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Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative information

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How much do apprentice rural electric cooperative jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for apprentice rural electric cooperative in the United States is $22.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects and hands-on tasks can an Apprentice at a Rural Electric Cooperative expect to participate in during their training?

As an Apprentice at a Rural Electric Cooperative, you'll gain hands-on experience working on a variety of projects such as installing and maintaining power lines, repairing electrical equipment, and assisting with outage restoration. You will often work alongside experienced journeyman linemen, learning safety protocols, proper tool usage, and the fundamentals of electrical distribution systems. The work environment is typically outdoors and can involve working in different weather conditions, which helps build resilience and adaptability. Apprenticeships also include classroom instruction and on-the-job training, providing a strong foundation for future advancement within the cooperative.

What are Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperatives?

An Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative worker is an entry-level employee who is learning the skills necessary to install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in rural areas. These apprentices work under the supervision of experienced journeymen, gaining hands-on experience with tasks such as setting poles, stringing wires, and troubleshooting outages. The goal of the apprenticeship is to prepare the worker for a full-time, skilled lineman or technician role within a rural electric cooperative, which is an organization that provides electricity to rural communities. Apprenticeships typically combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training, and can last several years, depending on the cooperative's requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Apprentice at a Rural Electric Cooperative, you need a basic understanding of electrical systems, safety protocols, and a high school diploma or equivalent, often supplemented by enrollment in an apprenticeship program. Familiarity with tools such as climbing gear, voltage meters, and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) is typical, and OSHA safety certifications may be required. Strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills help apprentices adapt to field challenges and learn from experienced journeymen. These competencies are crucial for performing safe, reliable electrical work that keeps rural communities powered and protected.

What is the difference between Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative vs Journeyman Lineman?

AspectApprentice Rural Electric CooperativeJourneyman Lineman
CredentialsOn-the-job training, apprenticeship program, some certificationsCompleted apprenticeship, journeyman certification, licenses
Work EnvironmentTraining under supervision, fieldwork, utility company settingsIndependent work, high-voltage line maintenance, outdoor environments
Industry UsageEntry-level, training phase within electric cooperativesSkilled worker, responsible for line installation and repair

The main difference is that an Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative is in training and gaining experience under supervision, while a Journeyman Lineman has completed training and certification, allowing them to work independently on electrical lines. Apprentices are learning the trade, whereas Journeymen are fully qualified workers responsible for maintaining and repairing power lines in rural electric cooperative settings.

More about Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative jobs
What cities are hiring for Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative jobs? Cities with the most Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Rural Electric Cooperative jobs? The most popular types of Rural Electric Cooperative jobs are:
What states have the most Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative jobs? States with the most job openings for Apprentice Rural Electric Cooperative jobs include:
System Operator Apprentice

System Operator Apprentice

Bandera Electric Cooperative

Boerne, TX โ€ข On-site

Full-time

PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Come join us at Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) and BEC Fiber, where we are lighting the grid to empower our members!


Help us Reimagine Rural America!


Bandera Electric Cooperative proudly distributes electricity to members across seven counties in Central Texas. The BECFiber division, began offering 100% fiber broadband in 2017 and currently provides fiber internet service to members and subscribers in eight counties in the Texas Hill Country.


We offer Highly Competitive Wages and a Generous Benefit Package!! (no waiting period - benefits start on first day). Paid time off and ten paid holidays.


Our Energy Operations team is looking for a System Operations Apprentice. Under the Supervision of a System Operator this position is responsible for coordinating and directing all distribution electric outage restorations. This includes issuing all necessary clearances and switching orders to field personnel, creating, verifying, and monitoring of associated switching and tagging orders following BEC's current Lockout-Tagout procedures and protocols, creating detailed logs of all daily activities, emergency restoration, and associated events for the electric distribution system, and when required, assist BEC personnel when conducting switching activities with LCRA System Operations Control Center.


Essential Job Duties


Electrical Services

  • Assist department with supporting 24/7 real-time control system integrity to ensure the highest operational reliability and system availability.
  • Provide efficient and safe direction of restoration activities during assigned shift.
  • Gain the knowledge and training needed to serve as switching authority as assigned by the BEC Manager of Distribution System Operations.
  • Responsible for proper adherence to cooperative policies, operating instructions, and procedures.
  • Responsible for accurate, safe, and current switching and tagging instructions for assigned operations.
  • Respond to system operation failures or abnormalities, creating and assigning Service Orders to the appropriate team for corrective action.
  • Tracking, documenting, and assigning all errors found within the OMS (Outage Management System) mapping software.
  • Daily communication across multiple departments including Member Relations, Engineering, Operations, and Technical Systems.
  • Perform trouble shooting, problem analysis, and resolution.
  • Analyze and validate data to maintain system integrity and power restoration.
  • Develop, approve, analyze, and generate daily reports.
  • Under supervision utilize SCADA software and equipment to control and monitor the cooperative distribution grid. This includes the opening, closing, and changing of normal configurations to all SCADA controlled devices.
  • Validate crew work locations with closest upline protective device. Accurately place protective devices on hot-line tag or non-reclose setting to minimize adverse effects on equipment and/or personnel should a fault occur.
  • Utilize one lines diagrams and system maps for the creation and issuance of switching procedures.
  • Proficiently utilize all software to minimize outage durations. This includes but not limited to, pinging meters, on-demand meter reads, SCADA alarms, fault magnitude, probable fault location generation, lightning strike data, proper crew assignments, transformer loading, and creating switching orders to minimize the number of members affected.
  • Initiate CVR (Conservation Voltage Reduction) as directed by management or 4CP probability alerts.
  • Monitor conditions which could negatively impact reliability.
  • Monitor two-way radio communication for all BEC personnel.
  • Prepare and approve switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages.
  • Receive power outage notifications, via telephone calls or smart application, dispatching personnel as necessary. Maintain outage, substation and system records, and provide to other departments as needed.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of systems operations and maintenance
  • Knowledge of electric utility transmission or distribution system operations
  • Knowledge in the use of systems operations software and tools
  • Strong knowledge of safety protocols and regulations related to systems operations
  • Proficient in the use of systems operations software and tools
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Decision-making and judgment skills
  • Highly reliable and dependable


Qualifications and Requirements


Education:

  • High School Diploma or Equivalent


Additional Requirements:

  • Valid Texas Driver's License and Related Insurance
  • Must pass background and drug screening
  • Maintain a flexible schedule that allows for adherence to a rotating shift
  • Complete Northwest lineman college Year 1 System Operator Certification Program course of study within first year of employment and continue work to achieve Coarse completion