Skip to content

STEM

Swap to Maths or Science or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs

Electricity distribution worker Green Job

Electricity distribution workers maintain and repair the power lines that connect homes and businesses to the national grid.

Annual Salary

£21,000 to £35,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 44 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota

4.1%
Future employment

There will be 4.1% fewer Electricity distribution worker jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • keep equipment in good working order
  • install and dismantle equipment like transmission cables
  • assemble or remove components
  • adjust and configure electrical systems
  • find and diagnose faults
  • inspect and test cables and other equipment

Working environment

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work in remote rural areas.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, at height and physically demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
College

You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed to apply for a trainee job. Relevant courses include:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Engineering
  • Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could get into this career by completing a power network craftsperson advanced apprenticeship or a higher apprenticeship for electrical power network engineers.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Work

If you're already working in the power industry, you may be able to apply for a place on an engineering training programme run by your employer.

Direct application

You may be able to apply for jobs if you've got experience in electrical engineering maintenance work from another industry, or from the armed forces.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • be able to cope with working at height

More information

Further information

You can get more advice about working in the power industry from Energy and Utilities jobs and National Grid.

Showing jobs in:
View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could progress to team leader.

With further study you could become an electrical engineering technician or network control engineer.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • persistence and determination
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
My top 5 skills
Please sign in to compare your skills to this job. Sign in

To save or view your choices and results you must sign in or register (takes 1 minute).

Sign in Register