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Two line workers in blue hard hats repair wiring on a utility pole, one strapped to the pole and one in a bucket truck

Lineman school by state

282 lineman programs in 39 states, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

Which schools offer WIOA-approved lineman school?

214 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Pick a state on the map or compare them belowCompare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

What does a lineman do, and how do you become one?

Electrical power-line installers and repairers put up and repair the cables and wires that carry electricity, and may erect poles and transmission towers. Most start with a high school diploma and learn in an apprenticeship or employer training program of up to three years; some community colleges offer one-year certificates and two-year degrees.1

Approved programsup to 23 to 45 to 8more than 8

How much does lineman school cost?

Most lineman programs approved for WIOA funding cost $3,500 to $10,313 if you pay yourself. Certificates and short courses mostly cost $3,136 to $9,148 and two-year degrees $9,592 to $13,980. Prices also differ by state: most cost $182 to $777 in North Carolina and $6,128 to $18,666 in Missouri.

That is the price of the whole program as the school reports it. If you qualify, WIOA funding can pay part or all of it, depending on local limits (who qualifies). The figures cover only programs approved for WIOA funding; other schools and programs may cost more or less.

Compare lineman school by state: cost, pay and results

Lineman school by state
StateProgramsMost costEarned a year, estimatedWorking 6 months laterFinished
Alabama8$4,150 to $5,175about $46,400Left out89%
Arizona2Too few figures to show
Arkansas1Too few figures to show
California3Too few figures to show
Colorado6$6,131 to $9,531Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Connecticut2Too few figures to show
Florida9$2,934 to $7,000about $37,30031%95%
Georgia9$1,399 to $7,500about $48,40086%88%
Idaho2Not enough dataNot reportedLeft outNot enough data
Illinois9Left outNot enough dataNot enough dataNot reported
Indiana3Too few figures to show
Iowa1Too few figures to show
Kansas2Too few figures to show
Kentucky9Not reportedabout $40,80075%94%
Louisiana7$7,862 to $10,629Not enough dataLeft outLeft out
Maine1Too few figures to show
Michigan8$5,880 to $13,046about $55,40087%90%
Minnesota8$6,714 to $10,601about $39,70062%86%
Mississippi13$2,355 to $4,204about $47,30085%Left out
Missouri8$6,128 to $18,666Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Nebraska4Too few figures to show
New Hampshire1Too few figures to show
New Mexico2Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough dataLeft out
New York2Too few figures to show
North Carolina13$182 to $777about $47,90066%92%
North Dakota1Too few figures to show
Ohio17$3,350 to $12,666Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Oklahoma9$4,712 to $12,000Not enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Pennsylvania1Too few figures to show
South Carolina2Too few figures to show
South Dakota2Not enough dataNot enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Tennessee8$781 to $6,144about $40,40079%92%
Texas21$3,840 to $12,495about $48,30086%76%
Utah1Too few figures to show
Vermont1Too few figures to show
Virginia4Too few figures to show
Washington68Too few figures to show
West Virginia6Not enough dataNot enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Wisconsin8$6,256 to $8,194about $52,50078%86%

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer lineman school too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

Lineman school or lineworker apprenticeship? What the 282 programs are

By kind, the 282 programs approved for WIOA funding are lineworker certificate or course (126 programs), lineworker apprenticeship (42 programs), substation or utility technician (35 programs), communications lineworker or fiber optic course (22 programs), and 57 more of 5 other kinds.

Across the US, 64 of the 282 programs take students without a high school diploma, 198 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 20 ask for earlier courses first.

Is there free lineman school in the US?

Other training by state

Approved programs per field across every state. Each opens that field's comparison by state.

Where the lineman program numbers by state come from

Which lineman programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).6 Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the facts about lineman school

Show the 6 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Line Installers and Repairers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List