Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Career, Salary and Skills
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $95,320 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 131,070. Wage data is published for 314 locations.
Occupation description
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
O*NET code
49-9051.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$95,320
Hourly median
$45.83
Employment
131,070
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$51,470
10th
$67,270
25th
$95,320
Median
$109,740
75th
$128,690
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Operation and Control | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
- Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
- Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
- Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
- Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
- Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers.
- Replace or straighten damaged poles.
- Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
Technology
- Bentley MicroStation
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Email software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Zoom
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in TXMedian $78,940 · Employment 17,280
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in CAMedian $129,040 · Employment 8,930
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in FLMedian $86,870 · Employment 6,420
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in NYMedian $121,280 · Employment 5,840
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in NCMedian $77,270 · Employment 5,650
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in GAMedian $80,080 · Employment 4,960
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $82,710 · Employment 4,380
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in OHMedian $93,150 · Employment 4,260
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in PAMedian $106,230 · Employment 4,150
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $77,910 · Employment 3,930
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in TNMedian $83,660 · Employment 3,900
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary in New York, NYMedian $122,480 · Employment 3,850
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.