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Linemen build and maintain the power lines that keep Arizona's lights on through brutal heat and monsoon storms — one of the highest-paying skilled trades, learned through a paid apprenticeship. Here's the roadmap, with the Arizona training, apprenticeships, and utilities that matter.
Where to train in Arizona
Arizona linemen usually start with a pre-apprenticeship or lineworker program at a community college or trade school, learning pole climbing, electrical theory, and safety. From there you compete for a paid apprenticeship, often through the IBEW or a utility-run program.
How you qualify in Arizona
There is no separate state lineman license — you become a journeyman by completing a registered apprenticeship of roughly three to four years that blends on-the-job hours with classroom work. A driver license and often a CDL are expected, along with CPR and first aid.
Where the Arizona jobs are
Arizona utilities keep linemen in demand — APS (Arizona Public Service), SRP (Salt River Project), and TEP (Tucson Electric Power), plus electrical cooperatives and line-construction companies. A fast-growing grid and storm and heat work mean steady, high-paying assignments.
Ready to start? Browse live Arizona opportunities — internships, apprenticeships, and training programs across the state.
The paid apprenticeship is the heart — you earn while you learn a top-paying trade
Line work pays you to learn. Get some pre-apprenticeship training, land a paid apprenticeship, and climb toward journeyman lineman over three to four years. It's physically demanding, but it's one of the highest-paying trades — with little or no student debt.
Keep going: see whether the trades are worth it, compare becoming an electrician, and check if it will pay off.