by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 79 U.S. colleges awarded 2,856 degrees and certificates in Lineworker. Certificates are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 65 schools in its 2027 Best Lineworker Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,795 one year after completing, rising to $57,171 after four years.
A degree in Lineworker covers Lineworker. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Install, Operate, Maintain And Repair Local, Long-Distance, And Rural Electric Power Cables And Communication Lines; Erect And Construct Pole And Tower Lines; And Install Underground Lines And Cables. Includes Instruction In Cable Installation And Repair, Fibre-Optic Technology, Trenching, Mobile Equipment And Crane Operation, High-Voltage Installations, Maintenance And Inspection, Safety, Remote Communications, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [Power Line Electrician], [Power Lineman], [Powerline Technician], [Powerline Technician (Operating)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, lineworker draws strong interest, with 2,856 degrees awarded annually. 79 colleges award lineworker degrees, an average of 36 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 380.
By level, the 2,856 awards include 1,533 certificates, 441 associate degrees and 854 master’s degrees.
Women earned 1% of lineworker degrees and certificates in the latest year (37 of 2,856). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,059) and Hispanic or Latino (445), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 65 schools in its 2027 Best Lineworker Schools ranking, including 14 for associate degrees. It also ranks lineworker schools within 12 states. In all, 79 colleges offer lineworker programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Lineworker Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common lineworker credential is the certificate: 1,533 of the 2,856 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to lineworker call most for Active Listening, Monitoring and Troubleshooting, and for knowledge of Mechanical, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a lineworker degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,533 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 441 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 854 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to lineworker, at 51.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 51.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 17.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 14.3% |
| Some college courses | 11.7% |
| First professional degree | 2.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Lineworker, with an average median salary of $72,760; the strongest outlook belongs to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers, at 1.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Line Repairer, Underground Conduit Installer, Electrical Lineman and Emergency Service Restorer.
The occupation related to lineworker with the most projected jobs is Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, at 308,314.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 308,314 | -3.3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 110,130 | 1.2% |
Lineworker graduates earn a median $39,795 one year after completing their program, $57,171 after four years and $53,416 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,795 |
| 4 years | $57,171 |
| 5 years | $53,416 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to lineworker, with a median salary of $85,639.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $85,639 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $59,882 |
Lineworker has 3 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 37,746 degrees a year; the largest are Electrician (35,302), Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General (2,336) and Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other (108). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrician | 35,302 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | 2,336 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other | 108 |
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