NOC 72203: Electrical power line and cable workers
What electrical power line and cable workers do
Electrical power line and cable workers construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, electrical contractors and public utility commissions. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems including overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers and other associated equipment
- Erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
- Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks using splicing tools, related electrical equipment and tools
- Inspect and test overhead and underground power lines and cables and auxiliary equipment using electrical test equipment
- Climb ladders or operate hydraulic buckets when working aloft on poles and towers, or work in confined spaces such as trenches and tunnels to install power lines and cables and associated equipment
- Install and maintain street lighting systems
- Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments.
Job titles under NOC 72203
62 job titles are classified here, including apprentice lineman/woman - electric power systems, cable installer - electrical power, cable splicer - electrical power.
- apprentice line maintainer - electric power systems
- apprentice lineman/woman - electric power systems
- apprentice power line repairer
- assistant transmission lineman/woman - electric power systems
- cable installer - electric power systems
- cable installer - electrical power
- cable installer and repairer - electric power systems
- cable jointer - electric power systems
- cable line worker - electric power systems
- cable repairer - electric power systems
- cable splicer - electric power systems
- cable splicer - electrical power
- cableman/woman - electric power systems
- conduit installer - electric power systems
- construction lineman/woman - electric power systems
- construction lineman/woman - electrical power line
- distribution construction lineman
- electric meter installer - electric power systems
- electric meter setter - electric power systems
- electrical cable splicer - electric power systems
- emergency line repairer - electric power systems
- emergency servicer - electric power systems
- high voltage lineman/linewoman
- high voltage lineman/woman - electric power systems
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a provincial three- or four-year lineman/woman apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required for electrical power line and cable workers.
- Trade certification for powerline technicians is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- Trade certification for powerline technicians (construction) is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Trade certification for distribution construction linemen/women is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified powerline technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Electrical power line and cable workers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $28.40/hr | $46.00/hr | $62.00/hr |
Toronto ON | $29.70/hr | $45.00/hr | $62.00/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $32.00/hr | $50.00/hr | $63.00/hr |
Calgary AB | $31.75/hr | $55.00/hr | $67.31/hr |
Edmonton AB | $31.75/hr | $55.00/hr | $67.31/hr |
Ottawa ON | $33.93/hr | $50.11/hr | $63.81/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $30.90/hr | $42.49/hr | $49.20/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $29.70/hr | $45.00/hr | $62.00/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $34.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $50.19/hr |
Halifax NS | $28.03/hr | $49.51/hr | $67.95/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $32.00/hr | $50.00/hr | $63.00/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $21.00/hr | $47.85/hr | $54.26/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $34.76/hr | $48.96/hr | $59.76/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.50/hr | $44.00/hr | $50.00/hr |
Nova Scotia | $29.61/hr | $51.35/hr | $70.79/hr |
New Brunswick | $31.41/hr | $47.26/hr | $65.44/hr |
Quebec | $30.90/hr | $42.49/hr | $49.20/hr |
Ontario | $29.70/hr | $45.00/hr | $62.00/hr |
Manitoba | $27.40/hr | $47.00/hr | $55.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $35.00/hr | $47.85/hr | $62.00/hr |
Alberta | $31.75/hr | $55.00/hr | $67.31/hr |
British Columbia | $32.00/hr | $50.00/hr | $63.00/hr |
Using NOC 72203 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 62 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Line and cable workers supervisor (NOC 72011)
- Power system electricians (NOC 72202)
- Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers (NOC 72204)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for electrical power line and cable workers?
Electrical power line and cable workers are NOC 2021 unit group 72203. Example job titles in this group include apprentice lineman/woman - electric power systems, cable installer - electrical power, cable splicer - electrical power, construction lineman/woman - electrical power line.
What TEER is NOC 72203?
NOC 72203 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do electrical power line and cable workers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $46.00/hr, about $90,000 a year full-time, with a range of $28.40/hr to $62.00/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.