The job of an electrician and a lineman are often confused with one another due to the overlap in roles and responsibilities. Both careers involve working with electrical systems, but there are some key differences between the two that must be understood to differentiate the two professions. Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring and systems, while linemen work on the larger power grid, such as the distribution of energy from a power plant to the end user. While some of the roles of both electricians and linemen may overlap, it is important to understand the nuances between them to ensure the job is done safely and correctly. In this blog post, we’ll compare and contrast the roles of an electrician and a lineman, highlighting the differences between the two and the importance of getting the right person for the job.
What is a lineworker?
A skilled tradesperson who installs, maintains, and fixes outdoor electrical transmission and distribution systems is known as a lineworker, also known as an electrical lineworker. They might also work in the telecommunications sector, maintaining phone, cable, and internet lines. Installing, repairing, and replacing electrical lines, cables, and components frequently require lineworkers to climb poles. Lineworkers are generally responsible for outdoor installation and maintenance jobs.
What is an electrician?
A skilled tradesperson who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems and electrical components is an electrician. They work with a variety of systems, such as lighting, HVAC, security, and computer network systems. Electricians frequently work in office buildings or homes, but they can also specialize in wiring for aircraft, ships, and other mobile networks. Electricians are generally responsible for indoor installation and wiring jobs.
Differences between an electrician and a lineworker
Highly skilled tradespeople who work with electricity include lineworkers and electricians. However, there are some significant differences in their job responsibilities, backgrounds, working conditions, and salaries. The following are some key distinctions between an electrician and a lineworker:
Job duties
While lineworkers’ jobs are similar to those of electricians, they also work on various electrical systems and components. Here are some common duties of an electrician:
Here are some common duties of a lineworker:
Educational requirements and certifications
The education, training, and certification requirements for each profession are different because lineworkers and electricians have different job responsibilities. Typically, an electrician begins their career as an apprentice, working on actual projects while learning from experienced electricians.
As an alternative, they could decide to enroll in a trade school and study how to become an electrician in a classroom. Some electricians enroll in trade school and start working as apprentices simultaneously to gain experience both in the classroom and on the job. An electrician may need to fulfill additional certification requirements, such as:
Typically, a lineworker begins their career by enrolling in a program for electrical lineworkers. Both a drivers’ license and a high school diploma are requirements for applying. The best way to get ready for the electrical lineworker aptitude test is to do well in classes like physics, math, and electronics. To make sure you have the most recent information, research the requirements in your area as each state or jurisdiction may use a different lineworker aptitude test. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is another resource you can use to get ready.
You must pass the electrical lineworker aptitude test in order to be accepted into a program for lineworkers. The majority of electrical lineworker training programs last three years. This training provides students with classroom teaching and hands-on experience. When your training program is over, you can start working as an apprentice lineworker with more seasoned lineworkers.
Additional certification necessities a lineworker might have include:
Career advancement
You can advance in your career as an electrician or a lineworker with more education and experience. Although the requirements for advancement may be similar across professions, they do differ.
A journeyman electrician and then a master electrician are potential career paths for an electrician at the apprentice level. An apprentice electrician must complete a predetermined number of supervised hours of practical work before becoming a journeyman electrician. The required number of hours for electricians can vary from state to state, so find out more by researching the requirements in your state.
An apprentice-level electrician can sign up to take the journeyman electrician test once they have accrued the necessary number of practical work hours. Depending on the National Electrical Code and basic electrical theory questions, each state may use a slightly different exam.
A journeyman electrician can continue to hone their skills by gaining more training and work experience. You might also think about developing your career and becoming a master electrician. The highest level of certification available to an electrician is this one. The National Electrical Code serves as the foundation for standards and regulations for electrical work in all 50 states, but different jurisdictions may have different requirements to become a master electrician. To find the most recent information, you can research the regulations in your country.
An apprentice lineworker can advance to become a journeyman lineworker, just like an apprentice electrician. The majority of employers provide lineworkers apprentices with supervised on-the-job and classroom training as a part of their program. To become a journeyman lineworker, an apprentice must complete 7,000 hours of supervised training. This typically takes three to four years. You could continue to practice your skills during this time by working with more experienced lineworkers.
Although it is not necessary, some lineworkers opt to complete a two-year associate’s or technical degree or trade school certification in order to advance their careers. You might be qualified to take a state-certified aptitude test to become a journeyman lineworker once you’ve finished the necessary training hours. Your journeyman license may need to be renewed after a few years, depending on the state in which you reside. To make sure you have the correct information, do some research on the state’s requirements for journeyman lineworkers.
Skills
While lineworkers and electricians have many of the same skill sets, each job also requires some specific abilities. The following are crucial abilities that electricians need to succeed in their careers:
The following are crucial abilities that lineworkers can develop to advance in their careers:
Work environment
Despite using electricity, lineworkers and electricians work in very different environments. The main difference between their workplaces is that lineworkers typically work outdoors, whereas electricians typically work indoors. Here are some common environments an electrician may work in:
Most lineworkers are employed by utility, energy, or telecommunications companies. Compared to the work electricians do, lineworkers’ jobs can be much more physically demanding because they work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. In order to install, maintain, or repair power lines, lineworkers may need to scale telephone poles and telecommunications towers. Additionally, they might spend a lot of time traveling between job sites.
Salary and benefits
In addition, the pay for these two professions can differ based on experience, education, and training.
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060 | Josh Harding | Electrician vs Linemen Q&A
FAQ
Is it better to be a lineman or electrician?
Salary and Career Prospects The average pay for linesmen is higher due to the risks and demanding work environment. A lineman’s annual salary was $69,380 in 2017, compared to an electrician’s $54,110. The top-earning linemen in the U. S. make more than $99,000 per year.
Are lineman and electrician the same?
Compared to the work electricians do, lineworkers’ jobs can be much more physically demanding because they work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. In order to install, maintain, or repair power lines, lineworkers may need to scale telephone poles and telecommunications towers.
Is working as a lineman worth it?
Average Salary for Lineworkers The average lineman makes $79,843, or about $41 per hour. 50 an hour. The four major factors that significantly affect a lineworker’s annual salary are: Storm Seasonality and number of overtime hours worked.
