The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) and Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) have been using their social media channels to highlight the benefits of linework in advance of Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day, which is recognized on August 26. There are more than 6,700 lineworkers in Florida and nearly 1,000 of those are public power lineworkers who serve communities large and small throughout Florida.
“Linework is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career. Lineworkers not only have the opportunity to help and serve their communities, they also build strong friendships with their fellow lineworkers that extend far beyond the job,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA executive director. “We greatly appreciate everything they do to keep reliable power flowing to our communities.”
Benefits of linework include:
- It offers great pay and excellent benefits. The median annual wage for a lineworker is $78,310 – 52% higher than the annual median wage for all occupations.
- The ability to begin your career right out of high school.
- The opportunities for advancement come quickly. Lineworkers can move from apprentices to experienced journeymen in as little as four years. On average, a lineworker can reach the position of a senior-level crew leader after six to eight years of experience.
- It is an in-demand career. Nationally, each year there are thousands of lineworker job openings projected with the career growth projection of nearly 3% each year.
“In addition to the camaraderie lineworkers build, they also create a system of support for one another, providing on-the-job training and encouraging career advancement,” said Jacob Williams, FMPA general manager and CEO. “A career in linework provides so many opportunities and we are thankful for the men and women who choose this profession.”
Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day was created by the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 to show gratitude to the people who risk their lives daily to ensure reliable delivery of electricity throughout the state. It was designated in memory of Marc Moore, a lineworker for Lakeland Electric, who died while on the job in 2002.
