How much do lineworkers make in 2026?
Lineworkers earned a national median of $95,320 a year ($45.83/hr) in the latest federal wage data available (BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates). BLS counts about 131,070 people employed in this occupation in the U.S.
Annual and hourly wages, all U.S. industries. Occupation used: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the percentiles mean
The median is the middle: half of lineworkers earned more and half earned less. The 25th–75th percentile range ($67,270–$109,740) is what the middle half of workers earned. Newer workers and apprentices tend to be near the low end, and experienced, licensed or specialized workers near the high end. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat any experience-based number as an estimate.
Lineworkers pay by state
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. "Not published" means BLS did not release that estimate (too few survey responses, or not enough workers to publish).
| State | Median / yr | Median / hr | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $92,030 | $44.24 | $44,150 | $105,400 | 2,730 |
| Alaska | $92,470 | $44.46 | $52,040 | $139,750 | 490 |
| Arizona | $75,420 | $36.26 | $48,760 | $124,300 | 3,360 |
| Arkansas | $81,450 | $39.16 | $51,150 | $115,120 | 1,510 |
| California | $129,040 | $62.04 | $77,350 | $167,090 | 8,930 |
| Colorado | $103,980 | $49.99 | $59,170 | $131,360 | 2,370 |
| Connecticut | $126,850 | $60.99 | $46,960 | $135,730 | 940 |
| Delaware | $97,180 | $46.72 | $48,570 | $119,790 | 330 |
| District of Columbia | $101,240 | $48.67 | $67,750 | $132,900 | 150 |
| Florida | $86,870 | $41.76 | $50,690 | $109,300 | 6,420 |
| Georgia | $80,080 | $38.50 | $50,440 | $116,900 | 4,960 |
| Hawaii | $134,340 | $64.59 | $81,120 | $144,170 | 600 |
| Idaho | $125,410 | $60.29 | $75,770 | $131,140 | 860 |
| Illinois | $108,120 | $51.98 | $72,820 | $129,230 | 3,090 |
| Indiana | $102,040 | $49.06 | $53,290 | $116,720 | 2,540 |
| Iowa | $100,200 | $48.17 | $65,310 | $109,980 | 1,390 |
| Kansas | $101,620 | $48.86 | $50,510 | $122,970 | 1,610 |
| Kentucky | $77,020 | $37.03 | $47,770 | $102,400 | 2,930 |
| Louisiana | $76,410 | $36.74 | $46,200 | $117,990 | 2,520 |
| Maine | $83,090 | $39.95 | $52,190 | $121,950 | 1,160 |
| Maryland | $106,090 | $51.01 | $62,160 | $124,750 | 1,830 |
| Massachusetts | $110,210 | $52.99 | $81,470 | $127,620 | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $106,890 | $51.39 | $65,480 | $131,570 | 2,800 |
| Minnesota | $104,180 | $50.09 | $78,390 | $122,110 | 2,190 |
| Mississippi | $75,890 | $36.49 | $45,620 | $98,200 | 2,290 |
| Missouri | $96,360 | $46.33 | $59,900 | $115,740 | 3,440 |
| Montana | $110,320 | $53.04 | $73,220 | $125,010 | 680 |
| Nebraska | $92,150 | $44.30 | $52,930 | $118,040 | 1,490 |
| Nevada | $96,560 | $46.42 | $65,000 | $134,930 | 920 |
| New Hampshire | $102,170 | $49.12 | $67,030 | $126,870 | 560 |
| New Jersey | $121,580 | $58.45 | $81,470 | $126,350 | 1,310 |
| New Mexico | $76,470 | $36.76 | $46,640 | $105,590 | 1,020 |
| New York | $121,280 | $58.31 | $58,740 | $141,160 | 5,840 |
| North Carolina | $77,270 | $37.15 | $48,180 | $105,430 | 5,650 |
| North Dakota | $105,870 | $50.90 | $61,020 | $121,990 | 740 |
| Ohio | $93,150 | $44.78 | $58,840 | $111,760 | 4,260 |
| Oklahoma | $76,010 | $36.54 | $48,630 | $117,020 | 3,290 |
| Oregon | $131,090 | $63.02 | $77,330 | $153,860 | 1,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,230 | $51.07 | $64,550 | $122,510 | 4,150 |
| Rhode Island | $104,620 | $50.30 | $72,710 | $125,200 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $76,870 | $36.96 | $48,890 | $102,860 | 2,690 |
| South Dakota | $97,310 | $46.79 | $63,840 | $118,530 | 740 |
| Tennessee | $83,660 | $40.22 | $58,240 | $105,000 | 3,900 |
| Texas | $78,940 | $37.95 | $46,760 | $107,550 | 17,280 |
| Utah | $101,220 | $48.66 | $49,380 | $124,180 | 1,030 |
| Vermont | $108,520 | $52.17 | $89,450 | $125,680 | 270 |
| Virginia | $76,590 | $36.82 | $49,520 | $106,860 | 2,920 |
| Washington | $133,060 | $63.97 | $80,640 | $147,810 | 2,340 |
| West Virginia | $83,810 | $40.29 | $47,760 | $115,350 | 1,260 |
| Wisconsin | $105,820 | $50.88 | $58,330 | $119,850 | 2,520 |
| Wyoming | $93,860 | $45.12 | $49,820 | $119,810 | 670 |
| Puerto Rico | $77,050 | $37.04 | $51,750 | $86,810 | 600 |
How to earn more as a lineworker
- Enter through a utility, contractor or joint apprenticeship (often 3–4 years) and top out as a journeyman lineworker.
- Get your CDL (usually Class A). Most line crews need it to move trucks and equipment.
- Storm restoration and mutual-aid work brings heavy overtime, so be ready to travel.
- Move into transmission, substation or hot-stick and live-line work as you gain experience.
- Advance to foreman, general foreman or troubleshooter roles.
Find lineworker work
Employer posts on Outwork always show first. Partner listings are labeled. Apply free; no account needed.
FAQ
How much do lineworkers make an hour?
The national median wage for Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051) was $45.83 an hour, or $95,320 a year, in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. Half earned more and half earned less.
What do the highest-paid lineworkers earn?
The top 10% earned at least $128,690 a year ($61.87/hr). The bottom 10% earned less than $51,470 ($24.74/hr).
Which states pay lineworkers the most?
By median annual wage in the BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates: Hawaii ($134,340); Washington ($133,060); Oregon ($131,090). Living costs differ by state, too.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-9051 (Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers). They cover wage and salary workers in all industries, not the self-employed, and are not broken out by experience.
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Files oesm25nat and oesm25st from bls.gov, downloaded Nov 8, 2026. Occupation: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051), cross-industry, all ownerships. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include commissions, production bonuses, tips and on-call pay, and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Annual wages are generally the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. "Not published" = estimate not released by BLS. BLS occupation profile · All pay guides