buddies are still paying off student loans.
Look, linework isn't for everyone. You're climbing 30-150+ foot poles and towers, working with voltages that can instantly stop your heart (7,200V to 765,000V), operating heavy equipment in blizzards and hurricanes. It's consistently ranked among the most dangerous jobs in America—about 20 deaths per 100,000 workers annually. But if you can handle the risk, the heights, and the brutal hours, you'll never worry about job security or money again. The lights HAVE to stay on, and we're the only ones who can keep them on.
The Safety Story Nobody Talks About
My buddy Marcus almost died three years into the job. We were replacing insulators on a 34.5kV transmission line—he thought the line was de-energized because dispatch said it was clear. It wasn't. The switching order got screwed up upstream, and when his bare hand brushed the conductor while unhooking a hot stick, 34,500 volts arced through his body.
The only reason he lived is because he was wearing FR (flame-resistant) gear and rubber gloves, and the arc threw him backward off the crossarm instead of locking his muscles onto the wire. He spent six weeks in the burn unit with third-degree burns on his hands and chest. His first words when he could talk again? "I forgot to test it myself. I trusted dispatch."
That story is not rare. Every lineman knows someone who's been seriously hurt or killed—electrocution, falls from poles, bucket trucks getting hit on the highway. This is why the pay is $85K-$125K+. Employers aren't being generous—they're compensating you for risking your life every single day. Respect the voltage, follow lockout/tagout procedures religiously, never skip PPE, and assume every line is hot until YOU personally verify it's dead. Your life depends on it.
The Physical Reality They Don't Show in the Recruiting Videos
You're gonna be cold, hot, wet, exhausted, and sore—sometimes all in the same week. Winter storm duty means working in -10°F windchill, climbing ice-coated poles with metal gaffs, your hands so cold inside rubber gloves you can barely grip your tools. Summer means 95°F heat indexes, wearing long sleeves and FR pants (because arc flash), climbing poles in full sun until you're dripping sweat and your legs are cramping.
Hurricane season? You're working 16-hour days for 2-3 weeks straight, away from home, living in hotel parking lots or crew camps. You eat, sleep (maybe 4-5 hours), and work. Your body aches constantly—shoulders, back, legs from climbing all day. You'll go home after storm work and sleep for two days straight.
And yeah, it's hard on your body long-term. Guys in their 50s have bad knees from climbing, bad backs from years of wearing tool belts, hearing loss from working around equipment. But here's the thing—by your 50s, if you stayed in the trade, you've got a pension waiting, you've made $100K-$140K+ annually for 20+ years, and you can retire at 55 if you want. Not many desk jobs offer that.
💰 What You'll Actually Make (Let's Talk Real Numbers)
Here's the thing nobody tells you: your first-year apprentice paycheck is gonna feel weak—$42K sounds decent until you realize you're working 50-60 hour weeks during storm season and your body hurts constantly. But stick with it. By year three of your apprenticeship, you're clearing $54K-$62K and actually know what you're doing. When you turn journeyman at year four or five? That's when the money gets real.
My buddy Steve journeyed out in 2019 making $38/hour base ($79K). He worked Hurricane Laura that year—three weeks straight, 16-hour days, stayed in a crew hotel in Lake Charles eating per diem meals. His take-home for those three weeks? $18,500. Add that to his regular year and he cleared $140K total. Now he's a 10-year journeyman making $52/hour ($108K base) and he's never worried about money once since turning out.
The union vs. non-union gap is massive, by the way. I know a non-union guy in Georgia making $28/hour with garbage health insurance. Meanwhile, union linemen in the same market are pulling $42/hour plus full family health coverage and a pension. Do the math over 30 years—that's a million-dollar difference in lifetime earnings and retirement. If you get a union apprenticeship offer, take it. Don't even think twice.
