Your next electrical career move, backed by practice and evidence.
Explore premises electrical work, power lines and inspection. Choose your starting point and target to find shared abilities to demonstrate, preparation to build and the right learning resource.
See the stages and branches of all three routes
Texas electrician: four stages
Electrician helper / apprentice-entry — Enter a supervised Texas electrical-work pathway with usable first-day evidence.
Journeyman Electrician — Develop independent-level premises reasoning and document the actual licensing pathway.
Building official / building-code leadership — Administer a scoped building-code function with consistent public processes.
Independent inspection firm — scope-specific — Deliver scope-specific independent inspection services with verified authority and records.
Specialist, leadership and business branches depend on the employer, program and authority. They are not a universal mandatory sequence; a contracting business can employ its responsible Master Electrician.
Journey-level lineworker
Integrate line-system reasoning with verified specialty field competence.
Journeyman Lineman is limited scope, not ordinary Journeyman Electrician. Verify actual license or statutory exemption, accepted experience, specialty training and employer task authorization independently.
Resolve conditional protection/system questions, then attach actual specialty demonstrations; no online case proves energized-work qualification.
Work a case, compare your reasoning and retry changed conditions. Gather qualified training and assessment evidence for your target. A prior title grants no automatic hours, competence, license or appointment.
About $108,576 a year at 2,080 h (40 h x 52 weeks, no overtime).
Minimum base rate under one collective agreement in one area; not a market median, non-union employers are not bound by it.
$26.64-$73.68/h, lowest to highest figure in 9 current record(s) from 7 document(s). Minimum rates and pay ranges from different documents and areas; not a distribution.
Oklahoma union minimum (IBEW 1002), 2026: $52.00/h, JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN - 100%, Oklahoma (IBEW 1002 jurisdiction) - nearby state; no current Texas-wide outside rate other than LU 2286 was found as a public document, effective 2026-06-28 source
City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025: $35.50 to $45.27/h, Distribution Electrician III, Austin, TX, effective 2025-06-15 source
Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $26.64 to $54.43/h, Utilities Line Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 oldersource
Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $29.33 to $59.93/h, Senior Utilities Line Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 oldersource
Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $36.06 to $73.68/h, Master Utilities Line Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 oldersource
Denton County Davis-Bacon minimum, 2024: $41.31/h, LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN, Denton County, TX, effective 2024-06-02 oldersource
Dallas County Davis-Bacon minimum, 2024: $41.31/h, LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN, Dallas County, TX, effective 2024-06-02 oldersource
Collin, Ellis, Kaufman and Rockwall Counties Davis-Bacon minimum, 2024: $41.31/h, LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN, Collin, Ellis, Kaufman and Rockwall Counties, TX, effective 2024-06-02 oldersource
Whole occupation: all Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
Based on an estimated 17,280 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000049905101).
$78,940US
$0$100k$200k$300k
Half of all Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers in Texas earn more than $78,940; the bottom 10% earned less than $46,760 and the top 10% more than $107,550 (May 2025, base pay, about 17,280 jobs). U.S. median $95,320.
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, not level-specificTWC, BLS
Physical load 3.8 of 5, our index from O*NETMethod
Tsai Electro index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.1, 6 measures) and an exposure index (4.59, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
Body 3.1 · exposure 4.59. O*NET Work Context means, 1 = never, 5 = continually or every day.
Getting in
License
Texas: TDLR Journeyman Lineman license (7,000 apprenticeship hours), unless the work is on equipment controlled by an electric utility, co-op or power generation company (Occ. Code 1305.003(a)(5)). Heavy-vehicle drivers usually need a CDL.
Degree
3% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None of related experience is the most common answer (39% of workers). O*NET
O*NET Related Work Experience, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, O*NET OnLine
Preparation
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Why this level
Skilled: TDLR Journeyman Lineman license tier: 7,000 hours in a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship or 3.5 years as a journeyman lineman; career changers start as groundman or apprentice lineman, not at this rung. Texas: Journeyman Lineman (TDLR) (7,000 hours of training in a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship, or 3.5 years as a journeyman lineman for an electric utility, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility or electrical contractor in Texas). Rung 1 of 3 on 'Utility line work'.
Next stopE1Line Crew Supervisor+$2.00/hBeaumont / Southeast Texas union minimum (IBEW 2286)
Gates: Most people in the target job have over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related work experience (O*NET: 41%).
Moves to the side4
B1Journeyman ElectricianO*NET lists Electricians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83.License gate: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR).
E2Substation TechnicianO*NET lists Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79.License: depends on the work.
RElectric Motor RepairerO*NET lists Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80.
ILocomotive ElectricianO*NET lists Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.75.
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
Active Listening
Troubleshooting
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Coordination
Critical Thinking
Sources (5)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000049905113, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
Texas lineworker: skill steps
Decide
LW-NEW-001
Compare Linework Duties and Work Settings
Compare the tasks and work settings described by target linework employers. List the questions you still need answered about each setting.
