How to Land a Job at PG&E in 2022

Among all of the different companies in the gas and electric industry, working at PG&E is the dream for many electrical or mechanical engineers. Petroleum engineers, the highest-paid branch of engineering according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are sought after by the company. If you’re reading this article, you probably want to know how to get a job at PG&E.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is one of the United States’ largest electricity companies and employs a wide variety of professionals in many different fields of work. In our guide, you’ll learn about the different PG&E jobs available and what it’s like working at PG&E. We’ll also give you tips on the PG&E application process and how to apply at PG&E with the best chance of getting hired.  

PG&E: Company Background

PG&E was first incorporated in the state of California in 1905. It is one of the largest natural gas and electric energy companies in the US and a subsidiary of the PG&E Corporation. The company is based in San Francisco but plans to relocate to Oakland, California in 2022.

With a workforce of about 23,000 employees, PG&E provides natural gas and electric services to around 16 million citizens in northern and central California. Statista shows it generated almost 14 billion US dollars in the electric segment in 2021 and nearly 5 billion US dollars in the natural gas segment. 

How Hard Is It to Land a Job at PG&E?

It’s quite hard to land a job at PG&E, as the application process is very competitive. There are multiple reasons for this. First would be the extensive pre-employment testing process and the interview process. They also have thousands of students applying online to the PG&E college program. The education and experience requirements for the company are quite high, as the company can afford to hire the cream of the crop.

Employees have rated working at PG&E quite favorably. Indeed reveals that staff reviewed the company overall at almost four out of five. Job security and advancement reviewed were 3.5 out of five. Pay and benefits reviewed were 4.1 out of five, and work-life balance came in at 3.7 out of five.

How to Apply for a Job at PG&E

1. Create A Profile on the Company Website. All applications for PG&E must be submitted electronically. You need to create a profile on their website before applying. Once you’ve made an account, you can upload your resume, letter of intent, letter of recommendation, and any other required information.
2. Application and Pre-Employment Tests. Before being able to apply for any specific position, you’ll need to submit and pass a selection of pre-employment tests. Once notified that you have passed the pre-employment tests, you may apply for your desired position.
3. Pre-Employment for the Selected Post. Depending on your level of education and previous work experience, as well as the position you apply for, you may need to pass additional PG&E tests after having submitted your application.   
4. PG&E Reviews Process. Once you’ve completed all the tests and submitted your application, the company will review your application and tests and compare them with those submitted by other applicants. If you’re selected, you will be brought in for an interview.  
5. Interview Process. The interview is your chance to impress the hiring committee with your interpersonal skills and show them why you’d be a great fit for the company not only because of your skillset but also because of the work environment you can help create. Make sure to brush up on your job interview skills.

PG&E Application Process

The complete hiring process for employment opportunities at PG&E usually takes around one to three months, sometimes longer, regardless of whether you apply for full-time, regular employment, or part-time employment. This is primarily due to the number of competitive candidates applying and the rigorous application requirements the company has. 

PG&E Interview Questions

• Why do you want to join our team here at PG&E?
• PG&E has many different departments and growth opportunities. Where would you like to see your career go with us in the next couple of years?
• How would you handle a fast-paced environment?
• Tell me about a time you went the extra mile?
• PG&E is a 24-hour center. Are you willing to work overtime?

What’s It Like to Work at PG&E?

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company has some great company benefits to offer job seekers once they have passed all the applicable tests, completed the hiring process, and secured an offer. Of course, everyone’s opinion will differ on what it is like to work for them. Below, some points are listed that may help you decide. 

Pay and Benefits

The previous and current staff of PG&E have rated their pay and benefits as four out of five on Indeed. Most say the income is good and the company benefits are great too. As an employee at the company, you’ll be a part of a worker’s union, which will fight for your rights and benefits.

Work-Life Balance

Staff reviewed this as a 3.7 out of five. Some say that work-life balance is lacking as of late, while others feel it is completely manageable. The position you work in will affect how much is asked of you. With more responsibility, you’ll most likely see an increase in workload. If you prioritize balancing your personal time and working time and work hard to do so, a good work-life balance is achievable. 

Job Security and Advancement

The staff has rated this aspect as a 3.5 out of five. Most say job security is excellent and that there are great opportunities for career advancement. With the company being so large, there is plenty of room not only for moving up but moving laterally within the company as well. 

