Richmond, Virginia Lineman Jobs
Richmond runs on Dominion Energy Virginia territory: dense urban distribution downtown, transmission and substation work feeding state government load, and coastal storm restoration that pulls crews east. Average lineman pay here is about $88,640 a year, above the national median for the trade. Virginia is a right-to-work state, so union membership is your choice, not a hiring condition.
Richmond Employers
The dominant employer, with apprenticeship pathways running through IBEW-affiliated programs in the region.
Distribution and storm restoration crews working Dominion territory and beyond.
Transmission and substation construction across the Richmond metro.
Line construction and maintenance contracts in the surrounding counties.
Nearby Hiring Hubs
- Chester, Mechanicsville, Henrico, Midlothian, and Petersburg all pull from the same Dominion and contractor labor pool.
- Virginia utilities and contractors here require a Class A CDL, and most contractors want it before you interview, not after.
- Working for an investor-owned utility like Dominion versus a contractor changes your schedule, your travel, and your storm exposure.
Richmond Lineman FAQ
Average lineman pay in Richmond is about $88,640 annually, which sits above the national median. Storm callouts on the coastal side of Dominion's territory add hours on top of that, and storm pay is where Richmond linemen close the gap on higher-cost states.
No. Virginia is right-to-work, so you can be hired without joining, though Dominion's apprenticeship pathways run through IBEW-affiliated programs in the region. Use the IBEW local finder to confirm which local covers outside line work in your area before you sign a book.
Most crews here start you as a groundman with a Class A CDL, then move you into an apprenticeship once you've proven out on the truck. Contractors like Pike and MasTec hire groundmen more often than Dominion does, so contractor work is usually the faster door in for a first lineman job.