Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 49-9051.00
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.15
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 22 hidden tasks23 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.49-9051.00 | 0.0023100.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.O*NET Task ID 8412 | 0.0 |
Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.O*NET Task ID 8413 | 0.0 |
Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.O*NET Task ID 8414 | 0.0 |
Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints.O*NET Task ID 8415 | 0.0 |
Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.O*NET Task ID 8416 | 0.0 |
Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.O*NET Task ID 8417 | 0.0 |
Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.O*NET Task ID 8418 | 0.0 |
Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers.O*NET Task ID 8419 | 0.0 |
Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.O*NET Task ID 8420 | 0.0 |
String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension.O*NET Task ID 8421 | 0.0 |
Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.O*NET Task ID 8422 | 0.0 |
Replace or straighten damaged poles.O*NET Task ID 8423 | 0.0 |
Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers' facilities.O*NET Task ID 8424 | 0.0 |
Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.O*NET Task ID 8425 | 0.0 |
Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation.O*NET Task ID 8426 | 0.0 |
Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment.O*NET Task ID 8427 | 0.0 |
Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires.O*NET Task ID 8428 | 0.0 |
Splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment.O*NET Task ID 8429 | 0.0 |
Cut and peel lead sheathing and insulation from defective or newly installed cables and conduits prior to splicing.O*NET Task ID 8430 | 0.0 |
Clean, tin, and splice corresponding conductors by twisting ends together or by joining ends with metal clamps and soldering connections.O*NET Task ID 8431 | 0.0 |
Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks.O*NET Task ID 8432 | 0.0 |
Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduit running through the trenches.O*NET Task ID 8433 | 0.0 |
Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows.O*NET Task ID 8434 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (23)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas. | Core |
| Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs. | Core |
| Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment. | Core |
| Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints. | Core |
| Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches. | Core |
| Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments. | Core |
| Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites. | Core |
| Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers. | Core |
| Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments. | Core |
| String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension. | Core |
| Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections. | Core |
| Replace or straighten damaged poles. | Core |
| Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers' facilities. | Core |
| Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them. | Core |
| Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation. | Core |
| Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment. | Core |
| Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires. | Core |
| Splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment. | Core |
| Cut and peel lead sheathing and insulation from defective or newly installed cables and conduits prior to splicing. | Core |
| Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks. | Core |
| Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduit running through the trenches. | Core |
| Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows. | Core |
| Clean, tin, and splice corresponding conductors by twisting ends together or by joining ends with metal clamps and soldering connections. | Supplemental |
0.92/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches. | E0 none |
| Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments. | E2 structured facilities |
| String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension. | E0 none |
| Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Replace or straighten damaged poles. | E0 none |
| Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers' facilities. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Trim trees that could be hazardous to the functioning of cables or wires. | E0 none |
| Splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Cut and peel lead sheathing and insulation from defective or newly installed cables and conduits prior to splicing. | E2 structured facilities |
| Pull up cable by hand from large reels mounted on trucks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduit running through the trenches. | E0 none |
| Cut trenches for laying underground cables, using trenchers and cable plows. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean, tin, and splice corresponding conductors by twisting ends together or by joining ends with metal clamps and soldering connections. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 132K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 146K
- Change (2025–35)
- +10.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $95,320
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76231 | 송배전 설비 전기원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 76232 | 지중 전력 설비 전기원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 76233 | 전기 케이블 접속원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 76234 | 철도 고가 전선 가설원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 76239 | 그 외 외선 전기원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7413Electrical Line Installers and Repairers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Electrical line installers and repairers install, repair and join electrical transmission and supply cables and related equipment.
Tasks
- (a) installing and repairing overhead and underground electrical power and electrical traction lines;
- (b) making joints in overhead and underground cables;
- (c) adhering to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas;
- (d) opening switches or attaching grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs;
- (e) climbing poles or using truck-mounted buckets to access equipment;
- (f) identifying defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.
Example occupations
Electric cable jointer · Electric power line worker
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- electricity distribution workerESCO 7413.1Same scope
Electricity distribution workers construct and maintain electric power transmission and distribution systems. They maintain and repair powerlines, compliant with safety regulations.
- cable jointerESCO 7413.1.1This occupation is broader
Cable jointers construct and maintain power supply and control cables in underground pipes and grooves. They also make and repair electrical cables connecting customers to the electricity network.
- overhead line workerESCO 7413.1.2This occupation is broader
Overhead line workers construct and maintain power supply and control cables in overhead power lines. They also make and repair electrical cables connecting customers to the electricity network.
- street lighting electricianESCO 7413.1.3This occupation is broader
Street lighting electricians construct and maintain electric power transmission and distribution in street lights. They maintain, test and repair street lights in compliance with safety regulations.
- electric meter technicianESCO 7411.1.2Overlapping, not the same
Electric meter technicians install and maintain electric meter systems in facilities or buildings. They install the equipment in accordance with regulations and repair faults and other problems. They test the equipment and advise on the use and care.
- electrical power distributorESCO 3131.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Electrical power distributors operate and maintain equipment which deliver the energy from the transmission system to the consumer. They supervise power line maintenance and repairs, and ensure the distribution needs are met. They also react to faults in the distribution system which cause problems such as outages.
- electrical transmission system operatorESCO 3131.1.2Overlapping, not the same
Electrical transmission system operators transport energy in the form of electrical power. They transmit electrical power from generation plants over an interconnected network, an electrical grid, to electricity distribution stations.
- electricianESCO 7411.1Overlapping, not the same
Electricians fit and repair electrical circuits and wiring systems. They also install and maintain electrical equipment and machinery. This work can be performed indoors as well as outdoors, in nearly every type of facility.
- power lines supervisorESCO 3123.1.18Overlapping, not the same
Power lines supervisors monitor the construction and maintenance of power lines and associated equipment. They assign tasks and take quick decisions to resolve problems.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| F1605 | Monteur / Monteuse de réseaux électriques | Same scopeprovisional |
| N4406 | Caténairiste | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| F1622 | Monteur / Monteuse en éclairage public | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7522 | Instaladores y reparadores de líneas eléctricas | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 26262 | Berufe in der Leitungsinstallation und -wartung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 26263 | Berufe in der Leitungsinstallation und -wartung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 671 | 送電線架線・敷設従事者 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 672 | 配電線架線・敷設従事者 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources