Discover a Career as a
Lineworker
Discover your career path in the energy industry.
Discover your career path in the energy industry and learn where your interests will take you. Explore the meaningful work in which you can immerse yourself, set your sights on what you can learn and the increasing responsibilities that can be yours. See how you will be challenged and what will you accomplish.
*Compensation averages should be used as a guide. There are numerous factors that impact actual compensation. These estimates do not include over-time, which can be a sizeable addition to base pay. Years of service and training recommendations should also be used as a guide. Company requirements vary.
Note: Some energy companies may require pre-employment testing. Please check the job requirements. These may include an EEI Pre-Employment Test or a Physical Abilities Test.
Become a Lineworker
Starting off as a Linehelper / Laborer / Groundperson:
What will you do?
- Provide assistance to line crew by providing tools and equipment
- Make work area safe
- Drive equipment to job site
What knowledge / skills / abilities will you need?
- Ability to work in a team setting
- Be comfortable with heights and working outdoors
- Able to drive heavy commercial vehicles
- Able to lift 75 lbs
- Listen and follow directions
- Come to work on time
Apprenticeship Training:
What will you do?
- Apply fundamentals of Alternating Current/Direct Current
- Climb poles
- String cable
- Install transformers and other pole top equipment
What knowledge / skills / abilities will you need?
- Apply knowledge learned during training to work environment
Lineworker:
What will you do?
- Install equipment on poles
- Climb poles
- Identify defective devices such as fuses, switches, and wires
- Install underground cable
- Inspect and test power lines
What knowledge / skills / abilities will you need?
- Define how the various parts of systems interact (e.g., parts of the distribution systems) and diagnose the effect on the system of changes or malfunctions in its parts
- Solve problems involving limited options by applying common sense understandings such as selecting the correct cutting tool or proper gauge of wire for a job
- Listen to and understand customer needs
- Be able to stand for long periods of time
- Understand mechanical relationships in practical situations such as understanding leverage, how pulleys work, and the direction gear arrangements turn
- Visualize length, width, thickness, height, or depth and
the differences among shapes, widths, or lengths
Senior-Level Crew Leaders:
What will you do?
- Direct crew members
- Determine schedules and work activities
- Check for unsafe work conditions
- Communicate with customers
- Install equipment on poles
- Climb poles
- Identify defective devices such as fuses, switches, and wires
- Install underground cable
- Inspect and test power lines
What knowledge / skills / abilities will you need?
- Ability to handle customer concerns and issues
- Assign priority or sequence to the steps for completing a job
- Coordinate several competing activities for efficient use of time and material
- Adapt work procedures or priorities in response to changing or unforeseen requirements or conditions
- Computer skills for report preparation
Supervisor:
What will you do?
- Schedule and oversee work of line crews
- Review crew member performance and provide feedback
What knowledge / skills / abilities will you need?
- Financial management
- Computer skills for report preparation
- People management
“I got into energy because it offers a steady career. Everybody needs energy as it plays a key part in our everyday life. The industry offers good, steady careers to support you and your family. Getting into my job at OGE is the best thing that’s ever happened to me!”
Jared
Apprentice Lineman
OG&E