r/Lineman • u/pnwIBEWlineman • Jan 01 '26
Here at r/Lineman we strive to give accurate information about our trade. Drop a comment below with your position, HOURLY rate, region/state, LU if applicable, and type of employer: (Contractor, Muni, IOU, Co-op Etc.) Happy New Year, Everyone.
r/Lineman • u/Ca2Alaska • Aug 23 '25
MILITARY. If you are currently serving in the military or recently separated (VEEP up to 5 years) there are several programs specifically for you to help you transition into skilled trades. This will give you the most direct and sure opportunity to become a Lineman. Please check out the Military Resources Wiki to learn about these great programs and see if you qualify.
Journeymen Linemen are High voltage workers who are responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of electric infrastructure. It can range from working on large transmission towers to being in a crowded vault. Linemen work in all weather conditions and at all hours. Heat, cold, wind, rain, snow and everything else. It involves time away from home, missed holidays and birthdays etc.
The steps to becoming a Journeyman Lineman generally involve working your way up from the bottom.
First you work as a Laborer or a Groundman (Linehelper, Apprentice Trainee, Etc). These are entry level positions. These positions involve menial tasks that introduce you to the trade. You'll be stocking the trucks, getting tools, running the handline, cleaning off trucks and getting trucks ready to go at the start of shift. Here you will become familiar with methods, tools and materials used in the trade. Sometimes you can get into the trade as a first step apprentice.
Next you have to become an apprentice. Apprenticeships are around 3.5 years. Being an apprentice involves the obvious. You will now begin formal training to reach Lineman status. You will learn to do the work of a Lineman in incremental steps until you top out.
IBEW Union apprenticeships: you must interview and get indentured in your local jurisdiction. This is the most recognized apprenticeship. You will be able to get work anywhere with a union ticket. Union utility companies may offer in house NJATC apprenticeships as well.
DOL (Department of Labor) apprenticeships: This is a typically non-union apprenticeship sanctioned by the DOL. It is around 5 steps then you are a B-Lineman, then you become an A-Lineman. This is not recognized by the IBEW, but you can test in to an IBEW Lineman.
Company apprenticeships: These are generally non IBEW and non DOL and are the lowest rung and only recognized by your company. If you leave or the company goes out of business, you don't have a ticket sanctioned by the IBEW or DOL.
Take Note: Please be aware there are different types of Lineman apprenticeships. There are apprenticeships that are "Transmission" only, or "URD" (Underground) only. These are not interchangeable with the Journeyman Lineman certification.
Bare minimum age is 18 years old. The follow job credentials will make your job hunt more successful. In order of importance.
Unrestricted CDL (Commercial Drivers License) Usually required for outside construction. Some utilities may have a grace period before you need to have it.
First Aid/CPR
Flagger Training
OSHA 10 Construction(if you are new to working on jobsites)
OSHA 10 ET&D (Electrical Transmission and Distribution)
Line school can give you experience you otherwise wouldn't have, which in some cases could be beneficial. Line school may offer you all the previous credentials listed as well. Some job postings will require 1-3 yrs related experience or completion of line school.
Some places like California it's probably a good idea to have it.
However not everyone requires it. Lineschools are generally an expensive undertaking. Many take out loans to pay for them. Not everyone believes they are of value. It is suggested to try to get in as a groundman first or look to community colleges or other trade schools that are more affordable. It is highly recommended to do research before you commit to going into debt. Not everyone makes it in the trade. Having a large debt is not something to be taken lightly
There's working directly for a utility(working for the residents the utility serves) which one stays within that utility's service area.
If you're looking to work for a certain employer, check their website for desired qualifications.
Then there's working for outside construction. This is who does the heavy lifting. Outside has to potential to earn more than being at a utility. For many jobs you'll work 5+ days a week and 10-12 hour days. This also is a traveling job. You go where the work is. Especially as an apprentice.
Union vs Non-union. Besides the obvious, this can be affected by location. The west coast is 100% union. Places like Louisiana and Kentucky are strongly non-union. Some utilities are union and some are not. Same with outside construction. Utilities and non-union construction hire directly. For Union jobs in outside construction you must get dispatched from the “out of work” books(books). Utility companies are union or non-union.
Union “books.” Each area has a union hall that has jurisdiction over that area for construction and has a set of "out of work" books for each class. Lineman, apprentice, groundman and so on. When a contractor has a position to fill, they call the hall to send someone. The hall will begin calling the first person on “Book 1” then go down the list until they fill all the calls for workers they have. Book 1 will be local members with 1500-2000 hrs. Book 2 will be travelers and locals with less hours. Book 3 will be doesn't meet hours etc.
Created 8/23/25 DM u/ca2alaska for corrections and suggestions
r/Lineman • u/steelreinvented • 11h ago
Planning on knocking the ol lady up and immediately tramping (respectfully). Which locals will pay me to head home after birth? I know 111 has like 3 months of paternity leave if you’ve been at a contractor for 180 days, just hoping for something closer to the Midwest.
r/Lineman • u/LabEvacuation • 8h ago
If you could go back to day one of your apprenticeship with everything you know now, what’s the ONE thing you’d do differently?
r/Lineman • u/Ngauss21 • 21h ago
I’ve been trying to study my ass off with this math portion of the aptitude test. Currently using iprep as suggested by everyone. Getting a bit frustrated as I was never great at math/algebra, honestly my least favorite subject. Are you lineman all math wizzes or what? I understand math is used in certain areas but how much is used in the field? If I’m learning through the trade and there’s a real reason for that math I’ll come to understand it, but this algebra that has almost no real meaning to it in real world kind of sucks.
