Electrical Substation Technician
Also posted as Substation Technician; Electric Substation Technician; Substation Maintenance Technician; High Voltage Substation Technician; Substation Electrician Technician
An electrical substation technician installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs high-voltage substation equipment that transforms, switches, protects, and controls electric power. Most people enter through a paid apprenticeship or utility trainee program rather than a four-year degree.
Below: what it pays, what you'd do, the skills you need, and how to become one.
The role profile
Everything you need to know about this role, the same details employers use to post openings and colleges use to build training.
How much does it pay?
Explore the core responsibilities of this role, from daily operations and equipment handling to safety, quality, and performance requirements.
Maintain substation equipment
Install and maintain transformers, breakers, switchgear, buswork, disconnects, control panels, and grounding.
Switch and clear equipment
Perform substation switching, clearances, grounding, and equipment isolation.
Test and repair apparatus
Inspect, test, diagnose, and repair high-voltage and control equipment.
Support construction work
Support substation construction, expansions, commissioning, and equipment replacement.
What skills do you need?
Three core skills sit at the heart of this role. You can learn all of them through short, hands-on training.
High-Voltage Substations
Building and maintaining high-voltage substation equipment.
Transformers & Switchgear
Servicing power transformers, breakers, switchgear, and bus systems.
Switching & Clearances
Executing switching, grounding, and clearance procedures safely.
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