Utility Lineman

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites.
• Travel to work sites to perform installation, repair or maintenance work.
• Inspect electrical or electronic systems for defects.
• Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
• Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
• Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
• Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
• Align equipment or machinery.
• Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems.
• Assemble mechanical components or machine parts.

Typical Working Conditions

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Working outdoors exposed to weather.
• Frequent decision-making.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Exposure to high places.
• Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Working with a group or team.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

Tools & Technology used by Utility Lineman

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Utility Lineman

• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Solving Complex Problems—Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Utility Lineman

• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Telecommunications—Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative—Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 4.4% growth new for Lineman to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a High School degree, and many professionals attend at least some college or even earn an Associates degree. This career does require a license and certifications can help you move ahead.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from MSTATE/Wadena.

Spotlight on MSTATE

• MSTATE’s Utility Lineman Program

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Blueprint Reading
• Business Computer Applications
• CAD Design
• Drafting
• Electronics
• Geometry
• Physics
• Technical Writing
• Trigonometry
• Woodworking

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise