Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers Salary
Electrical power-line installers and repairers in the U.S. earned a median of $95,320 a year ($45.83 an hour) and a mean of $91,970 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median is higher than 80% of the 825 occupations with a published median.
Also called Lineworker, Electrical Lineman, Electrical Lineworker, Power Lineman in job listings. These are O*NET job titles. BLS publishes one figure for the whole occupation, not by specialty, experience or employer; Entry-Level vs. Experienced Pay explains how to read the percentile band.
- Median annual
- $95,320
- Median hourly
- $45.83
- Mean annual
- $91,970
- Jobs on record
- 131,070
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
Which states pay electrical power-line installers and repairers the most?
Hawaii is highest at $134,340, +41% against the national median of $95,320.
Electrical power-line installers and repairers are most concentrated in Wyoming, at 2.4 of every 1,000 jobs, a location quotient of 2.83, which means the occupation's share of jobs there is 2.83 times its national share. Among metro areas the highest location quotient is 10.08, in Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area.
- $75,420 to $78,940
- $80,080 to $93,150
- $93,860 to $102,040
- $102,170 to $108,120
- $108,520 to $134,340
Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) are in the table below.
| State | Median | Hourly | Against U.S. | Price-adjusted | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $134,340 | $64.59 | +41% | $122,182 | 600 | 0.95 | 1.13 |
| Washington | $133,060 | $63.97 | +40% | $124,340 | 2,340 | 0.66 | 0.78 |
| Oregon | $131,090 | $63.02 | +38% | $126,827 | 1,640 | 0.83 | 0.99 |
| California | $129,040 | $62.04 | +35% | $116,546 | 8,930 | 0.49 | 0.58 |
| Connecticut | $126,850 | $60.99 | +33% | $122,430 | 940 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| Idaho | $125,410 | $60.29 | +32% | $131,328 | 860 | 1.00 | 1.19 |
| New Jersey | $121,580 | $58.45 | +28% | $111,741 | 1,310 | 0.30 | 0.36 |
| New York | $121,280 | $58.31 | +27% | $112,378 | 5,840 | 0.60 | 0.72 |
| Montana | $110,320 | $53.04 | +16% | $116,562 | 680 | 1.33 | 1.58 |
| Massachusetts | $110,210 | $52.99 | +16% | $104,211 | 2,350 | 0.65 | 0.77 |
| Vermont | $108,520 | $52.17 | +14% | $110,782 | 270 | 0.89 | 1.05 |
| Illinois | $108,120 | $51.98 | +13% | $108,165 | 3,090 | 0.51 | 0.60 |
| Michigan | $106,890 | $51.39 | +12% | $111,093 | 2,800 | 0.64 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,230 | $51.07 | +11% | $108,873 | 4,150 | 0.69 | 0.81 |
| Maryland | $106,090 | $51.01 | +11% | $101,078 | 1,830 | 0.66 | 0.79 |
| North Dakota | $105,870 | $50.90 | +11% | $119,010 | 740 | 1.72 | 2.04 |
| Wisconsin | $105,820 | $50.88 | +11% | $112,461 | 2,520 | 0.86 | 1.02 |
| Rhode Island | $104,620 | $50.30 | +10% | $102,288 | 120 | 0.23 | 0.27 |
| Minnesota | $104,180 | $50.09 | +9% | $105,637 | 2,190 | 0.74 | 0.88 |
| Colorado | $103,980 | $49.99 | +9% | $100,901 | 2,370 | 0.83 | 0.98 |
| New Hampshire | $102,170 | $49.12 | +7% | $98,085 | 560 | 0.81 | 0.97 |
| Indiana | $102,040 | $49.06 | +7% | $109,334 | 2,540 | 0.79 | 0.94 |
| Kansas | $101,620 | $48.86 | +7% | $112,826 | 1,610 | 1.12 | 1.33 |
| District of Columbia | $101,240 | $48.67 | +6% | $92,119 | 150 | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Utah | $101,220 | $48.66 | +6% | $102,383 | 1,030 | 0.59 | 0.70 |
| Iowa | $100,200 | $48.17 | +5% | $114,172 | 1,390 | 0.89 | 1.06 |
| South Dakota | $97,310 | $46.79 | +2% | $109,848 | 740 | 1.61 | 1.91 |
| Delaware | $97,180 | $46.72 | +2% | $97,367 | 330 | 0.69 | 0.82 |
| Nevada | $96,560 | $46.42 | +1% | $96,580 | 920 | 0.60 | 0.71 |
| Missouri | $96,360 | $46.33 | +1% | $106,103 | 3,440 | 1.17 | 1.39 |
| Wyoming | $93,860 | $45.12 | -2% | $101,261 | 670 | 2.38 | 2.83 |
| Ohio | $93,150 | $44.78 | -2% | $100,405 | 4,260 | 0.77 | 0.91 |
| Alaska | $92,470 | $44.46 | -3% | $90,339 | 490 | 1.50 | 1.78 |
| Nebraska | $92,150 | $44.30 | -3% | $102,272 | 1,490 | 1.45 | 1.72 |
| Alabama | $92,030 | $44.24 | -3% | $103,611 | 2,730 | 1.29 | 1.53 |
| Florida | $86,870 | $41.76 | -9% | $84,002 | 6,420 | 0.65 | 0.77 |
| West Virginia | $83,810 | $40.29 | -12% | $93,646 | 1,260 | 1.80 | 2.14 |
| Tennessee | $83,660 | $40.22 | -12% | $91,063 | 3,900 | 1.19 | 1.41 |
| Maine | $83,090 | $39.95 | -13% | $85,616 | 1,160 | 1.81 | 2.15 |
| Arkansas | $81,450 | $39.16 | -15% | $93,689 | 1,510 | 1.16 | 1.37 |
| Georgia | $80,080 | $38.50 | -16% | $83,163 | 4,960 | 1.01 | 1.20 |
| Texas | $78,940 | $37.95 | -17% | $81,334 | 17,280 | 1.23 | 1.46 |
| North Carolina | $77,270 | $37.15 | -19% | $81,918 | 5,650 | 1.14 | 1.36 |
| Puerto Rico | $77,050 | $37.04 | -19% | 600 | 0.64 | 0.76 | |
| Kentucky | $77,020 | $37.03 | -19% | $85,427 | 2,930 | 1.47 | 1.74 |
| South Carolina | $76,870 | $36.96 | -19% | $81,996 | 2,690 | 1.17 | 1.38 |
| Virginia | $76,590 | $36.82 | -20% | $75,754 | 2,920 | 0.71 | 0.84 |
| New Mexico | $76,470 | $36.76 | -20% | $82,928 | 1,020 | 1.17 | 1.39 |
| Louisiana | $76,410 | $36.74 | -20% | $86,626 | 2,520 | 1.30 | 1.55 |
| Oklahoma | $76,010 | $36.54 | -20% | $86,529 | 3,290 | 1.93 | 2.29 |
| Mississippi | $75,890 | $36.49 | -20% | $87,277 | 2,290 | 1.97 | 2.34 |
| Arizona | $75,420 | $36.26 | -21% | $74,913 | 3,360 | 1.04 | 1.23 |
| Guam | $64,650 | $31.08 | -32% | 50 | 0.72 | 0.85 | |
