Lineworkers build and repair the power lines that keep Michigan running, from city distribution lines to rural co-op systems in the Upper Peninsula. Michigan doesn’t require a state license for utility line work, but you will need a commercial driver’s license, climbing skills and serious safety training. The pay is among the highest in the skilled trades.
Quick answer
- Time: Michigan college lineworker certificates take 1 year to 4 semesters, followed by a paid apprenticeship with a utility or union.
- License: no state lineworker license. Most employers require a Class A CDL.
- Cost: Lansing Community College’s lineworker certificate runs about $8,116 in-district (2025–26). Union and utility apprentices are paid while they train.
- Pay: Michigan line installers earned a median of $106,890 a year ($51.39 an hour) in May 2025, compared with $95,320 nationally.
From the dean’s desk
A journeyman lineman has high earning potential all over the country. If you can get into this coveted apprenticeship, you literally have a golden ticket.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
What a lineworker does
Lineworkers install, maintain and repair the overhead and underground lines that carry electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. They climb poles, run bucket trucks, set transformers and restore power after storms. Some work in transmission on high-voltage lines that cross the state. Others work in distribution on the lines that run down your street.
The job is outdoors in every season, often at height and near energized lines. Storm work can mean long hours and travel. In return, lineworkers earn strong pay and are in steady demand.
Michigan lineworker license and certification requirements
Michigan has no state lineworker license. The Skilled Trades Regulation Act exempts electric utility generation, transmission and distribution work from electrical licensing (MCL 339.5737). What you do need:
- A commercial driver’s license. Most lineworker jobs require a CDL, and many apprenticeships ask for a Class A with air brakes. In Michigan you can get a CDL at 18, but it is good only for driving inside Michigan until you turn 21.
- The CDL steps: get a commercial learner’s permit, practice at least 14 days, complete Entry-Level Driver Training with a provider on the federal Training Provider Registry, then pass the skills test. Knowledge tests require 80%, and you need a DOT medical card.
- Safety training. Michigan runs its own OSHA program. MIOSHA Part 86 adopts the federal power line safety standard (29 CFR 1910.269). Employers must train “qualified employees” to recognize live parts, determine voltage and keep safe distances, and must confirm you can do it before training counts as complete.
- Climbing. Expect to climb 40-foot wood poles in training. Some programs, like Alpena’s, also require good color vision.
How much lineworkers make in Michigan
Michigan line installers earn about $11,500 a year more than the national median. Detroit and Grand Rapids pay close to the state median. Federal data does not publish separate line installer figures for Lansing or Ann Arbor.
| Area | Annual median | Hourly median |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Michigan | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Detroit–Warren–Dearborn | $104,360 | $50.17 |
| Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood | $104,030 | $50.02 |
| Lansing–East Lansing | Not published | Not published |
| Ann Arbor | Not published | Not published |
Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay is also strong outside the big metros. Line installers in the Traverse City area earned a median of $108,970, and those in the nonmetro Upper Peninsula earned $102,980. Michigan’s labor market agency reports that line installers working for electric utilities earned a median of $54.87 an hour in 2024.
Job outlook for Michigan lineworkers
Michigan is projected to grow from 3,550 to 3,770 line installer jobs between 2024 and 2034, about 6%, with about 300 openings a year. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
The wider industry is growing too. Michigan’s electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry employed 16,600 people in September 2025, up 1.8% from a year earlier, and had 750 active registered apprentices in 2025.
Training paths in Michigan
Most Michigan lineworkers get in one of three ways: a union line apprenticeship, a utility pre-apprenticeship, or a college lineworker certificate that makes you a stronger applicant for both.
Union line apprenticeships
- ALBAT (American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training): the outside-line apprenticeship that covers Michigan and several nearby states. Its main training center in Medway, Ohio, has a pole yard and an indoor climbing facility. Applicants must be 18, have a diploma or GED, hold a Class A CDL with air brakes (a permit may be accepted), pass an aptitude test and pay a $25 application fee.
