How to Become a SMUD Line Worker

SMUD provides electricity for Sacramento, California, and good jobs for electricians.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District -- SMUD -- is a community owned electrical power company serving the Sacramento metropolitan area. SMUD often has job openings for electrical technicians experienced in working with high voltage generation and transmission systems -- lineman work. A job with SMUD includes an extensive package of benefits including health insurance, retirement plans and paid vacation and sick time. The job listing posted in June 2011 for electrical technicians listed wages of almost $50 per hour for a journeyman electrician and $45 for advanced apprenticeship candidates.

Instructions

1. Apply for an electrical technician apprenticeship program. You must complete a three to four year apprentice program plus work at the same time to become a journeyman or licensed electrician. The American River College and the Independent Electrical Contractors Association offer apprentice programs in the Sacramento area.

2. Find a job with an electrical contractor to fulfill the work part of the apprentice program. You can find a job with an employer who will sponsor you for an apprenticeship or work with the selected apprentice training program to find an employer.

3. Complete the apprenticeship work and education requirements. The apprentice programs require 2,000 hours per year of work experience plus classroom training. SMUD requires applicants to have experience in handling high voltage electrical systems. You want to get work experience in this area of being an electrician.

4. Apply for an Electrical Technician Advanced Apprentice Journey position with SMUD. The application is available on the Careers section of the website. You can also go to the main SMUD offices in Sacramento and apply in person.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the electrical technician job description and requirements on the SMUD website to understand what skills you need to obtain to get a lineman position with the company.

• You can apply for a SMUD electrician job when you have less than 12 months remaining to complete the apprentice program.

• The SMUD website states that the company does not accept entry-level applications for electrical technician positions. You must get the training and education before applying to SMUD.

References

• SMUD: Search for Career Opportunities
• SMUD: About SMUD
• BLS.gov: Electricians
• Electrical Agent: Electrical Schools in California
• IEC: IEC's Apprentice Programs