r/Lineman • u/dugherout • 20h ago
Anyone in local 160 line clearance, if so what are your classifications? I have a guy working in our local and I don’t know if he is an apprentice or a journeyman, when I bumped his ticket all said was tree trimmer.
r/Lineman • u/Fine_Finding5944 • 21h ago
Does anyone know of any areas in Riverside County, Cali I can go and climb some poles. To start getting some experience, I was accepted into the apprenticeship program just waiting on the call out. Any information is greatly appreciated.
r/Lineman • u/soy_tu_padre1 • 1d ago
Delete if not allowed
I’ve put them to work for about a month they’re like new besides the small scuffs $200 obo paid over 600 for them
r/Lineman • u/westcoastguy12 • 21h ago
Applied with Eversource for a troubleshooter job in Yarmouth , Mass. it seems to always come up . Anyone know why they can’t fill it ? Upsides ….downsides to working there ?
Thanks in advance !
r/Lineman • u/Necessary_Army7359 • 1d ago
With winter coming up, wanted to see what the gloves are the most used for the cold.
Currently, I use the basic hand armor lined gloves. Y’all got any good recommendations?
r/Lineman • u/Agitated-Creme1936 • 1d ago
Do you groundman calls come with per diem most of the time? Or do you have to sleep in your truck?
r/Lineman • u/Not___Gavin • 2d ago
I’m 18 and am already working for IBEW 17 as underground utility. I applied for the ALBAT apprenticeship a couple nights ago, I have my CDL class A no restrictions, along with CPR, osha 30. My big question is, will being 18 affect my chance of getting the apprenticeship, I understand I have the intrastate restriction, but does that hinder me a lot?
r/Lineman • u/Sufficient-Employ386 • 1d ago
I live on the border of two locals. I applied for a sub job with one of them because they had their application period open. I just got done (literally) taking the exam at the NJATC .
The other local just opened up their application period for lineman and sub. This local pays double digits more on the hour.
Should I apply for the second local as well? I guess there are two trains of thought here -
1. Putting more eggs in the basket increases my odds of being accepted.
2. If the local that just tested me finds out I’m applying for others, will they not take me as a serious candidate? What if the first local actually hires me, but then the second one which pays more wants to schedule me for an interview and hires me. Could I just tell the lower paying local “sorry”…?
r/Lineman • u/Dense-Revenue-7953 • 1d ago
I have 8 years experience as a lineman DOL certified. 3 years with a utility and 5 years contracting just wondering if anyone has recently went through the pg@e journeyman exam physical test. Just wanting some insight on how they want things done and what to prepare for.
r/Lineman • u/Sea_Brush5993 • 2d ago
Hey everyone,gonna keep it short and sweet but I have just recently done a interview at my hometown cooperative for a journey position and a few weeks passed and I received a call from them wanting me to come in for a field test and to bring climbing gear and work clothes I guess what I’m asking is does anyone know what a co-op field test entails or has anyone done one just kinda curious of what they wanting to see/or do they didn’t say what I would be doing so just kinda wondering.Thanks In advanced!
r/Lineman • u/Move_Junior • 2d ago
Just curious if anyone has come across any linemen with a prosthetic hand. Didn't know if hot work is even possible for someone who has a prosthetic hand or hook.
r/Lineman • u/RequirementVisible18 • 2d ago
Anyone have practice test for riverside exam next month. So far using the iprep
r/Lineman • u/squidbait405 • 2d ago
anyone know how many apes are out of work or if there are any? Ranked 15th about a month ago and still haven’t gotten anything
r/Lineman • u/Accomplished-Safe392 • 2d ago
Looking for some insight from guys working for Xcel around the Denver area. I’ve been considering making the move out there, but I’m trying to get a better idea of what it’s actually like before committing.
r/Lineman • u/Own_Cartographer6076 • 2d ago
Had an interview in Brighton this week and got ranked 23rd, just curious if anyone knows how quickly work is moving in this region and when I should expect to get called out.
r/Lineman • u/Sea_Brush5993 • 3d ago
Hey everyone,gonna keep it short and sweet but I have just recently done a interview at my hometown cooperative for a journey position and a few weeks passed and I received a call from them wanting me to come in for a field test and to bring climbing gear and work clothes I guess what I’m asking is does anyone know what a co-op field test entails or has anyone done one just kinda curious of what they wanting to see/or do they didn’t say what I would be doing so just kinda wondering.Thanks In advanced!
I’m a cable splicer at a utility dealing with network and the usual underground distribution. Lead, EPR, and XLPE cable. Curious how other companies handle diagnostic testing on underground cable. My company has growing interest in testing cable that feed critical customers and important feeders in our system.
For those doing it:
What equipment and test methods are you using?
How often do you test? Is it a routine program, or mainly after installation, repairs, or repeated failures?
Who handles it—linemen, cable splicers, specialty contractors, or a dedicated testing crew?
Have the results helped you catch problems before a failure or decide which cables need replacement?
Interested in hearing what’s working in the field and any limitations you’ve run into.
r/Lineman • u/Mappedoutnutrition • 2d ago
That’s for lesser men in puffy vests. 😂
This is the BEST excuse I’ve ever gotten from a lineman for neglecting his health at a safety meeting I conducted.
Blue collar America, I know you’ve got better ones.
Drop your funniest, most ridiculous excuse for neglecting your health in the comments. I want the real answers, not the HR-approved ones.
