Also called: Apprentice Lineman
Learns to climb poles and work on power lines under journeymen, paid from day one.
You practice climbing poles with gaffs, learn knots and rigging, and work as part of a crew on real outages, always under close supervision.
Apprentices start around 60% of journeyman pay and rise every 6 months. Pay is above the low band but this is the entry rung.
Certificate, about 0 years after high school. Many first attend a 10-15 week pre-apprentice line school; then join a paid apprenticeship.
Ways in: Apprenticeship, Trade school. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Electrical Line Technology (trade school).
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Apprentices climb, rig and learn live-line work; utilities face retirements and grid buildout, so demand is strong.
Classes: Algebra, Physics, PE or weight training.
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.