Electricity distribution worker
Maintain and repair the overhead lines, underground cables and substations that carry power to homes and businesses.
- Salary£23,000 – £42,000
- Hours37 to 42 hours a week, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota
- Working for yourselfUsually employed
What the job is like
Electricity distribution workers keep the local power network running. Depending on your specialism you might climb poles and towers to work on overhead lines, joint underground cables, or set up equipment inside substations - and when the power goes off, you're part of the team that gets it back on.
It suits people who are safety-minded, calm under pressure and happy working outdoors and at height. Most people train through a Level 3 power industry apprenticeship, and employers welcome applications from ex-forces personnel with technical skills.
What you'll do
- Follow technical instructions and safety documents on every job
- Climb or put up poles and steel towers to work on overhead lines
- Dig trenches and lay underground power cables
- Connect plant and components to the existing network
- Set up electrical equipment and safety systems in substations
- Inspect and test cables, generators and switchgear
- Find and fix faults
- Remove old and disused equipment and lines
Where you'll work
- Outdoors
- Working at height
- In a team
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become an electricity distribution worker
Apprenticeship
Power industry overhead linesperson (Level 3, typically around 30 months), Power industry substation fitter (Level 3, typically around 30 months) or Power industry distribution cable jointer (Level 3, typically around 30 months). There is also the Electrical power networks engineer (Level 4, typically around 30 months) higher apprenticeship.
College
Courses in engineering, engineering technology or electrical engineering can help you apply for a trainee distribution worker job.
Direct application
Possible with electrical engineering or maintenance qualifications and experience from another industry.
Other ways in
If you already work in the power industry, your employer may offer an engineering training programme.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- Full driving licence
- You must be able to cope with working at height
Where it can lead
- Network technician
- Overhead lines supervisor or inspector
- Network planner
- Site or estates manager
Good to know
- Work may be in remote rural areas, outdoors in all weathers and physically demanding.
- You will wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
- Power industry employers welcome ex-military applicants with technical skills.
Courses and training
-
Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
-
Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
- National Careers Service: electricity distribution worker
- Power industry overhead linesperson apprenticeship
- Power industry substation fitter apprenticeship
- Power industry distribution cable jointer apprenticeship
- Electrical power networks engineer apprenticeship (Level 4)
- Energy & Utilities Careers & Jobs
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Electricity distribution worker job profile nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/electricity-distribution-worker
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Power industry overhead linesperson skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1330-v1-2
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Power industry substation fitter skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1331-v1-2
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Power industry distribution cable jointer skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1332-v1-1
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Electrical power networks engineer skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0475-v1-0