Salary Progression by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Typical Role | Hourly Rate | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Year 1 | Groundman / Helper | $20–$25 | $42,000–$52,000 |
| Apprentice Year 2 | Apprentice Lineman | $23–$28 | $48,000–$58,000 |
| Apprentice Year 3-4 | Senior Apprentice | $26–$30 | $54,000–$62,000 |
| Journeyman (0–5 years) | Journeyman Lineman | $35–$45 | $73,000–$94,000 |
| Journeyman (5–15 years) | Senior Journeyman / Specialist | $42–$52 | $87,000–$108,000 |
| Journeyman (15+ years) | Lead Lineman / First Class | $48–$55 | $100,000–$115,000 |
| Foreman (10–20 years) | Crew Foreman / General Foreman | $50–$65 | $104,000–$135,000 |
| Supervisor (20+ years) | Line Superintendent / Manager | Salaried | $110,000–$150,000+ |
Pay by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Journeyman Base | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) | $80,000–$110,000 | Duke Energy, PG&E, ComEd, Southern Company—highest pay, best benefits, strong union, pension |
| Rural Electric Co-ops | $70,000–$95,000 | Member-owned, strong community ties, good benefits, less storm travel, work-life balance |
| Municipal Utilities | $75,000–$100,000 | City-owned (LADWP, Austin Energy, SMUD)—stable employment, government benefits, local work |
| Contractor (Union) | $75,000–$110,000 | Quanta, MasTec, Pike Electric—project-based, extensive travel, storm work opportunities |
| Contractor (Non-Union) | $60,000–$85,000 | Smaller independent contractors—lower pay, fewer benefits, more flexible hiring |
| Traveling/Storm Contractor | $100,000–$200,000+ | Specialized storm restoration crews—massive OT, per diem, away from home 200+ days/year |
💰 Real Storm Season Numbers (From a Guy I Know)
I talked to Marcus, a traveling lineman from Georgia, right after Hurricane Ian. He showed me his paystubs—and honestly, I couldn't believe what storm work pays. Here's what he made working Ian restoration for three weeks straight:
- • Base pay: $45/hour × 16 hours/day × 21 days = $15,120
- • Overtime premium (8 hrs OT/day at 1.5x): $45 × 1.5 × 8 × 21 = $11,340
- • Per diem (meals/lodging): $150/day × 21 days = $3,150
- • Hazard pay (hurricane conditions): $5/hour × 16 × 21 = $1,680
- Total for 3 weeks: $31,290
Marcus told me, "Yeah, I'm away from home 200+ days a year, but I cleared $187K last year. My wife and I bought a house cash." Major storms hit 2-4 months annually (hurricanes June-November, ice storms December-March), and that's when traveling linemen make their money. If you can handle being away from home and the physical grind, the money's absolutely there.
⚡ What is Linework?
Linemen build, maintain, and repair the electrical power grid—from massive 765,000-volt transmission lines spanning hundreds of miles to the 7,200-volt distribution lines delivering power to neighborhoods. The work is divided into two main specialties:
🏘️ Distribution Linework
Working on lower-voltage lines (120V-34,500V) that deliver power from substations to customers.
Typical Work:
- • Install and maintain wooden poles (30-60 ft) along roads and neighborhoods
- • Hang transformers (single-phase 25-167 kVA, three-phase up to 500 kVA)
- • Run service drops to homes and businesses
- • Troubleshoot outages, replace fuses, repair storm damage
- • Install underground cables in conduit or direct burial
- • Work hot (energized) using rubber gloves and hot sticks
Equipment Used:
- • Bucket trucks (aerial lifts 30-60 ft)
- • Digger derricks (drill holes, set poles)
- • Hot sticks (insulated tools for live work)
- • Rubber gloves rated for voltage class
🗼 Transmission Linework
Working on high-voltage lines (69,000V-765,000V) that move bulk power across long distances.
Typical Work:
- • Build and maintain steel lattice towers (80-200+ ft tall)
- • String conductor (cables) across miles of right-of-way
- • Install insulators, spacers, dampers on high-voltage lines
- • Perform live-line maintenance using helicopters and specialized tools
- • Work in remote areas (mountains, deserts, forests)
- • Coordinate with grid operators to de-energize lines for major work
Equipment Used:
- • Large cranes (60-300 ton capacity)
- • Helicopters (for conductor stringing, live work)
- • Tensioners and pullers (string wire)
- • Barehand hot sticks (work at tower potential)
🛠️ Lineman Career Paths
1. Distribution Lineman
Core Responsibilities:
- • Install new power lines and transformers in growing neighborhoods
- • Perform routine maintenance: inspect poles, tighten connections, trim vegetation clearances
- • Respond to outages and emergency repairs (24/7 on-call rotation)
- • Troubleshoot power quality issues, replace failed equipment
- • Upgrade aging infrastructure: replace wood poles, uprate transformers, convert overhead to underground
- • Work energized lines using rubber gloves, hot sticks, and cover-up procedures
💡 Who It's For:
Linemen who prefer working closer to home with more variety (residential, commercial, industrial customers). Distribution work is the most common path—80% of linemen work distribution. Involves more customer interaction, diverse daily tasks, and frequent troubleshooting. Less travel than transmission, better work-life balance.
