Turning the Lights Back On: Inside the World of Electrical Lineworkers
PRESENTED BY STRATATECH
"Most people don't know what an electrical lineworker is until their power's out," says Zach Taylor, a veteran lineworker, with a knowing smile. "And then they know all about it."
After 26 years scaling poles, restoring power after natural disasters, and forging unbreakable bonds with fellow crew members, Taylor now trains the next generation of electrical lineworkers at Tulsa Welding School’s Jacksonville campus. Before coming to Tulsa Welding School, a student-first education company specializing in skilled labor career training, Taylor’s electrical line work spanned the country—from hurricane recovery in Louisiana to wildfire aftermath in Northern California to rebuilding Puerto Rico's grid after Hurricane Maria. Now he brings his invaluable experience to his teaching career.
Most people don't know what an electrical lineworker is until their power's out, and then they know all about it.
Zach Taylor
When the World Goes Dark
Picture this: A hurricane has just torn through your community. Trees are down, roads are blocked, and most critically—the power is out. While most people shelter in place, electrical lineworkers are already mobilizing, often arriving before the storm has fully passed.
"Sometimes on hurricane situations over here on the East Coast, we are there when it is hitting," Taylor explains. "But generally, it's right after it happens."
These are the moments when communities discover just how essential lineworkers truly are. They're the ones who brave dangerous conditions to restore one of modern life's most fundamental necessities. When neighborhoods light up after hours or days of darkness, the reward is immediate and profound.
"Turning the whole neighborhood on—that's the best part," Taylor recalls. "When you've worked all day and all night, and then you go back to the front of the neighborhood and throw that switch, and you hear everybody cheering back there. That's knowing they really appreciate what you're doing."
More Than Just Climbing Poles
Electrical lineworkers (or "linemen" in industry parlance) build, maintain, and repair the vast network of power lines that keep our modern world running. But the job encompasses far more than just climbing poles.
"This whole industry is extremely varied. There's nothing like this," Taylor says. "Do you want to be a lineman that hangs off of a 300-foot tower? Do you want to be a lineman that gets dropped off these towers by helicopter? Do you want to be one that's down in a manhole in downtown Los Angeles? Or do you want to be one that's out in the middle of nowhere, just climbing 40-foot poles in a cow pasture?"
This diversity of specialties means lineworkers can find their niche in environments ranging from rural pastures to urban centers. The work takes them places they might never otherwise see, creating experiences impossible to replicate in other careers.
Taylor's memories include the unique regional differences he's encountered during disaster response: "My favorite customers are the ones in Louisiana. As soon as they see us coming down the road, they empty out their whole freezer and start cooking. They feed us all that good Cajun food. You would think they'd be upset because they've been without power for seven days or two weeks—and they're not."
A Bond Built on Trust
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of this career is the camaraderie. Lineworkers develop bonds that often last a lifetime, forged through shared challenges, mutual reliance for safety, and the unique experiences of the job.
"You're with them night and day. Sometimes you're with them more than your own family," Taylor explains. "We might have a jerk, but he or she’s our jerk, right? We're extremely tight-knit. Guys I started working with 26 years ago, I still go fishing with on the weekends."
This familial bond extends beyond individual crews. Lineworkers maintain networks across companies and regions, sharing information about job opportunities and techniques. "It's our network. We're constantly in contact with other guys and girls we used to work with all over the place."
For veterans transitioning to civilian careers, this aspect of linework can fill a crucial void. "Veterans excel," Taylor notes. "They understand the chain of command. They've done the hard work. They've been through things they don't want to talk about."
The structured environment, emphasis on teamwork, and physical demands resonate with military experience, offering veterans a civilian career that retains aspects of what they valued in service.
Safety First, Always
Contrary to what some might assume, electrical linework has become significantly safer over the decades.
"People don't get killed in power lines anymore. There's not people running around with hooks because their arm got blown off. That's 50 years ago," Taylor emphasizes. "Everything today is about safety."
Technological advances have transformed the industry. Improved communication systems ensure everyone stays on the same page. Automation helps identify outages precisely, eliminating unnecessary searching in potentially dangerous conditions. And comprehensive safety briefings before every job ensure that "the lowest person on the crew is up to speed with every single thing that's going on."
For prospective lineworkers concerned about danger, Taylor offers reassurance: "With safety and everything, they really can't fall anymore. They have a fall restraint system that catches them."
The Path to Becoming a Lineworker
Tulsa Welding School’s 15-week electrical linework program provides the foundation for this career. Unlike many educational programs, it's almost entirely hands-on, with 80% of grades based on practical assessments rather than written tests.
"The best part's the worst part," Taylor tells prospective students. "We are outside the whole time, whether it's raining, snowing—anything but lightning—just like the real thing."
Students build and maintain real power lines (though never energized ones), preparing them for entry-level positions that lead to four-year apprenticeships with power companies. The program emphasizes realistic scenarios that graduates will face in the field.
Who makes a good candidate? "It's really just hard work and dedication," Taylor says. "Dedication to safety and to your brothers and sisters that are shoulder to shoulder with you."
Contrary to what some might expect, being a thrill-seeker isn't necessarily advantageous. "I don't necessarily think it needs to be a daredevil or a thrill seeker... You want somebody that's safe, that's calm, cool, and collected, that understands what's going on."
The physical demands can surprise newcomers. "It's unlike anything, climbing that pole and getting up and down there," Taylor notes. "I've had big, bad bodybuilders that just don't do that good because they're so rigid. It's a lot more cardio."
A Career With Staying Power
Linework offers remarkable job security and growth potential. Infrastructure aging and natural disasters create consistent demand, though it can vary by region and season.
"Wood rots, right? The poles are made out of wood 90% of the time," Taylor explains. "They're going to go bad over 30 years. And underground cables only have a 30-year life span and have to be replaced."
"Some guys are going to want to stay out there for 30 years. They just love it," Taylor says. "They want to be outside. They don't want to go into the same office every day."
The financial rewards match the responsibility. Lineworkers earn competitive wages that enable them to provide well for their families—something Taylor highlights when discussing the most rewarding aspects of his career.
"Really showing the younger guys how to do it... knowing they would be able to provide for their families for their lives and their children. Knowing that was going to change their life, and they were going to be able to have all the things they wanted for their family the rest of their career."
The Moment It Clicks
For those considering this path, Taylor shares a final insight from his teaching experience: "I love showing people how to do what I do. It's not exactly the easiest thing in the world. But when it clicks for them and they really get it, I love that."
His own father cautioned him against entering the field, warning about its difficulties. But Taylor knew within his first week that "this was my life—the rest of my life was power lines."
Now, through Tulsa Welding School’s Lineworker program, he helps others discover whether they too belong in this unique brotherhood of workers who keep the lights on when the world needs them most.
Tulsa Welding School operates electrical lineworker training programs at its Dallas Metro campus and Jacksonville campus, with new locations planned for the future. For more information about careers in electrical line work and training opportunities, visit https://www.tws.edu/programs/electrical-lineworker/
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