Each year, ice storms turn public attention to utilities. The quality of their work affects lives everyday, so how utilities attract and retain qualified individuals can be crucial. According to the Compensation Data annual survey of more than 5,300 employers, salaries at utilities have largely stagnated over the last three years. However, the largest difference can be seen between positions.

Education and experience create a large disparity in the salaries paid within utilities. In 2006, electrical engineering managers with eight years of related work experience and a bachelors degree earned $99,148 on average. That’s 51.8 percent more than a senior-level, cable construction technician with one year of experience and a high school degree makes each year.