The city that never sleeps uses 11,000 Megawatt-hours of electricity on average each day. If you have every been to Times Square you were likely struck by the sheer force of the lights of the city. Lineman will appreciate the deep inner workings of the Big Apple Electrical Grid, however upstate New York also has an incredibly advanced and impressive electric grid thanks to the work of lineman across the state.
Over the past 10 years, electric utilities operating in New York State have spent $17 billion to maintain its electric power grid. That cost is predicted to jump to $30 billion over the next decade. Lineman in the Empire state will have strong career opportunities.
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New York lineman school
The most popular in-state choice for lineman school in New York is Hudson Valley Community College Line Worker Certificate Program. The three-semester overhead electric line worker certificate gives strong preparation for employment with electric utility companies. Another popular choice is Lineman Institute of the North East. The curriculum includes the design and function of electric generation, transmission and distribution systems, substations, and metering.
Popular lineman schools in neighboring states include Lancaster County Career & Technology Center Lineman Apprenticeship (Pennsylvania) and Bunker Hill Power Utility Technology Program (Massachusetts).
In order to become a lineman in New York the first step is an apprenticeship. A lineman apprenticeship is an “earn while you learn” program in the sense that it is an entry level role that is focused on education and training. New York apprenticeships in the line industry can be difficult to enter and having a CDL as well as going to line school can improve your chances in the region. You may also hear lineman schools be called pre-apprenticeship programs. In an interview, either union halls or contractors in New York, a lineman hopeful will be expected to articulate why he or she is interested in the field as well as what sort of relevant experience would translate well.
New York lineman apprenticeships
Some of the most popular choices for New York lineman apprenticeships include Northeast Lineman Apprenticeship Program and Lancaster County Career & Technology Center Lineman Apprenticeship.
The Northeast Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program (also known as NEAT) operates under the guidance of the electrical training ALLIANCE and is registered with and monitored by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
Apprentices in New York alongside veteran Journeyman and learn from the best instructors in the industry. Apprentices are members of high-performing crews that work in the field to maintain substation, power lines, and other electrical projects.
Lineman apprentices in New York will be responsible for performing diversified work related to the construction and maintenance of poles, power lines, auxiliary facilities, and equipment for the distribution of electricity.
Lineman apprentices in New York can typically make between $39,000 and $59,000 per year.
New York lineman jobs
How much does a lineman make in New York?
We estimate there are currently 5,070 lineman in the state of New York. The median journeyman salary for lineman in New York is $85,670. The 90th percentile salary for journeyman lineman in New York is $116,150.
Some local unions for lineman in New York include Local 1049 (Long Island), Local 1249 (Syracuse), and Local 41 (Buffalo). The northeast part of the country is historically very pro-union.
Two major employers of lineman in New York are Con Edison and National Grid. Other major employers of lineman in New York include Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp and Rochester Gas & Electric Corp.
Some of the other utilities we have been tracking over the past year that have been getting more aggressive with their posting of hiring opportunities for lineman include Public Service Enterprise Group and First Energy Corp.
Journeyman lineman in New York will need to be able to perform various types of distribution service calls. A typical days work would include performing all energized & de-energized work assigned to the crew and supervise the work of any apprentice lineman training with the crew.
New York's Clean Energy Standard was recently revised to require 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. In 2019 29% of New York's in-state generation came from renewable sources, including those at both large- and small-scale facilities.
The state of New York has a strong history of partnering strong utility companies with educational programs. This has been a response to the demand for overhead electric line workers throughout New York State. The electric utility industry continues to face a critical shortage of qualified workers, specifically line mechanics and technicians, due to a large number of workers retiring.
New York lineman have many options to build a strong career path both in rural and metropolitan areas across the Empire state.