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Line Installers and Repairers
Overview » Industry Pathways » Telecommunications Technologies 
Line installers and repairers install the wires and cables that connect customers with central offices. These workers like solving physical problems and use their hands and minds to troubleshoot and make necessary repairs. As children, these workers might have enjoyed making forts in the backyard or trying to fix broken toys.
They prefer working outside the confines of an office and enjoy lots of movement and physical activity in their daily work tasks. They make our lives run smoothly in many ways that most of us take for granted. Whenever we turn on a light switch, purchase a cell phone or switch to a new cable television service, the service we enjoy is a direct result of the efforts of these workers. They deal with the huge networks of wires and cables that provide customers with electrical power and communications services.
Line installers, or line erectors, install new lines by constructing utility poles, towers, and underground trenches to carry the wires and cables. They use a variety of construction equipment, including digger derricks, trenchers, cable plows, and borers.
When construction is complete, line installers string cable along the poles, towers, tunnels, and trenches. While working on poles and towers, installers first use truck-mounted buckets to reach the top of the structure or physically climb the pole or tower. Next, they pull up cable from large reels mounted on trucks. The line is then set in place and pulled so that it has the correct amount of tension. Finally, line installers attach the cable to the structure using hand and hydraulic tools. When working with electrical power lines, installers bolt or clamp insulators onto the poles before attaching the cable. Underground cable is laid directly in a trench, pulled through a tunnel, or strung through a conduit running through a trench.
Other installation duties include setting up service for customers and installing network equipment. In addition to installation, line installers and repairers also are responsible for maintenance of electrical, telecommunications, and cable television lines. Workers travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to visually inspect the wires and cables. Sensitive monitoring equipment can automatically detect malfunctions on the network, such as loss of current flow. When line repairers identify a problem, they travel to the location of the malfunction and repair or replace defective cables or equipment.
Line installers and repairers held about 162,000 jobs in 2006. Nearly all line installers and repairers worked for telecommunications, construction or electric power generation, transmission, and distributions companies. Approximately 9,300 line installers and repairers were self-employed.
Overall employment of line installers and repairers is expected to grow about slower than average for all occupations through 2016. Much of this increase will result from growth in the construction and telecommunications industries. With the increasing competition in electrical distribution, many companies are contracting out construction of new lines. The introduction of new technologies, especially fiber optic cable, has increased the transmission capacity of telephone and cable television networks. This higher capacity has allowed the creation of new and popular services, such as high-speed Internet access.
Competition for local phone service and demand for high-speed Internet access is forcing former local telephone companies to update and modernize their networks. In some regions, underground telephone lines may be up to 50 years old and incapable of providing advanced services. Job growth also will result from the maintenance and modernization of telecommunications networks.
Little or no growth in employment of electrical powerline installers and repairers is expected through 2016. The demand for electricity has been consistently rising, driving the expansion of powerline networks, which tends to increase employment. However, industry deregulation is pushing companies to cut costs and maintenance, which tends to reduce employment.
Line installers and repairers are trained on the job, and employers require at least a high school diploma. Employers also prefer a technical knowledge of electricity, electronics, and experience obtained through vocational/technical programs, community colleges, or the Armed Forces. Prospective employees should possess a basic knowledge of algebra and trigonometry, and mechanical ability.
Customer service and interpersonal skills also are important. Because the work entails lifting heavy objects (many employers require applicants to be able to lift at least 50 pounds), climbing, and other physical activity, applicants should have stamina, strength, and coordination, and must be unafraid of heights. The ability to distinguish colors is necessary because wires and cables may be color-coded.
Many community or technical colleges offer programs in telecommunications, electronics, and/or electricity. These programs often are operated with assistance from local employers and unions. Some schools, working with local companies, offer one-year certificate programs that emphasize hands-on field work; graduates get preferential treatment in the hiring process at companies participating in the program. More advanced two-year associate degree programs provide students with a broader knowledge of telecommunications and electrical utilities technology through courses in electricity, electronics, fiber optics, and microwave transmission.
Electrical line installers and repairers complete formal apprenticeships or employer training programs. These are sometimes administered jointly by the employer and the union representing the workers. The unions include the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Communications Workers of America, and the Utility Workers Union of America. Apprenticeship programs last up to five years and combine formal instruction with on-the-job training.
The Society of Cable Television Engineers (SCTE) provides certification programs for line installers and repairers. Applicants for certification must be employed in the cable television industry and attend training sessions at local SCTE chapters.
Entry-level line installers may be hired as ground workers, helpers, or tree trimmers, who clear branches from telephone and power lines. These workers may advance to positions stringing cable and performing service installations. With experience, they may advance to more sophisticated maintenance and repair positions responsible for increasingly larger portions of the network.
Earnings for line installers and repairers are higher than those in most other occupations that do not require postsecondary education. The typical hourly earnings for electrical powerline installers and repairers were $22.70 in 2007.
Most line installers and repairers belong to unions, such as the Communications Workers of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Utility Workers Union of America. For these workers, union contracts set wage rates, wage increases, and the time needed to advance from one job level to the next.
If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!
For career information and links to employment resources contact:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Occupational Information Network, O*NET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/
For more details about employment opportunities, contact the telephone, cable television, or electrical power companies in your community. For general information and some educational resources on line installer and repairer jobs, write to:
Communications Workers of America, 501 3rd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Telecommunications Department, 1125 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
For training and professional certifications for those already employed by cable telecommunications firms, contact:
Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, Certification Department, Internet: http://www.scte.org
For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center .
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