Typical Work Week:
- • 40-50 hour weeks (M-F standard, plus on-call rotation 1 week/month)
- • Local service territory (within 50-100 mile radius of base)
- • Mix of planned work (60%) and emergency response (40%)
- • Overtime during storms, outages, or major construction projects
2. Transmission Lineman
Core Responsibilities:
- • Construct new high-voltage transmission lines (69kV-765kV)
- • String conductor using helicopters, tensioners, and specialized rigging
- • Climb steel lattice towers (80-200+ ft) to install/maintain hardware
- • Perform live-line maintenance using barehand techniques or hot sticks
- • Replace insulators, spacers, vibration dampers on energized lines
- • Work in remote locations often requiring extended stays (camps, hotels)
💡 Who It's For:
Experienced linemen (typically 3-10+ years distribution first) who want specialized, high-paying work. Transmission requires advanced skills, comfort with extreme heights, and willingness to travel extensively. Work is often remote (mountain crossings, desert corridors), involves larger crews (5-15 linemen), and uses heavy equipment. Premium pay (10-20% above distribution) reflects specialized skills and travel demands.
Key Skills:
- • Tower climbing expertise (free climbing, belted positioning, rescue techniques)
- • Advanced rigging and conductor stringing knowledge
- • Live-line work certification (barehand, hot stick methods)
- • Understanding of transmission system operations and grid stability
3. Traveling Lineman (Storm Chaser)
Core Responsibilities:
- • Travel to disaster zones (hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, wildfires) for power restoration
- • Work 16-hour days (dawn to midnight) during emergency operations
- • Rebuild damaged infrastructure: replace broken poles, restring downed wire, restore service
- • Coordinate with utility crews, FEMA, and emergency management
- • Live in hotels, RVs, or temporary camps for weeks/months during restoration
- • Perform all distribution tasks under extreme time pressure and challenging conditions
💡 Who It's For:
Experienced journeymen (5+ years) who prioritize earnings over home time. Traveling linemen are away from home 150-250+ days per year, following storm seasons (hurricanes June-November, ice storms December-March, wildfire restoration year-round). Lifestyle is demanding but lucrative—top earners make $150K-$250K annually through massive overtime and per diem. Requires strong work ethic, physical endurance, and family support for extended absences.
Major Storm Seasons:
- • Hurricane season (June-November): Gulf Coast, East Coast, Caribbean
- • Ice storms (December-March): Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic
- • Wildfire restoration (year-round): California, Oregon, Colorado
- • Severe weather (April-August): Tornado Alley (OK, KS, TX, MO)
4. Substation Technician / Electrician
Core Responsibilities:
- • Install and maintain substation equipment: transformers, circuit breakers, switches, relays
- • Perform high-voltage switching operations to isolate equipment for maintenance
- • Test and calibrate protective relays and control systems
- • Troubleshoot substation automation and SCADA systems
- • Upgrade aging equipment and integrate renewable energy interconnections
- • Coordinate outages with grid operators to minimize customer impact
💡 Who It's For:
Linemen or electricians who prefer technical electrical work over climbing. Substation work is more ground-based, involves complex electrical systems, and requires strong understanding of protection and control. Less physically demanding than linework but requires precision and electrical theory knowledge. More regular hours (fewer emergency calls), good option for older linemen or those seeking career change.
5. Foreman / Superintendent
Core Responsibilities:
- • Supervise crews of 3-12 linemen on construction or maintenance projects
- • Plan daily work, assign tasks, ensure safety compliance and quality standards
- • Coordinate with engineering, operations, and other utilities/contractors
- • Manage materials, equipment, and labor costs on projects
- • Conduct safety meetings, toolbox talks, and incident investigations
- • Mentor apprentices and develop journeymen into future leaders
💡 Who It's For:
Senior journeymen (10-20+ years) with leadership skills and comprehensive technical knowledge. Foremen balance hands-on work (30-40% of time) with crew management, planning, and coordination. Premium pay reflects responsibility for crew safety, project success, and customer satisfaction. Pathway to superintendent, operations manager, or executive roles.
🎓 How to Become a Lineman
Three primary pathways exist: union apprenticeships (IBEW/UWUA—most common, best pay/benefits),utility company programs (direct hire and train), or pre-apprenticeship lineman schools(paid training before applying to utilities).