Identify your questions about working at height and discuss them with a supervised training program. Keep any practical assessment within that program.
Compare your current responsibilities with the preparation described by target employers. Separate concerns about starting later from confirmed entry criteria.
Prepare questions about inclusion, mentoring and support for women at target programs. Record the contacts and support options you want to investigate.
Create a tracker for the driving application steps you need to confirm. Keep the responsible contact and unanswered process questions beside each step.
Check the identity and course details of the driving providers you are considering. Ask which training applies to your intended route before enrolling.
Collect the employer's instructions for any medical checks it asks you to arrange. Direct personal eligibility questions to the responsible professional.
Ask whether the target program includes supervised climbing preparation and accepts outside coursework. Compare the supervision and course scope before booking training.
Ask the target employer which entry safety and rescue training it expects. Record the training owner and any unanswered questions about accepted evidence.
Track the status information supplied by the program handling your application. Record when and how to ask about unresolved ranking or waiting questions.
Search for entry openings at Texas cooperatives that fit your linework plan. Keep each opening linked to its named employer and application instructions.
Collect the employer's prehire check instructions and keep unresolved questions visible. Confirm the owner of each requested check before arranging it.
Compare the compensation details published for the groundman and entry roles you are considering. Keep the role and employer context attached to each record.
Track the training and supervisor signoff records your employer requests for energized work. Keep task authorization questions with its designated supervisors.
Ask your program which field assessments apply to your current stage. Record the assessor, requested evidence and questions to resolve before assessment.
Review the work rotations and learning activities recorded in your program. Discuss any learning gaps with the person responsible for your development.
Identify the employer's owner for fall protection training and authorization. Keep practical instruction and assessment within its supervised training process.
Ask who is responsible for travel, meals and lodging before a storm assignment. Keep the written arrangements and unresolved expense questions together.
Collect completion records and the evidence your target employer asks for at journey level. Keep program completion and role qualifications recorded separately.
Clarify the responsibilities assigned to journey level lineworkers by the target employer. Record questions about supervision, authorization and task boundaries.
Compare dated pay information for journey level linework roles in the locations you are considering. Keep base pay and additional compensation separate.
Locate the wage and benefit agreement that applies to the role you are considering. Record its scope and the questions to confirm with the employer or representative.
Organize the experience and qualifications requested by other linework employers. Use that comparison to plan your next application or transfer discussion.
Compare journey level specializations by work setting, training and employer expectations. Identify the questions you need answered before choosing a direction.
Keep a record of training completed and the updates your employer asks you to track. Confirm the current requirements with the responsible training team.
Organize documented assessments and supervised experience in overhead and underground work. Ask the employer how it verifies competence for each assignment.
Compare your documented journey work experience with the target troubleman role. Ask the employer which assessments and supervised development steps it requires.
Verify the TDLR Journeyman Lineman License or Exemption
Record the target role and work scope before checking the applicable license or exemption with the relevant authority. Keep the evidence and unresolved questions together.
Identify employer approved training paths for specialized live line roles. Confirm prerequisites and supervised assessment requirements with the training provider.
Compare substation specialist roles with your documented experience. Identify the employer specific training and assessment questions to resolve before applying.
Map the experience and supervised development requested for a troubleman specialization. Keep the target employer's assessment criteria with your plan.
List the operational, travel and contract questions raised by storm contracting. Review those commitments with qualified advisers before making a business decision.
Describe the proposed work and contract scope before checking applicable business permissions. Keep questions for the relevant authority and qualified advisers together.
List the safety responsibilities your proposed business needs to verify with qualified advisers and relevant authorities. Keep responsibility and training questions in the planning record.
Describe the driving and transport activities proposed for the business. Ask the relevant authorities which compliance requirements apply to that scope.
Keep a list of reporting questions for the proposed business and identify the relevant official sources. Confirm requirements with qualified advisers before setting a reporting plan.
Compare related roles by transferable experience and additional training needs. Record the evidence and employer questions for each possible transition.
Collect examples of planning, communication and supervised leadership experience for a foreman application. Check the promotion criteria used by the target employer.
Clarify the responsibilities assigned to crew foremen and general foremen. Record who makes decisions and who reviews work within the employer's structure.
Plan how to track work orders, crew availability and schedule changes using the employer's process. Keep coordination questions separate from technical work authorization.
Compare the leadership tracks available in your target linework organization. Record the experience and development conversations needed for your preferred track.
Develop Digital Work and Crew Communication Skills
Identify the digital records and communication tools used by the crew. Plan practice with approved training materials and the employer's information handling rules.
Clarify reporting lines, communication and coordination expectations when visiting crews join storm work. Keep responsibility questions ready for the employer's briefing.