Power Line Technician Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington sits inside Oncor's service territory, the largest electric delivery grid in Texas, and every storm that rolls across Tarrant County puts line crews on the poles. Apprentices can start in the mid $20s an hour. Here are the current openings, then who hires and how to get trained.
Current lineman Openings in Arlington, TX
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Power Line Technician Work in Arlington
Oncor delivers power to more than 4.1 million Texas homes and businesses over more than 145,000 circuit miles of transmission and distribution line, and it has announced a $47.5 billion capital plan for 2026 through 2030. In Arlington that means overhead and underground crews working the growth in South Arlington below I-20, the industrial load along SH 360 and the Great Southwest Industrial District, and the stadium and hotel demand of the Entertainment District.
West and north of the city, member-owned cooperatives run their own crews. Tri-County Electric Cooperative, based in Azle, keeps linemen and apprentices at service centers in Keller, Azle and Granbury, and CoServ, which began as Denton County Electric Cooperative, serves a fast-growing territory north of DFW. Storm call-out and summer heat shape the job here as much as the voltage does.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Power Line Technicians
These utilities hire line workers in and around Arlington, confirmed on their own sites:
- Oncor Electric Delivery - the regulated wires utility for Arlington runs field operations crews and has recruited line workers through its training program with Tarrant County College.
- Tri-County Electric Cooperative - the Azle-based co-op runs a lineman apprenticeship from entry level up to journeyman, with crews out of Keller, Azle and Granbury.
- CoServ - the Denton County electric and gas co-op hires across more than 50 job areas and moves employees into line work.
Power Line Technician Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level (groundman, apprentice): about $24 to $32 per hour.
- Experienced (advanced apprentice, Class B): about $33 to $45 per hour.
- Senior (journeyman, transmission lineman): about $45 to $60 per hour, with total pay often past $100,000 once overtime and storm call-out are added.
These are estimates built from federal May 2025 wage data, where power line installers and repairers earned a median of $45.83 an hour nationally and the top 10 percent earned more than $128,690 a year. Overtime, storm restoration work, transmission versus distribution, and utility versus contractor employment move pay the most.
How to Become a Power Line Technician in Arlington
Most line workers start with a high school diploma or GED and a clean driving record, then train before or during an apprenticeship. Tarrant County College South in Fort Worth offers an Electrical Line Technician AAS (60 credit hours) plus Ground Technician and Line Technician certificates. Apprenticeships typically take three to four years to reach journeyman. Texas does not issue a state lineworker license: TDLR's electrician licensing exempts work on equipment under the exclusive control of an electric utility or cooperative. Many line jobs do require a commercial driver's license from the Texas Department of Public Safety, because crews drive bucket and digger trucks.
What the Job Involves
Line technicians build, maintain and repair overhead and underground power lines. Day to day that means setting poles and anchors, stringing conductor, installing transformers, insulators and switches, replacing fuses and restoring faulted circuits. You work from bucket trucks and poles in every kind of weather, follow strict lockout and clearance procedures around energized equipment, and take turns on call for storm restoration.
Skills Employers Look For
- Comfort working at heights and in underground vaults
- Physical stamina for outdoor work in Texas heat and winter storms
- Knowledge of electrical safety codes and lockout procedures
- Pole climbing, rigging and bucket truck operation
- A commercial driver's license, or willingness to earn one
- Teamwork and clear communication on a crew
Career Path and Advancement
The ladder is well defined: groundman, then apprentice through several grades, then journeyman lineman, then crew leader or foreman. From there Arlington-area line workers move into transmission work, the best-paid branch, or into substation, supervision, safety and training roles. Co-ops like Tri-County and CoServ promote from within, and Oncor's long capital plan keeps construction work steady across Tarrant County.
Related Careers in Arlington
If line work interests you, these related Arlington energy and trade roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a power line technician in Arlington?
No state lineworker license exists in Texas. TDLR electrician licensing does not apply to work on equipment under the exclusive control of an electric utility or cooperative. Many employers do require a commercial driver's license and their own safety training.
How long does it take to become a journeyman lineman?
Plan on a semester or more of pre-apprentice training, such as TCC South's Ground Technician certificate, then about three to four years of paid apprenticeship. Tri-County Electric Cooperative describes apprentices working under a journeyman for three to four years before working on their own.
How much do line technicians make in Arlington?
Apprentices and groundmen generally start around $24 to $32 an hour, and journeymen earn about $45 to $60. Overtime and storm call-out can push total journeyman pay past $100,000 a year. These are estimates.
Is storm duty part of the job?
Yes. Line crews rotate on call and are expected to respond after storms, and restoration work is a big part of overtime pay. Expect long shifts when a storm crosses Tarrant County.
Where can I train for line work near Arlington?
Tarrant County College South in Fort Worth runs the Electrical Line Technician AAS and two shorter certificates. Oncor has partnered with TCC South on line worker training and internships for high school and college students.
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