Pathway 1: IBEW/UWUA Union Apprenticeship (Recommended)
Union Apprenticeship Overview
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3-4 years (7,000-8,000 hours on-the-job + 600-800 hours classroom) |
| Education Requirement | High school diploma or GED, algebra proficiency (C or better) |
| Age Requirement | 18 years old minimum |
| Physical Requirements | Pass DOT physical, lift 75+ lbs, climb poles/ladders, no fear of heights, color vision |
| CDL License | Class A or B CDL preferred (can obtain during apprenticeship) |
| Aptitude Test | Math (algebra, geometry), reading comprehension, mechanical aptitude |
| Starting Pay | 50-60% of journeyman rate, increases every 6 months (typically reach 90% by Year 4) |
| Benefits | Health insurance, pension, annuity, union membership from day one |
How to Apply:
- 1. Find IBEW/UWUA local unions at ibew.org or uwua.net (search by state/city)
- 2. Apply during open enrollment (typically spring—check local websites for dates)
- 3. Pass aptitude test (NJATC/NECA test covers algebra, mechanical reasoning)
- 4. Interview with joint apprenticeship committee (union + utility representatives)
- 5. Get ranked by combined test score + interview; top candidates accepted
- 6. Begin work immediately with signatory utility/contractor while attending classes
Pathway 2: Pre-Apprenticeship Lineman School
Lineman schools provide 3-18 month programs teaching pole climbing, rigging, electrical fundamentals, and CDL training. Graduates have significantly better hiring chances with utilities and contractors.
| School | Location | Duration | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Lineman College (NLC) | Meridian, ID; Oroville, CA; TX | 15 weeks | $22,000 |
| Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC) | Trenton, GA | 15 weeks | $17,900 |
| North American Lineman Training Center | McAllen, TX; Glenn Dale, MD | 15 weeks | $18,500 |
| Vocational Technical Schools | Various (OK, TX, GA, NC, etc.) | 12-18 months | $5,000-$12,000 |
What You Learn:
- • Pole climbing techniques (gaffs, belt, safety positioning)
- • Knot tying, rigging, and load calculations
- • Electrical theory, transformers, power systems basics
- • Safety protocols, OSHA regulations, rubber glove work
- • CDL training (Class A or B commercial driver's license)
- • First aid, CPR, rescue techniques
Pathway 3: Direct Utility Hire
Some utilities (especially co-ops and municipals) hire groundmen/apprentices with no experience and provide full training. Lower starting pay but immediate employment.
How It Works:
- • Apply directly to utility companies (check careers pages)
- • Start as groundman/helper ($18-$22/hour)
- • Utility provides on-the-job training and classroom instruction
- • Progress through apprenticeship steps (3-4 years to journeyman)
- • Often requires relocating to rural areas where co-ops are located
⚠️ Safety: The #1 Priority
Linework is among the most dangerous occupations. Primary hazards and safety measures:
- • Electrocution: Work energized lines using rubber gloves (tested monthly), hot sticks, grounding procedures, minimum approach distances (MAD)
- • Falls: 100% fall protection at all times—body belts, lanyards, positioning straps, fall arrest systems, pole gaffs
- • Arc flash: Arc-rated clothing (FR shirts, pants), face shields, insulated tools, de-energize when possible
- • Equipment failure: Daily truck/tool inspections, boom/derrick certifications, load testing, preventive maintenance
- • Weather hazards: Lightning protocol (cease work during storms), heat stress monitoring, cold weather gear, wind speed limits for aerial work
Utilities invest heavily in safety: extensive training, strict procedures, stop-work authority, incident investigations. Safety culture is paramount—rushing or cutting corners can be fatal.
🏢 Major Lineman Employers
| Employer | Type | Coverage Area |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy | Investor-Owned Utility | NC, SC, FL, IN, OH, KY—7.8M customers, strong IBEW presence |
| Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) | Investor-Owned Utility | Northern/Central California—5.5M customers, IBEW Local 1245, highest CA pay |
| Southern California Edison (SCE) | Investor-Owned Utility | Southern California—5M customers, IBEW representation |
| ComEd (Exelon) | Investor-Owned Utility | Chicago/Northern Illinois—4M customers, strong union contracts |
| Florida Power & Light (FPL) | Investor-Owned Utility | Florida—5.7M customers, extensive storm restoration work |
| Quanta Services | Contractor (Union) | Nationwide—largest line contractor, transmission/distribution, storm work |
| MasTec / Pike Electric | Contractor (Union/Non-Union) | Nationwide—major storm contractor, distribution focus |
| NRECA Co-ops (Various) | Rural Electric Co-ops | 900+ co-ops nationwide—rural areas, member-owned, good benefits |
Ready to Start Your Lineman Career?
Look, I've covered a lot of careers in the trades. And linework? It's consistently one of the best combinations of pay, job security, and skill development I've seen. If you're serious about getting into this field, start by looking for IBEW apprenticeships in your area or checking out pre-apprenticeship lineman schools. The jobs are out there.
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