Line Installers and Cable Splicers


Overview

Introduction

Line installers and cable splicers construct, maintain, and repair the vast network of wires and cables that transmit electric power and voice, video, and Internet communications services to commercial and residential customers. Line construction and cable splicing is a vital part of the communications system. Workers are involved in linking electricity between generation plants and homes and other buildings; providing land-line, cellular, and Internet-based phone service to customers; and bringing cable television stations and Inte...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$58,280

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Apprenticeship


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Experience

On-the-job training


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Skills

Building/Trades|Interpersonal|Mechanical/Manual Dexterity


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Personality Traits

Conventional|Hands On|Technical

Earnings

For line installers and cable splicers, earnings vary according to different regions of the country, and as with most occupations, work experience and length of service determine advances in pay scale. The U.S. Department of Labor reports the following mean earnings for electrical power-line installers and repairers in mid-2018: electric power generation, transmission and distribution ($76,460)...

Work Environment

Most line installers and cable splicers work standard 40-hour weeks, though evening and weekend work is not unusual. For example, line installers and cable splicers who work for construction companies may need to schedule their work around contractors activities and then be required to rush to complete a job on schedule. Shift work, such as four 10-hour days or working Tuesday through Saturday,...

Outlook

Employment for electric power line installers and repairers is expected to grow 8 percent through 2028, faster than the average for all careers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) due to population growth and the expansion of cities and suburban areas. 

Little or no change in employment is expected for telecommunications line installers and repairers through 2028. The DOL re...