7 Reasons to be a Union Lineman

Oct 11, 20245 min read

Is being in IBEW the golden ticket for linemen?

“It was a very beautiful thing, this Golden Ticket, having been made, so it seemed, from a sheet of pure gold hammered out almost to the thinness of paper. On one side of it, printed by some clever method in jet-black letters, was the invitation itself" - Mr Willy Wonka.

A union ticket is the piece of paper documenting that a person has paid their subscription and dues needed to be an active member.

Consideration for a union lineman job

In some parts of the country or depending on your lineman work preferences you may considering joining a union. In recent years union lineman have became frustrated with the lack of wage increases as well as some of the political endorsements that have been made. However, being a union lineman can have some benefits that may be worth considering pending your local and family situation.

Should I get a union lineman job?

At the end of the day each family makes their own decision on the work environment and company that is best for them. Not sure how to get started in the power line career? One of the most common starting points is the National Public Power Pre-Apprenticeship. In the mean time, here are seven reasons why lineman often consider joining a union.

Lineman Jobs Near Me

1) Pay is more than meets the eye

If you talk to some experienced lineman you might hear that non-union contracting jobs, storm chasing or large transmission projects are the ones that pay the most.

However lineman pay should take more into consideration than just the hourly wage. For example, New York and Massachusets are two the states that lineman make the most money; however these are also relatively high cost of living states.

Union lineman jobs can often come with additional benefits (described below) and are more common in higher cost of living areas (West Coast and Northeast). It is less common to see union lineman jobs in south, southeast and midwest (generally speaking).

When you join a union as a lineman, one thing you can be guranteed is transparency.

Wage rates, also known as pay scales, help unions and line contractors set frameworks for how much to pay their linemen. These pay scales are posted pubicly.

Here is an example of a pay scale from a local union:

Non-union line jobs may be quicker to react to an influx in demand for line workers and offer higher wages at times; however in some states union workers consistently get paid more than non-union.

2) Cutting Edge Perspective on a Changing Industry

Union lineman crews are often called upon to handle some of the most critical and high-profile transmission and distribution projects worldwide. These teams bring top-tier skills and experience to the job, ensuring that major infrastructure projects are built to last.

The U.S. electric grid is the largest interconnected machine on the planet, and keeping it running requires highly skilled tradesmen who take pride in their craft. Working as a union lineman is a testament to your expertise and dedication to the trade.

Some of the most significant projects union crews have played a key role in include:

The Pacific DC Intertie
The major transmission routes of PJM Interconnection
The Merrimack Valley Reliability Project

Without projects like these, the country’s power infrastructure wouldn’t function as it does today. The hard work of union linemen is what keeps the grid strong, reliable, and ready for the future.

3) Desire to retire?

One of the top reasons lineman jobs are in high demand is the thousands of lineman that are retiring each year.

This exodus of the workforce is placing a higher emphasis on linemen understanding that they need to have a plan for themselves and their families. In an era where alot of companies are cutting back on the retirement benefits union lineman are eligible for two top tier retirement programs:

The National Electric Annuity Plan

An annuity is a financial product that pays out a fixed stream of payments to an individual, primarily used as an income stream for retirees.

Under this program, union linemen receive a retirement benefit of 15% to 25% of your gross pay, depending on your local union.

It is important to note that this amount is paid by the electrical contractors and is not deducted from your paycheck.

2. The National Electrical Benefit Fund

This multi-employer defined benefit plan provides participating IBEW electrical workers with a 3% monthly contribution based on their gross pay. It’s a valuable retirement benefit, especially for linemen on the West Coast, where participation in the program is particularly high.

Both Journeyman Linemen and Apprentice Linemen receive this benefit as part of their overall compensation package when working for a contributing employer.

One of the biggest advantages? Vesting takes just five years, meaning once you’ve put in that time, you’re entitled to the retirement benefits you’ve earned.

4) Top Tier Training

We started Lineman Central because we saw how difficult it was to get good information on how to become a lineman and join our trade. Its fair to say that safe and affordable training is the key to starting a career in the line trade.

Union training programs are structured as the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. This was developed to put some standard practices for the members of NECA and IBEW. Each year thousands of aspiring linemen sign up for these programs through Lineman Central.

Lineman Apprenticeship Programs are divided by region and are as follow:

5) Insurance

Lineman jobs can be dangerous. According to national lineman surveys and utility company data, 42 for every 100,000 lineman are killed on the job each year.

Additionally, 2,400 for every 100,000 lineman suffer serious non-fatal injuries each year.

Many linemen elect to purchase their health insurance off the marketplace. However, another strong option for lineman seeking health insurance is LineCo.

Lineman and their families can enroll through LineCo. Members will receive their insurance cards in the mail. This is a partnerships with Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

LineCo is a PPO or Preferred Provider Organization. A PPO is a health plan that contracts with medical providers, such as hospitals and doctors, to create a network of participating providers.

6) Protection

If the utility or construction company does not pay you the amount owed or in a timely fashion, say you get fired without good reason, or something just seems a little sketchy, there is someone who has your back. The local unions work to make sure that the contracts are inclusive to both parties and that the over all package that these men and women get paid is a fair amount based on the local wages.

There are examples of the employers of lineman going cheap on travel, per diem, safety equipment and overall pay. It can be helpful to have someone who has your back.

7) The Brotherhood.

There are unions for firefighters, airline workers, teachers and film makers but perhaps there is no union that forms a bond as close the the electrical workers union. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was founded in 1891. Since then the organization has grown to support other 700,000 workers (more than just lineman) across the world.

In our community we have especially seen the impact that union brothers have in supporting hurt or fallen lineman and their families.

**Lineman Central does not formally support union or non union activity. Some of our best experiences in the trade have been both union and non-union. Our platform exists to broadly support the future of the line trade and help aspiring linemen connect with training programs**