# Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

> Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-power-line-installers-and-repairers
- SOC code: 49-9051.00
- Career family: Installation and repair
- Median annual pay: $95,320 (10th percentile $51,470, 90th percentile $128,690)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +10.3%
- Openings a year: 10,900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 28 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 5 |
| Enterprising (E) | 13 |
| Conventional (C) | 47 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 92/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 90/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 85/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 85/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 77/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 71/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Troubleshooting, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, English Language, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Transportation, Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Design, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics

## Also called

Aerial Lineman, Cable Inspector, Cable Installer, Cable Installer Repairer, Cable Layer, Cable Repairer, Cable Splicer, Cable Systems Installer, Cable Systems Maintainer, Cable Tester

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Electrical and Power Transmission Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4603) (CIP 4603, 441 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Alpena Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/alpena-community-college-45) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $59,252 | $108,690 | $9,564 |
| [Texas State Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-state-technical-college-2708) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $78,758 | $107,186 | $9,168 |
| [Richmond Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/richmond-community-college-2230) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $71,836 | $102,948 | not reported |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $85,737 | $93,860 | $5,483 |
| [Minnesota State Community and Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/minnesota-state-community-and-technical-college-1719) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $63,636 | $90,982 | $12,000 |
| [State Technical College of Missouri](https://www.collegesref.com/college/state-technical-college-of-missouri-2594) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $61,782 | $90,503 | $12,000 |
| [Metropolitan Community College Area-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-community-college-area-nebraska-1664) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $77,958 | $90,225 | $5,500 |
| [Dakota County Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dakota-county-technical-college-759) | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $55,089 | $82,544 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/telecommunications-line-installers-and-repairers): $74,330 median pay
- [Helpers--Electricians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-electricians): $42,670 median pay
- [Electricians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electricians): $63,190 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-repairers-powerhouse-substation-and-relay): $103,020 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers-transportation-equipment): $84,890 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.