Substation and Relay Technician Career Assessment
Maintaining the power grid
Welcome
Substation and relay technicians (powerhouse, substation, and relay repairers) maintain the equipment that moves electricity from power plants to your home.
You will explore what this utility career is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Substation and Relay Technician?
These technicians inspect, test, and repair transformers, circuit breakers, relays, and other equipment in power plants and electrical substations. Relays are devices that protect the grid by shutting off power when something goes wrong.
The Reality: You work around extremely high voltage. Safety rules are strict. Outages and storms can mean call-outs at night and in bad weather.
Your Responsibilities:
- Inspect substation equipment
- Test and repair transformers and circuit breakers
- Test and set protective relays
- Troubleshoot electrical problems
- Read electrical diagrams
- Follow strict safety rules
- Respond to outages
- Keep test records
You help keep the lights on across North Dakota.
A Day in the Life
7:00 AM — Safety briefing at the utility shop.
8:00 AM — Drive to a rural substation.
8:30 AM — Test protective relays with special equipment.
11:00 AM — Inspect a transformer and check oil levels.
12:00 PM — Lunch in the truck.
1:00 PM — Replace a part in a circuit breaker.
3:30 PM — Write up test results.
9:00 PM — Storm call-out: help restore power at a substation.
Technical, safety-focused work with some storm call-outs.
Training in North Dakota
Utility employees are exempt from ND electrician licensing for utility work. Most techs complete a 2-year electrical power program and train on the job.
Training Pathways:
- Associate degree or certificate: Electric power programs with a substation focus.
- Utility apprenticeship or on-the-job training: Many utilities train new hires.
- Electrician first: Some move into substation work from other electrical jobs.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Bismarck State College (online) — Electric Power Technology, AAS or certificate (4 semesters), with a Substation track; courses start every 3–5 weeks
- Bismarck State College — Power Generation Technology (power plant focus)
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Electrical Technology, AAS
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong math. Good color vision. A valid driver's license. Utilities often require drug testing.
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
Certification is voluntary but valued. NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association) certification shows your skill level.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- NETA Level 1 — trainee
- NETA Level 2 — 2 years experience plus training
- NETA Level 3 — 5 years experience
- NETA Level 4 — 10 years experience (senior)
The Exams: NETA exams cover electrical testing and safety.
Cost: Varies. Employers often pay.
Keeping It Current: Continuing education required.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Electrical Repairer (Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay) Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $23.81–$28.48/hour ($49,530–$59,240/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $36.08/hour ($75,050/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $50.32–$58.03/hour ($104,660–$120,690/year)
What that means: Pay rises a lot with experience. ND pay is below the national median, but this is a very small group in ND (about 80 jobs), so the numbers can jump around.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 80 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 80 (about 4% growth). Expect about 10 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 6% growth — faster than average.
Outlook: Small field in ND with about 10 openings a year. Utility jobs are stable and often have strong benefits.
Who Hires in ND: Electric utilities and cooperatives, power plants, and electrical testing companies.
Work Setting: Substations and power plants, often in rural areas. Outdoor work in all weather. Storm and outage call-outs.
Physical Demands: Moderate to high. Outdoor work, climbing, lifting, and wearing protective gear.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 49-2095); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Relay Technician — Specialize in grid protection systems.
Path 2: Senior Test Technician — NETA Level 3 or 4.
Path 3: Substation Supervisor — Lead a crew.
Path 4: System Operator — Move into the control room.
Path 5: Engineering Technician — Help design systems.
Path 6: Testing Company Tech — Travel to test equipment.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Important grid work
- Stable utility jobs with benefits
- Pay grows with experience
- Online training option
- Technical, respected work
What's Hard:
- Extremely high voltage
- Storm call-outs
- Outdoor work in all weather
- Few openings in ND
- Strict safety rules
Be Honest: Are you very careful about safety? Are you OK with storm call-outs? Do you like technical electrical work?