Occupation
Powerline technician
Powerline technicians build and maintain the overhead and underground networks that distribute electricity from substations to customers. The work is outdoors in all weather, at height or in trenches, and around conductors that can be energised at high voltage. Storm restoration means unpredictable hours and long shifts when the network is damaged.
Also known as: Power line technician · Lineworker · Overhead lines worker · Linesperson
Occupation content
Part of Skilled trades, maintenance and repair
What the work involves
- Set poles and structures and string, sag, and terminate overhead conductors.
- Install and maintain transformers, switches, reclosers, and metering equipment.
- Pull, splice, and terminate underground cable in ducts and vaults.
- Isolate, ground, and test circuits before work and confirm the system is safe to touch.
- Patrol lines, inspect equipment, and replace deteriorated hardware and insulators.
- Restore supply after faults and storms, working from switching orders and outage plans.
How people commonly enter
- A registered powerline technician apprenticeship with a utility or line contractor.
- A college or trade-school powerline programme used as pre-apprenticeship preparation.
- Entry as a line labourer or groundworker, moving into an apprenticeship once taken on.
- Transfer from a related electrical trade into utility line work with the trade-specific training added.
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Pathways: Apprenticeship route
Typical work context
Outdoors · Physically active · Team based · High responsibility · Shift work · Involves travel
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Line installers and repairers · United States
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- Red Seal Program — Designated Red Seal trades · Canada
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- UK National Careers Service — Explore careers · United Kingdom
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair in Canada, not a figure for Powerline technician. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Skilled trades, maintenance and repair family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: education pathways
Some roles in Skilled trades, maintenance and repair may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)