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Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers vs Millwrights: what changes?

Consider Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers if you want to install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. Consider Millwrights if you would rather install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers and Millwrights. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

National median pay (2025)
$95,320
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
10,900
Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers brief

Millwrights

National median pay (2025)
$65,700
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate
Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
3,200
Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Millwrights brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers has the edge on projected growth

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers is at 10.3% projected growth, compared with 0.9% projected growth for Millwrights.

2

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers has the edge on annual openings

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers is at 10,900 annual openings, compared with 3,200 annual openings for Millwrights.

3

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers has the edge on median pay

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers is at $95,320, compared with $65,700 for Millwrights.

78.7/ 100

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

vs
50.2/ 100

Millwrights

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers vs Millwrights

DimensionElectrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersMillwrights
Median pay (2025)$95,320$65,700
Pay percentile79.1 percentile57.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)10.3%0.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)10,9003,200
2025 employment131,90040,700
How you qualifyHigh school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingHigh school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 2Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingMore than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.