- IBEW Local 17 (Southfield, Detroit area): promotes the ALBAT lineman apprenticeship, which takes applications one day a year. The last window was Oct. 23, 2026; the next has not been announced. Local 17 also runs line clearance tree trimming apprenticeships. IBEW Local 17
- JMAP (Joint Michigan Apprentice Program): created by Wolverine Power Cooperative and IBEW Local 876, with training at Wolverine’s center in Lake City and related instruction from Northwest Lineman College. Its first class in 2017 drew apprentices from 28 Michigan utilities. JMAP details
See which Michigan apprenticeships are accepting applications right now: Michigan Apprenticeship Tracker
Utility pre-apprenticeship
The Consumers Energy Electric Lineworker Pre-Apprenticeship covers OSHA 10, lineworker fitness, basic electricity and energy industry basics. It is offered through Alpena Community College, Jackson College, Lansing Community College and Mott Community College. After the classroom portion come climbing clinics, an orientation and an 11-week climb school in Marshall or Potterville. Finishing the program does not guarantee a job. At Mott Community College in Flint, applicants submit a driving record, drug screen and background check through Consumers.
College lineworker programs
- Alpena Community College: Utility Technology certificate, advanced certificate and associate degree. Students climb 40-foot poles and prepare for the CDL. Plan on about $1,800 for climbing gear and tools.
- Jackson College: Utilities Technician certificate (EMPOWER Lineworker Program) with pole climbing. Cohorts fill from a waitlist.
- Lansing Community College: Electrical Utility/Lineworker Certificate of Achievement, at least 39.25 credits over 4 semesters, with field work at LCC West Campus or Consumers’ Marshall facility. Estimated 2025–26 cost is about $8,116 in-district and $13,576 in-state. Non-credit CDL training is available.
- Northern Michigan University (Marquette): one-year Electrical Line Technician certificate. Students climb from the first week and can earn a CDL-A.
Grand Rapids Community College, Northwestern Michigan College and Lake Michigan College are also listed as offering lineworker training on My Next Move. Contact them for current details.
How to become a lineworker in Michigan, step by step
1
Finish high school or a GED
Math, physical fitness and a clean driving record all help.
2
Get your CDL permit or license
Start with a commercial learner’s permit. Most line programs want a Class A with air brakes.
3
Get into a training program
Choose a college lineworker certificate, the Consumers Energy pre-apprenticeship or both.
4
Learn to climb
Expect a climbing course or climb school. You’ll need to be comfortable at height in all weather.
5
Apply for an apprenticeship
Apply to ALBAT through IBEW Local 17 during its once-a-year window, or to utility and co-op apprenticeships as they post.
6
Finish your apprenticeship
Complete your on-the-job hours and classroom training to reach journeyman lineworker.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a state license to be a lineworker in Michigan?
No. Michigan law exempts utility generation and distribution work from electrical licensing. Most employers and apprenticeships require a Class A CDL.
Can I get a CDL at 18 in Michigan?
Yes, but you can drive commercially only inside Michigan until you turn 21.
What safety rules apply to Michigan lineworkers?
MIOSHA Part 86, which adopts federal OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.269. Employers must train qualified employees and confirm they can work safely.
How do I get into Consumers Energy’s lineworker program?
Complete its pre-apprenticeship through Alpena, Jackson, Lansing or Mott community college, then pass the 11-week climb school. A job is not guaranteed.
What does lineworker school cost in Michigan?
Lansing Community College’s certificate runs about $8,116 in-district or $13,576 in-state for 2025–26. Alpena students also budget about $1,800 for gear.
What do lineworkers make in Michigan?
The Michigan median was $106,890 a year ($51.39 an hour) in May 2025, compared with $95,320 nationally.
Is there a union line apprenticeship in Michigan?
Yes. Outside line apprenticeships run through ALBAT, promoted by IBEW Local 17. It takes applications one day a year. The last window was Oct. 23, 2026.
Sources
- MCL 339.5737 (licensing exemptions)
- Michigan Secretary of State: Apply for a CDL
- MIOSHA Part 86: Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution (PDF)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269
- O*NET OnLine: Line installer wages in Michigan (BLS OEWS May 2025)
- O*NET OnLine: Line installer employment trends in Michigan
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Line Installers and Repairers
- Michigan Center for Data and Analytics: Industry focus, electric power
- IBEW Local 17: ALBAT lineman apprenticeship notice
- SkillUp: ALBAT apprenticeship listing
- Michigan Electric Cooperative Association: JMAP
- Consumers Energy: School-to-work programs
- Lansing Community College: Lineworker certificate cost sheet
Related: How to Become a Lineworker (national guide) · Electrician in Michigan
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