Also called: Damage Assessment Patroller, Storm Assessor
Drives and walks power lines right after hurricanes and ice storms, logging every broken pole and downed wire so repair crews know where to go.
The hurricane passed overnight, and at sunrise you're driving blocked back roads with a tablet. At each damaged spot you photograph the broken pole, count the downed spans and mark it on the map. By noon your reports are telling dispatchers which neighborhoods need which crews first.
Often storm-season or contract work paid hourly with overtime and travel pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma plus utility training; many are retired lineworkers or trained storm hires.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Lineworker Program (trade school), Utility Technology.
Growing about average. Stronger storms keep demand steady; work comes in bursts.
Medium risk for 10 years. Drones and AI photo tools speed up surveys, but walking damaged lines and judging what crews need stays human.
Classes: Geography, Physics, Driver education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-9051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.