Power Line Technician Jobs in Arlington, TX

Every time an Arlington storm rolls through the entertainment district or knocks out power near Globe Life Field, it is line technicians who climb the poles and get the lights back on. Arlington sits squarely inside the Oncor service territory, and Oncor operates the largest transmission and distribution network in Texas, running more than 139,000 miles of line to over 3.8 million homes and businesses. That scale, plus the constant grid expansion across Tarrant County, keeps demand for line technicians steady year round.

Top Arlington Employers Hiring Power Line Technicians

Line work around Arlington is split between the local utility and the contractor crews that build and maintain its grid. These are the names that hire line technicians in and around the city:

• Oncor Electric Delivery - the regulated transmission and distribution utility for Arlington; hires apprentice (Class C), Class B, and journeyman linemen for overhead and underground work.
• Pike - national utility construction contractor that builds and repairs overhead distribution systems across the DFW area, including general foreman and crew roles.
• Quanta Services - Houston-based infrastructure giant with transmission and distribution crews working throughout North Texas.
• MasTec - power delivery contractor running line crews on DFW grid projects.
• ACRT / utility vegetation and support contractors - support and groundman roles that feed into apprenticeship tracks.
• TRC Companies - utility engineering and field services firm supporting Oncor pole and construction work.

Power Line Technician Salaries in Arlington

• Entry-level (apprentice / Class C, groundman): about $25 to $32 per hour
• Experienced (Class B / advanced apprentice): roughly $33 to $42 per hour
• Senior (journeyman / transmission lineman): $45 per hour and up, with total pay commonly reaching $87,000 to $100,000+ once overtime and storm call-out are added

These figures are estimates that shift with overtime, storm restoration, and union status. Transmission linemen typically earn the most because of the higher voltages and risk. Utility and large contractor jobs usually add medical, dental, disability, an HSA or FSA, and retirement benefits.

How to Become a Power Line Technician in Arlington

Most line technicians start with a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license, then add formal training. Tarrant County College (TCC) offers an Electrical Line Technician program that teaches you to install, test, and repair electric lines, and TCC has partnered with Oncor on a Line Worker Certification program that has fed local interns straight into utility careers. Tulsa Welding School's Dallas Metro campus runs a 15-week electrical lineworker program with pole climbing, bucket rescue, and multiple certifications. Note that a Class A CDL is required for most journeyman roles - many programs build CDL training in. After schooling, you work as an apprentice to log the hours needed to reach journeyman. Anyone performing electrical work in Texas must be properly licensed, and utilities require OSHA safety training on top of that.

What the Job Involves

Line technicians construct, maintain, and repair overhead and underground power lines and equipment. Day to day that means setting poles and anchors, stringing conductor, installing transformers, cutouts, insulators, and switchgear, replacing fuses, and clearing faulted circuits. You work energized and de-energized lines at distribution voltages using approved protective equipment, out of bucket trucks and off wood poles, in every kind of Texas weather. Expect on-call rotation and 24/7 storm call-out - Oncor journeyman roles often require reporting to the service center within about 60 minutes.

Skills Employers Look For

• Comfort working at heights and in confined underground vaults
• Strong physical fitness and stamina for outdoor work in extreme heat and cold
• Knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code and lockout/tagout
• Pole climbing, bucket rescue, and rigging or knot-tying proficiency
• Valid Class A CDL (or willingness to earn one)
• Teamwork, clear communication, and a safety-first mindset

Career Path and Advancement

The ladder is well defined: groundman or apprentice (Class C), to Class B lineman, to journeyman lineman, then to crew leader or general foreman. From there Arlington-area techs move into transmission line work (the highest paid), substation roles, line supervision, safety representative positions, or training instructor roles like the ones Oncor staffs at TCC. Some experienced journeymen move to distribution construction representative or inspection roles with the utility.

Related Careers in Arlington

If line work interests you, these related Arlington energy and trade roles are worth a look:

• Electrician Jobs
• Utility Technician Jobs
• Solar Installer Jobs
• Power Plant Operator Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license or CDL to be a power line technician in Arlington?

Yes. Anyone performing electrical work in Texas must be properly licensed, and most journeyman line jobs at Oncor and its contractors require a valid Class A CDL because you operate bucket trucks and digger derricks. Employers also require OSHA safety training.

How long does it take to become a journeyman lineman?

Plan on a few months for a pre-apprentice program (TCC or a 15-week school like Tulsa Welding School's Dallas campus), then several years of paid apprenticeship logging hours before you top out as a journeyman.

What is the storm and overtime pay like for Arlington line techs?

Overtime is a major part of the paycheck. Line crews are on-call for 24/7 storm restoration, and that call-out and overtime is what pushes journeyman total pay toward and past $100,000 in the Oncor territory.

Can you do power line technician work remotely in Arlington?

No. It is entirely field-based, hands-on work on poles, in bucket trucks, and in underground vaults. Journeyman roles often require living close enough to report to the service center within about 60 minutes.

Which Arlington-area employer pays line technicians the most?

Oncor and the large infrastructure contractors (Quanta, Pike, MasTec) are the top payers, and transmission line work generally pays more than distribution because of the higher voltages and specialized skill.

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