Electrical Power-Line Worker Apprenticeship in South Dakota

Wages, programs & career outlook

Electrical power-line workers install and repair the high-voltage lines that carry electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. Expect outdoor work in all weather, bucket trucks, climbing gear, and being on call for storm-damage restoration.

SD Median Salary
$92,060/yr
-1% vs. national
National Median
$92,560/yr
SD Employment
810
Electrical Power-Line Workers employed
SD Sponsors
6
Registered programs
Training Term
3.5 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
6.6%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
10,700
Nationally, per yr

Electrical Power-Line Worker Apprenticeship in South Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered electrical power-line worker apprenticeship in South Dakota combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.5 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

South Dakota pay vs. national

Median electrical power-line worker wages in South Dakota are $92,060/year, -1% below the national median of $92,560. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Dakota has 6 registered apprenticeship sponsors for electrical power-line worker listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.6% job growth for electrical power-line workers nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 10,700 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — South Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Electrical Power-Line Workers in South Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$61,390
Median
$92,060
90th pct
$102,500
Middle 50% of workers earn $83,690$98,100

Current Electrical Power-Line Worker Apprenticeship Openings in South Dakota

No electrical power-line worker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Dakota. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Electrical Power-Line Worker Apprenticeship Sponsors in South Dakota

6 electrical power-line worker-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for South Dakota. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current electrical power-line worker apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
GRAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. Bison
BROOKINGS MUNICIPAL UTILTITES Brookings Brookings County
SD Rural Electric Association Pierre Hughes County
Black Hills Power, Inc. Rapid City Pennington County
GOVERT POWERLINE SERVICE Reva Harding County
SDREA - WEST RIVER ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION Wall Pennington County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Electrical Power-Line Worker openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9051 and state SD for the most relevant results.

Electrical Power-Line Worker Apprenticeship in South Dakota

The 6 Electrical Power-Line Worker-related registered sponsors in South Dakota mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Electrical Power-Line Workers make in South Dakota?
The median annual wage for Electrical Power-Line Workers in South Dakota is $92,060 as of May 2024. Wages range from $61,390 at the 10th percentile to $102,500 at the 90th percentile.
How long is an Electrical Power-Line Worker apprenticeship?
The standard Electrical Power-Line Worker apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Electrical Power-Line Workers?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for an Electrical Power-Line Worker apprenticeship in South Dakota?
Our directory surfaces 6 Electrical Power-Line Worker-related registered sponsors in South Dakota. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Electrical Power-Line Worker apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In South Dakota, a first-year Electrical Power-Line Worker apprentice might earn around $46,030/yr (roughly half the $92,060 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Electrical Power-Line Workers also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 188 Electrical and Power Transmission Installers programs nationwide →
Too few South Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Electrical Power-Line Worker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Dakota

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.