Power Lineman Job Descriptions: Journeyman, Apprentice, Groundman

Hiring power linemen takes more than reposting a generic electrician template. Below are three ready-to-post power lineman job descriptions for journeyman, apprentice, and groundman roles, built to pull qualified candidates and screen out the rest.

What belongs in a power lineman job description

Linemen scan job posts in under 30 seconds. They check pay, voltage class, location, per diem, and CDL requirements. If those are missing, they keep scrolling. Every template below leads with the work, lists certs and experience that match the role, and gives a real wage range. Vague language like "competitive pay" or "team player" gets the post skipped.

A complete power lineman job description has six parts: job title, one-paragraph summary, responsibilities, requirements, working conditions, and compensation. Strong posts also name the voltage class (distribution, sub-transmission, or transmission), the construction type (overhead, underground, substation), and whether the work is local, regional, or storm travel.

Journeyman lineman job description template

Summary

We are hiring a journeyman lineman to construct, maintain, and repair overhead and underground distribution lines up to [34.5 kV / 69 kV / 138 kV]. The role covers new construction, service restoration, and storm response across [region]. Reports to the line foreman.

Responsibilities

1. Build, frame, and dress poles 40 to 90 feet using hooks or bucket truck.
2. Install, replace, and repair primary conductor, secondary, transformers, reclosers, regulators, and capacitors.
3. Work energized lines using rubber gloves and hot sticks per company procedure and OSHA 1910.269.
4. Operate digger derricks, bucket trucks, pullers, tensioners, and pole trailers.
5. Perform switching and tagging on de-energized circuits.
6. Read one-line diagrams, staking sheets, and work orders.
7. Train and direct apprentices and groundmen on the crew.
8. Respond to outages and storm events, including out-of-state mutual aid.

Requirements

• Completed recognized outside lineman apprenticeship (IBEW JATC, NEAT, NRECA, NLC, or state-approved equivalent).
• Journeyman ticket or Certificate of Completion.
• CDL Class A with airbrake endorsement; clean MVR.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification.
• Pole-top and bucket truck rescue certification.
• OSHA 10 minimum; OSHA 30 preferred.
• Pass DOT physical, drug screen, and background check.
• Two or more years on energized primary preferred.

Pay and benefits

Base wage [$48 to $58 per hour] depending on classification and location. Time-and-a-half after 8 or 40 hours per local agreement. Storm pay at 1.5x to 2x base with per diem of [$95 to $135 per day]. Health, dental, vision, defined-benefit pension or 401(k), and IBEW NEBF where applicable.

Apprentice lineman job description template

Summary

We are hiring an apprentice lineman to enter a registered [3.5 to 4 year] outside apprenticeship program. Apprentices perform progressive line work under the direction of a journeyman while completing 7,000 hours of on-the-job training and 700-plus hours of related classroom instruction.

Responsibilities

1. Climb wood poles using hooks; complete pole-top and bucket truck rescue.
2. Rig, dress, and frame poles per the foreman's direction.
3. String, sag, and clip conductor.
4. Hand tools, materials, and rubber goods to the journeyman in the bucket or on the pole.
5. Operate ground equipment as authorized by step level.
6. Maintain a training logbook and complete all required coursework.
7. Step up in pay and responsibility every six months on schedule.

Requirements

• 18 years old, high school diploma or GED.
• Algebra 1 or equivalent on transcript.
• Pass aptitude test (commonly algebra and reading comprehension).
• Valid driver license; CDL Class A within first year.
• Pass climbing school (typically 40 to 80 hours).
• Pass DOT physical, drug screen, and color vision test.
• Indentured to a recognized JATC or apprenticeship program.

Pay and benefits

First-step apprentice wage runs 60 to 65 percent of journeyman scale [$28 to $36 per hour] in most IBEW outside locals. Wage steps up every six months. Full benefits package, paid classroom hours, and book reciprocity for travel work after step 4.

Groundman job description template

Summary

We are hiring a groundman to support the line crew with materials, equipment operation, and job-site setup. This is an entry point into line work for candidates planning to enter an apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

1. Drive and operate bucket trucks, digger derricks, pole trailers, and pickups.
2. Load and unload poles, transformers, conductor reels, and hardware.
3. Stage materials and tools at the job site per the foreman's plan.
4. Hand tools, rubber goods, and materials to the bucket or pole.
5. Set up traffic control per MUTCD; flag, cone, and sign work zones.
6. Perform basic rigging under direct supervision.
7. Clean, fuel, and inventory trucks and trailers daily.

Requirements

• 18 years old, high school diploma or GED.
• Valid driver license; CDL Class A required or obtained within 90 days.
• Pass DOT physical, drug screen, and background check.
• Basic hand tool experience; construction or trade background a plus.
• OSHA 10 within first 30 days.
• Willing to work outdoors in all weather and travel for storm response.

Pay and benefits

Hourly wage [$22 to $30 per hour] depending on CDL status and region. Overtime after 40 hours, storm pay where applicable, per diem on travel jobs.

Pay ranges by role

Role	Base wage range	OT rules	Storm and per diem
Groundman	$22 to $30/hr	After 40	Per diem $75 to $125
Apprentice (step 1)	$28 to $36/hr	After 40 or 8	Per diem $95 to $135
Journeyman	$48 to $58/hr	After 40 or 8	1.5x to 2x base, per diem $95 to $150
Foreman	$58 to $68/hr	After 40 or 8	Same as JL plus stipend

Wages reflect IBEW outside locals and large non-union contractors. IOUs in California, the Northeast, and the Pacific Northwest run higher; co-ops and municipals in the South and Midwest run on the lower end. Check your local agreement or the National Linemen's Compensation Survey for current figures.

Common hiring mistakes that kill your applicant pool

1. Listing "competitive pay" instead of a wage range. Linemen filter posts by dollars, not adjectives.
2. Skipping the voltage class. A 138 kV transmission JL will not apply to a post that reads like residential service work.
3. Burying the CDL requirement at the bottom. Put it in the first three bullets.
4. Asking for 10 years of experience on a journeyman role. Five is the norm; ten priced you out.
5. Skipping per diem details. Travelers will not pack the truck for a vague "lodging covered."
6. Using marketing language. "Join our family" reads like a red flag for low pay or bad supervision.
7. No mention of storm response. JLs want to know whether they will see storm checks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a lineman and an electrician?

Linemen build and maintain the electric grid outside the meter, working on poles, towers, and underground primary up to 500 kV and beyond. Electricians work inside the meter on building wiring under the NEC. Different code, different tools, different licenses.

Do you need a CDL to be a lineman?

For most journeyman and apprentice roles, yes. CDL Class A with airbrake endorsement is the standard because the trucks (digger derrick, bucket, pole trailer) require it. Many groundman positions allow up to 90 days to obtain the CDL.

How long does it take to become a journeyman lineman?

A registered outside apprenticeship runs 3.5 to 4 years and requires 7,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 700-plus hours of classroom instruction (IBEW outside standard). Some non-union programs run shorter but are not always reciprocal across state lines.

What certifications do power linemen need?

Common requirements include CPR/First Aid, OSHA 10 or 30, pole-top and bucket truck rescue, and CDL Class A. Substation and transmission roles often add switchman/qualified electrical worker training and EHV-specific climbing certs.

Post your lineman jobs where qualified candidates are looking

PowerLinemanJobs.com only runs power line work. Post your journeyman, apprentice, and groundman openings to a feed read by linemen on the book, in the bucket, and between storm calls.