Montana

Utility Line Worker Montana

Montana has a growing need for workers in the energy industry, where utility line workers maintain electrical, telephone and internet lines to homes and businesses.

Utility line workers in Montana can find employment with companies that provide electricity, phone and internet to homes and businesses.

There are several large companies operating in the state. Northwestern Energy is a major provider of electricity and natural gas in the state of Montana, serving more than 700,000 customers across the state. The company also provides services related to energy generation, transmission and distribution.

Montana Dakota Utilities Co. serves more than 140,000 customers in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota–mostly rural areas–as well as eastern Montana. The company generates, transmits and distributes electricity to its customers’ homes and businesses. The state of Montana has a growing need for workers who are trained as utility line workers due to an aging workforce nearing retirement age.

Wages for this field increase with experience — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), median pay for entry-level line installers and repairers was $68,000 annually while those in the top 10 percent could earn more than $92,000 per year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these workers earned a median wage of almost $65,000 per year. Many line workers are paid by the hour. How much they make depends on their employer and their level of experience. Wages increase with experience—according to BLS, entry-level line installers and repairers averaged $68,000 annually while those in the top 10 percent could earn more than $92,000 per year. Some utility companies also offer benefits packages that include medical insurance and retirement plans.

To become a utility line worker, you must meet the physical requirements of the job, which include climbing up buildings and poles in all kinds of weather.

  • Physical stamina, strength and endurance, as well as good balance
  • Good vision and hearing
  • Manual dexterity
  • Not afraid of heights
  • Willing to follow safety rules and procedures
  • Able to work independently, including long hours and overtime
  • Able to make quick decisions safely based on specific training or experience guidelines. Decisions may affect others’ safety or well-being.

Workers must be able to solve problems that are not routine by referring to previously learned solutions, rules or procedures. They must be able to work as part of a team.

These professionals work on energized lines, so they must be aware of possible hazards at all times, including working with heavy equipment like diggers and bucket trucks.

  • These professionals work on energized lines, so they must be aware of possible hazards at all times, including working with heavy equipment like diggers and bucket trucks.
  • They work in a wide variety of weather conditions.
  • Duties may include installing or repairing wires and cables, grounding equipment for safety reasons, splicing wires, erecting poles, or trimming trees that are near power lines.

Line workers have a high rate of fatal injuries — according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 59 out of every 100,000 workers in this field died from work-related injuries between 2003 and 2017.

This work can be dangerous. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 59 out of every 100,000 workers in this field died from work-related injuries between 2003 and 2017, compared to 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers across all industries (an annual average).

Line workers who fall from heights or are struck by falling objects face the greatest risk. Other dangers include electrocution, motor vehicle crashes and heat illness. Workers may also suffer from overexertion while lifting heavy equipment on job sites, as well as repetitive strain injuries when performing tasks that require constant repetition of the same motions — such as installing utility poles or cable wires — over long periods of time.

Utility line workers can mitigate these risks by wearing personal protective equipment while on the job site and following company procedures designed to keep them safe — such as operating vehicles safely and ensuring that they’re properly grounded before working with electrical systems. They’re also required to attend safety training sessions throughout their careers so that they’re prepared to handle emergencies if they arise.

Workers who fall from heights or are struck by falling objects face the greatest risk.

Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Workers who fall from heights or are struck by falling objects face the greatest risk. Falls are the leading cause of injury for workers in construction and utility line work. The severity of these injuries makes falls one of the most frequently cited violations by OSHA.

Falling objects can also pose a danger to workers below. Falling tools and building materials, such as bricks, cement blocks, steel beams, lumber, scaffolding parts and debris from floors being demolished above can cause serious injuries or be fatal to employees on lower levels.

While utility line worker safety depends mostly on the worker’s ability to recognize potential hazards, employers are required by law to provide training programs that focus on safe work practices as well as first aid and CPR instruction.

While utility line worker safety depends mostly on the worker’s ability to recognize potential hazards, employers are required by law to provide training programs that focus on safe work practices as well as first aid and CPR instruction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approves such programs through its Voluntary Protection Program. Through this program, utility companies may receive a grant of up to $50,000 for developing or improving their employee training programs and work areas.

Utility line workers can find employment opportunities with large companies like Northwestern Energy, which generates electricity at power plants throughout Montana.

You could pursue a utility line worker career with a large company like Northwestern Energy, which generates electricity at power plants throughout Montana and provides electric service to more than 700,000 customers in the state. About 1,000 people work for this utility, making it one of the largest employers in the region.