Electricity and electrical power makes possible our modern lifestyles. Where would we be without electrically powered heating, lighting, cell phone chargers and emergency devices? A major in Electrical & Power Transmission Installation prepares you to work with indoor and outdoor residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems, and associated power transmission lines.
This major involves the study of electricity as well as technical skills. Students take various courses in safety, transformers, power distribution, electrical theory, wiring insulation and grounding, and schematic blueprint interpretation. These classes will help students prepare for on-the-job training and work. This major is typically offered as a certificate and an associate's degree.
Studying Electrical & Power Transmission Installers involves the study of Electrical And Power Transmission Installers. Read on to learn the important information every electrical & power transmission installers student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering electrical & power transmission installers programs.
In the U.S., electrical & power transmission installers is a widely-pursued major, with 35,577 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Electrical & Power Transmission Installers Schools ranking analyzes these 567 schools to determine the best overall colleges for electrical & power transmission installers students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of electrical & power transmission installers programs later in this article.
Coursework for Electrical & Power Transmission Installers build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations electrical & power transmission installers graduates commonly enter.
While studying Electrical & Power Transmission Installation, student will need to have strong problem solving skills. Complications can occur when working with technology, therefore creative and patient individuals will do well within this major. Safety is a major issue; student will be required to follow strict guidelines, in order to prevent danger to others and themselves. Most programs require internships in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand.
Skills developed in a electrical & power transmission installers program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a electrical & power transmission installers major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several electrical & power transmission installers degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18,011 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,086 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,071 |
People currently working in careers related to electrical & power transmission installers tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 35.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 27.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.9% |
| Some college courses | 9.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in electrical & power transmission installers careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates with a degree in Electrical & Power Transmission Installation have the opportunity to enter into a few different professions. They could become electrical engineers and work with all different kinds of power grids, ranging from computers, to telephones and cars construction. Another option is to become an electrical power-line installer working with electrical power or distribution systems by installing and repairing cable or wires. Some other jobs graduates find work in are building inspectors, first-line supervisors of installers, repairers, and mechanics.
A degree in electrical & power transmission installers can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to electrical & power transmission installers.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to electrical & power transmission installers.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 523,745 | -1.2% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 308,314 | -3.3% |
| Electricians | 259,862 | -2.9% |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | 182,380 | 10.2% |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 132,549 | 5.2% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 110,130 | 1.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of electrical & power transmission installers graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,714 |
| 4 years | $47,108 |
| 5 years | $52,808 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for electrical & power transmission installers graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers electrical & power transmission installers grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $89,975 |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | $88,342 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $85,639 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $59,882 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Electricians | $57,376 |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $53,048 |
With 567 different electrical & power transmission installers programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased electrical & power transmission installers school rankings to help you.
Students interested in electrical & power transmission installers, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrician | 30,349 |
| Lineworker | 2,731 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | 2,334 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other | 163 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 6,978 |
| Carpenters | 5,356 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 3,471 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,761 |
| Mason/Masonry | 378 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 281 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.