A lineman is responsible for ensuring that electricity flows properly into our homes, working in the electricity department.
Becoming a lineman doesn’t always require higher education, but it does demand a strong understanding of electricity and electrical equipment. It’s also a risky job, involving work with high-powered wires and transformers.
Despite the risks, many are drawn to the higher salary and interest in the field. In this article, we’ll provide all the answers you need to pursue a career as a lineman. We’ll cover what linemen do, how much they earn, and how to become one.
Let’s dive in and find the information you’ve been seeking!
What Does a Lineman Do?
A lineman is someone who would work with electricity lines. He would be responsible for installing, repairing, and maintenance of high voltage lines, whether above or below the ground. Some of the linemen also work with the installation of fiber optic lines for telecommunication systems.
They can work with many industries and in various fields such as utility companies, electrical contractors, telecommunications companies, and local or state-level government agencies as well.
Some of the duties and responsibilities of a lineman are:
- Performing technical tasks such as installing switches and transforms
- Performing manual tasks such as pulling and setting up power cables between poles and buildings
- Clerical tasks such as writing up necessary installation or repair reports are also performed by a lineman
Required Skills for a Lineman:
If you wish to become a lineman, you should have a few skills to perform the duties and responsibilities efficiently. Some of the skills are the following:
- A lineman should be able to meet the deadline for the projects he has been assigned. This requires high focus and efficient time management skills as well.
- A lineman should be able to operate light equipment and drive utility vehicles as well. So he should have deep knowledge of the functioning and work for various equipment associated with his day-to-day work.
- A lineman is required to have math proficiency.
These are some of the basic skills and abilities a lineman must have.
Becoming a lineman may not require higher education but you would have to go through training and have the minimum required education to become a lineman.
Here are the steps that you would have to follow to become a lineman:
Contents
Also check – How to become a voice actor / How to become an electrician
1. Education and Training
These are the two major things that you would have to focus on if you want to become a professional lineman.
Most of the lineman jobs require a candidate with a high school degree or diploma. Some technical colleges also offer various programs for students who wish to become linemen. These programs would get you the certificate for becoming a lineman.
But it won’t be enough as you have to have field experience. So you have to look for job training and apprenticeship programs.
Experts say if you have a two-year degree in electronics or electronic contracting that can help you with being a lineman.
With apprenticeships, you will get hands-on training with instructions and also some experience in this field. The apprenticeship may last for two years as well.
2. License
Although there won’t be a license or certificate required to become a lineman, you may require a CDL license to operate large utility trucks which may be a bigger part of the job.
Apart from this, you would be required to show your physical certificate to your employer showing that you are physically fit to perform the job.
Also check – How To Become A Notary / How To Become A Welder
3. Finding a Job
Now that you have done your training and have the required education, you are all set to get the job. You have become a lineman now, so you should be looking for lineman jobs.
You may want to explore your options and see which industries or companies are looking for linemen. If there is a good position available then you must take it as well. Consider the salary, place of job, and other benefits of the job before you take it. You must have the best.
Conclusion
That concludes our article on “How to Become a Lineman.”
We’ve covered everything you need to know about pursuing a career as a lineman. While the journey may not seem overly difficult, it requires full focus during training and learning to operate equipment safely.
That’s all for now, and we hope you’ve found the information you were seeking. Thank you for reading!