PG&E Benefits

• Healthcare, Life Insurance, and Disability Coverage. Healthcare covers both physical and emotional health. They also offer paid time off for the time you can spend to connect with your family or to take personal days. Life insurance and disability coverage are also included. 
• Incentives and Recognition Awards. The Pacific Gas and Electric company gives its employees access to discounts on transport programs, employee discounts, business travel accident insurance, and service awards.
• 401 (k) and Retirement Savings Plan. PG&E contributes to their employees’ 401 (k) and retirement savings plans to make it easier for them to retire comfortably.  
• PG&E Flex Benefits Program. Aside from health insurance, they offer a tax-advantaged Health Care or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which you can use towards any unexpected necessary expenses that may come up. 
• Continuing Education. PG&E has its own training and education programs. They can help you pay off your student loans thanks to their Tuition Refund Program.

PG&E Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has numerous employment opportunities in various business areas. You can submit your application to any of these positions online through their website, whether you want to apply for a full-time customer representative position or a gas construction operator position.

Utility Worker, Transmission Pipeline Clearance Operations (TPCO)

• Salary: $88,730 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education.  
• Required Experience: Qualified on the Physical Test Battery (PTB) exam and Work Orientation Inventory Test (WOI) before the application and qualify on the Physical Test Battery (PTB) exam and Work Orientation Inventory Test (WOI) before the interview.
• Required Education: High School diploma or GED.

If you’re applying to this position, keep in mind that it will involve some physical work, so you should be physically fit. You’ll also need to have obtained a Class A Driver’s License and Post Offer Physical Assessment at least 12 months before your application. Your duties include traffic control functions and performing pipe wrapping duties.

You will be required to pass a medical assessment to wear respiratory protection, which is needed for working around gaseous or hazardous atmospheres, and submit to Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing. 

Traffic Control Flagger, Gas International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

• Salary: $95,410 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Traffic Control Plan (TCP) implementation concepts following the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), basecamp set-up and operational concepts, and military experience preferred.
• Required Education: High school diploma or GED, CA Class C License or equivalent, American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Traffic Control Technician (TCT), and PowerPathway Program.

Pre-employment tests include the regular PG&E prerequisite tests needed before submitting any application as well as a secondary test before the interview. If you receive an offer, you will need to pass a physical assessment as well as some on-the-job training.  

Job responsibilities include implementing traffic controls and uniform traffic control device standards, performing housekeeping for job site clean-ups and 911 stand-by duties when required, excavating underground facilities, and backfilling using appropriate hand tools when needed. 

Electric Line Assistant, Transmission & Distribution IBEW

• Salary: $114,447 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Relevant hiring hall experience, construction, mechanical, and military experience preferred.
• Required Education: High School diploma or GED, Class C Driver’s License, Class A permit within three months of employment, Class A Driver’s License within six months of employment, PG&E PowerPathway Program, and Cypress Mandela Construction Apprentice program or equivalent.

Responsibilities include assisting journeymen, apprentice linemen, or cable splicers, using hand and power tools, completing overhead and underground line construction and maintenance, and truck driving on-site when needed. There are pre-employment tests and post-offer assessments that will need to be completed. This post may be subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. 

Construction Operator, General Construction (GC) Gas, IBEW

• Salary: $105,995
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Utility worker or general construction, working with gas pipelines of two years, working with a hiring hall, In-Line Inspection (ILI) workstream.
• Required Education: High School diploma, GED, Class A Driver’s Permit.

Responsibilities include supporting ILI by pulling in tools, cleaning tools, rebuilding pigs, bolting up flanged connections, pre-inspecting, planning and monitoring, fieldwork, meetings, and training. The post is a DOT position and will require drug and alcohol testing or screenings. 

Hydro Operator-In-Training, IBEW

• Salary: $59,278
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Operating or maintaining a power generating facility, Hiring Hall, and military experience preferred.
• Required Education: High School diploma, GED, valid Driver’s License, Journey-level certification in a technical discipline like electrician, electrical machinist, mechanic, electrical technician, operator, or similar technical field, and enrolled in or a graduate of the PowerPathway Program.

Pre-Employment Testing applies to this role. Responsibilities include completing the Operator-in-Training (OIT) program, receiving and reviewing various job assignments, and scanning control boards and computer screens to monitor and observe equipment status and operation.