| Virgin Islands | BLS did not publish a figure |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. A location quotient above 1 means the job is a larger share of local employment than of U.S. employment. BLS does not publish a figure where the sample is too small.
Which state pays electrical power-line installers and repairers the most after cost of living?
After cost of living, Idaho pays electrical power-line installers and repairers the most: its $125,410 median is worth $131,328 a year at average U.S. prices (May 2025 BLS median adjusted by BEA price parities), ahead of Oregon at $126,827 and Washington at $124,340.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The price-adjusted figure divides a state's median by its price level.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $157,620 | 300 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $140,270 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $137,180 | 770 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $136,730 | 170 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $135,450 | 50 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $135,400 | 240 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $135,300 | 810 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $135,080 | 450 |
| El Centro, CA | $134,950 | 40 |
| Salem, OR | $134,500 | 180 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan file, May 2025.
Has pay for electrical power-line installers and repairers kept up with prices?
Yes: the median for electrical power-line installers and repairers rose 6.1% after inflation from 2015 to 2025, from $89,827 to $95,320 in May 2025 dollars (BLS OEWS, adjusted with CPI-U). Real pay stayed at or above its 2015 level in every year in between. Before inflation, the median went from $66,450 to $95,320.
| Year | Median as published | In May 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $66,450 | $89,827 |
| 2016 | $68,010 | $91,008 |
| 2017 | $69,380 | $91,133 |
| 2018 | $70,910 | $90,605 |
| 2019 | $72,520 | $91,032 |
| 2020 | $75,030 | $94,072 |
| 2021 | $78,310 | $93,516 |
| 2022 | $82,340 | $90,557 |
| 2023 | $85,420 | $90,290 |
| 2024 | $92,560 | $94,740 |
| 2025 | $95,320 | $95,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS national files, 2015 to 2025; adjusted with CPI-U for May of each year (BLS, via FRED). Occupation definitions changed in 2018 and 2021, so a code's earliest years can cover a slightly different job.
Which industries employ electrical power-line installers and repairers?
| Industry | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $102,550 | 62,470 |
| Utility System Construction | $76,060 | 38,990 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $90,060 | 13,150 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $76,250 | 7,660 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $137,360 | 2,830 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $111,900 | 1,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $100,020 | 1,200 |
| Employment Services | $71,940 | 300 |
Highest-paying industries with at least 1,000 such jobs: Natural Gas Distribution ($137,360); Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) ($111,900); Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution ($102,550).
Source: BLS OEWS research estimates by 4-digit industry, May 2025.
What is the job outlook?
BLS projects employment of electrical power-line installers and repairers to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035 (about 13,600 more jobs), with about 10,900 openings a year from growth and from workers leaving; its 2025 base of 131,900 jobs is wider than the 131,070 OEWS jobs above because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed. The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
What is the fatal injury rate for electrical power-line installers and repairers?
BLS reports a fatal injury rate of 13.8 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers for electrical power-line installers and repairers in 2024 (margin of error 2.59), against 3.3 for all workers.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, hours-based rates, 2024, published February 19, 2026. Every occupation's rate.
What the work involves
- Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
- Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
- Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
- Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
- Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
- Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
Source: O*NET 30.3 task statements for SOC 49-9051.
Compare with related jobs
Related occupations from O*NET, same occupation group first; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Sources used on this page
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: pay and jobs by occupation, state and metro area. bls.gov/oes
- Regional Price Parities, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: the price-adjusted state column. bea.gov
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the inflation adjustment of past pay. bls.gov/cpi
- Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: projected growth and openings. bls.gov/emp
- Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the fatal injury rate. bls.gov/iif
- O*NET 30.3, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor: duties and related occupations. dol.gov