Power-Line Installer and Repairer Career Assessment
Building and fixing the power lines that light up North Dakota
Welcome
Power-line installers and repairers (often called lineworkers) build and fix the lines that carry electricity to towns, farms, and oil sites.
When a blizzard or ice storm knocks out power, lineworkers bring it back. You will explore whether this demanding, high-paying trade fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Power-Line Installer and Repairer?
A lineworker climbs poles or works from bucket trucks to install and repair power lines, transformers, and other equipment. Some lay underground cable. They work for power companies and rural electric co-ops. In North Dakota, utility lineworkers do not need an electrician license, but they train for years to work safely.
The Reality: This is one of the most dangerous jobs in the trades. You work high up, near lines carrying thousands of volts, in wind, snow, and -30°F cold. When storms hit, you may work long hours for days, far from home.
Your Responsibilities:
- Climb poles or run a bucket truck
- Install new power lines and poles
- Repair lines after storms
- Install and replace transformers
- Lay and repair underground cable
- Trim trees away from lines
- Follow strict safety rules around live power
- Drive large trucks and equipment
You keep the lights and heat on for whole communities.
A Day in the Life
6:30 AM — Meet your crew at the co-op shop. Go over the safety plan for the day.
7:00 AM — Drive the line truck to a farm road where a new pole is needed.
8:00 AM — Set the new pole with the digger truck. Climb and frame it.
11:00 AM — Move the wires to the new pole with the crew.
12:00 PM — Lunch in the truck out of the wind.
1:00 PM — Replace a bad transformer that serves three homes.
4:00 PM — Back at the shop. Check tools and gloves for damage.
9:00 PM — Storm call. Ice brought a line down. Head out with the crew until power is back.
Outdoor, team-based work that can change fast when weather hits.
Training in North Dakota
No state license, but years of training. Most lineworkers finish a college lineworker program, then a 4-year apprenticeship with a utility or co-op. You earn pay while you learn on the job.
Training Pathways:
- College lineworker program (about 1 year): Learn to climb, rig, and work safely. Get ready for the CDL test.
- Apprenticeship (about 4 years): 8,000 hours of paid work plus 576 hours of study. At the end, you are a journeyman lineworker.
- Groundworker first: Some utilities hire ground helpers and move them into apprenticeships.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Bismarck State College (training site near Mandan) — Lineworker (Electrical), certificate or AAS; 60 students start each June; includes CDL prep, climbing, and pole-top rescue (bismarckstate.edu/academics/programs/lnwk)
- Bismarck State College (online) — Electric Power Technology, AAS or certificate, with Line Construction, Metering, Substation, and System Design options
- ND Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives — 4-year lineworker apprenticeship for co-op employees (ndarec.com)
- ND power companies and electric co-ops — on-the-job apprenticeships
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Able to lift 50+ pounds and work at heights. A medical exam, drug screen, and eye exam are required. You will need a clean driving record for a CDL.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
A CDL is usually required. North Dakota law does not require an electrician license for utility workers doing power line work (ND Century Code 43-09-16). But employers expect training and a commercial driver's license.
What You Need:
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) — most employers want a Class A to drive line trucks
- Journeyman lineworker — earned after finishing a 4-year apprenticeship
- Safety training — OSHA 10, CPR and first aid, and pole-top rescue
- Climbing certification — earned in school or on the job
The Exams: The CDL has written and road tests through the ND Department of Transportation. Apprentices take tests as they move through each step.
Cost: CDL testing fees are fairly low. College tuition is the bigger cost. Ask the school for current prices.
Keeping It Current: A CDL needs a current medical card. Safety training like CPR must be kept up to date.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Power-Line Installer and Repairer Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $29.34–$39.84/hour ($61,020–$82,880/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $50.90/hour ($105,870/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $55.20–$58.65/hour ($114,820–$121,990/year)
What that means: ND lineworkers earn well above the national median. Apprentices start lower and get raises as they progress. Storm overtime can add a lot.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 800 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 840 (about 6% growth). Expect about 60 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 7% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Good. About 60 openings a year in ND. Jobs are competitive, so a college program and a CDL help you stand out.
Who Hires in ND: Rural electric co-ops, power companies, line construction contractors, and city power departments.
Work Setting: Outdoors in all weather: rural roads, towns, farms, and oil country. Storm work can mean long days and travel.
Physical Demands: Very high. Climbing, lifting 50+ pounds, working at heights, and long hours in cold, wind, and heat.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 49-9051); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Journeyman Lineworker — Work on your own on a crew.
Path 2: Crew Foreman — Lead a line crew.
Path 3: Line Superintendent — Manage line operations.
Path 4: Substation Technician — Work on substation equipment.
Path 5: Meter Technician — Install and test meters.
Path 6: Safety Trainer — Teach safety to other crews.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Very high pay in ND
- Earn while you learn
- Outdoor, active work
- You help whole communities
- Strong teamwork
- Stable utility jobs
What's Hard:
- Very dangerous work
- Storm calls day and night
- Brutal cold and wind
- Long years of training
- Very physical
- Time away from home
Be Honest: Are you OK with heights and risk? Can you work in -30°F wind? Can you answer storm calls at night and on holidays? Can you get and keep a CDL?