It includes communicating on phones, radios, and face-to-face, reporting and updating SAP database systems, using tools to maintain equipment, opening, and closing valves, switches, and controls on equipment and machinery, and some performing some housekeeping when needed. 

Apprentice Gas Control Technician, IBEW

• Salary: $83,424 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Instrumentation, with PG&E as a hiring hall or contractor, electronics, measurement, and control experience, and equipment instrumentation/troubleshooting experience of one year, maintenance of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facilities, computer skills including use of MS Windows operating system, MS office suite, gas regulation, measurement, and basic data communication techniques, Basic math understanding and use including applied knowledge of Ohm’s Law, electrical power systems and equipment.
• Required Education: High school diploma, GED, valid Class C Driver’s License, completion of formal instrumentation education program,

Pre-employment tests apply to this post. Responsibilities for this post include working under the supervision of a journeyman gas control technician, working with technology associated with the installation, and adjusting, testing, operating, performing maintenance, and repairing of mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, and electronic gas measurement tools. 

Due to working with the instrumentation, control systems, and all other equipment pertinent to the operation of gas facilities, apprentice gas control technicians must be able to work at elevated heights. This is a DOT post and will require random drug and alcohol testing. 

Vegetation Management Inspector, IBEW

• Salary: $125,426 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: One year of related field-based experience, four years of forestry or arboriculture industry experience, performing utility line clearance tree work, and military service preferred. 
• Required Education: Valid Class C Driver’s License with no major incidents, high school diploma or GED, bilingual in English and Spanish, two-year degree or higher education like bachelor’s of arts or applied sciences in a related field, Certified Arborist or Utility Specialist, Completion of the PG&E Power Pathway program.

Including the requirements mentioned above, within one year of employment for this post, you will need to complete the 911 Standby training and Pre-Inspector Structure Learning Path (SLP). This role performs direct oversight of vegetation management work conducted on Electric Distribution or Transmission systems. Its duties include overseeing field safety, work quality, customer relations, public safety, permit compliance, and contractor performance. 

Associate Civil Project Engineer (ESC), Substation

• Salary: $139,933 to $152,885 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: One year of engineering experience.
• Required Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited curriculum in the US or equivalent from outside the US.

An entry-level Engineer working under the general technical direction of experienced engineers is responsible for conducting walk-downs and working with internal and external project teams to establish work, schedule, and cost commitments. This includes technical data collection from field and project teams, preparing cost estimates, investigating resource requirements to complete projects, and more. 

Full-Time Service Representative I, IBEW

• Salary: $53,083 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Navigating multiple computer programs and internet webpages, Two years of customer service experience, One year of using Microsoft Office Suite including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Outlook experience, using computer equipment including, but not limited to a keyboard, mouse, and multiple monitors.
• Required Education: High School diploma, GED, seven to eight-week Customer Service Representative (CSR) Training program, associate degree or higher from an accredited college or institution.

Before applying, internal candidates must qualify on the Clerical Test Battery (CTB) and Work Orientation Inventory (WOI) exams. Responsibilities include attending the required safety and professional training and communicating with customers by being courteous, empathetic, and professional. It includes resolving customer issues efficiently and accurately in a fast-paced environment. 

Electric Miscellaneous Equipment Operator, IBEW GC

• Salary: $58,982 
• Benefits: Healthcare, life insurance, disability, incentives, recognition awards, 401 (k), retirement savings, flex benefits program, and continuing education. 
• Required Experience: Mechanical, construction, trucks, and components, reading gauges and load charts, operating equipment such as drills, chainsaws, trucks, and trackers. 
• Required Education: High School diploma or GED, valid Class A Driver’s License, crane certification, forklift certification, and having graduated from an approved Power Pathway Program.

Pre-employment testing applies to this post. This post requires operating various machinery and vehicles for installations, maintenance, and reconstruction of electric facilities. You must be able to work outside and in all kinds of weather conditions, work extended hours when needed, and travel or transfer to other locations for unspecified amounts of time when required. This is a DOT post subject to random drug and alcohol screening. 

What Does It Take to Get a Job at PG&E?

Getting a job at PG&E takes strong technical knowledge in your field and determination. Since the hiring process can take some time, you must be patient and dedicated to completing the employment process. The electrical field has numerous excellent career opportunities, some of which you don’t need a degree for, that you could secure by attending a bootcamp or course for technical certification. 

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Find Your Bootcamp Match

How to Get a Job at PG&E FAQ