Career comparison
Lineman vs. Electrician
Lineman vs. electrician
Linemen earn more: a median of $95,320, $32,130 (51%) above electricians at $63,190.
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+10% and +9%).
Getting in is faster for linemen: about 3.8 years vs. 4.6 years for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
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At a glance
| Lineman | Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $95,320 | $63,190 |
| Top 10% earn over | $128,690 | $108,510 |
| Growth to 2035 | +10% | +9% |
| Openings per year | 10,900 | 72,700 |
| Jobs today | 131,900 | 821,000 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Time to qualify* | 3.8 years | 4.6 years |
| Training cost* | $5K–$22K | $100–$5.5K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
The real difference
Linemen build and repair the power grid: poles, overhead and underground distribution and transmission lines, mostly outdoors, often at height and on storm call-outs. Electricians work on the customer side of the meter, wiring and repairing buildings. Linemen usually complete a three- to four-year apprenticeship with a utility or contractor (many attend a short lineworker school first) and need a commercial driver's license; electricians apprentice for four to five years and take a journeyman exam.
Pay
Lineman
Electrician
Getting in
Lineman
- Entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Required: Commercial driver's license (CDL, most employers) · Journeyman lineman card
Electrician
- Entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Prior experience
- None
Required: Journeyman electrician license exam (most states)
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Lineman: 59% usually work over 40 hours a weekElectrician: 35% usually work over 40 hours a week
Lineman: core tasks
- Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
- Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
- Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
- Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
- Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
Electrician: core tasks
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Active Listening, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.
New for a lineman moving to electrician: Speaking, Active Learning, Installation, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension.
New for an electrician moving to lineman: Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Interests (Holland codes): Lineman: Realistic, Conventional, Investigative. Electrician: Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Lineman
+10%
faster than average · 10,900 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Electrician
+9%
faster than average · 72,700 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a lineman and an electrician?
Linemen build and repair the power grid: poles, overhead and underground distribution and transmission lines, mostly outdoors, often at height and on storm call-outs. Electricians work on the customer side of the meter, wiring and repairing buildings. Linemen usually complete a three- to four-year apprenticeship with a utility or contractor (many attend a short lineworker school first) and need a commercial driver's license; electricians apprentice for four to five years and take a journeyman exam.
Who makes more, a lineman or an electrician?
Linemen earn more: a median of $95,320, $32,130 (51%) above electricians at $63,190.
Which has the better job outlook?
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+10% and +9%).
How long does it take to become an electrician?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 4.6 years, with tuition of roughly $100 to $5,500. Required: Journeyman electrician license exam (most states).
How long does it take to become a lineman?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 3.8 years, with tuition of roughly $5,000 to $22,000. Required: Commercial driver's license (CDL, most employers), Journeyman lineman card.