Electrician vs lineman: who earns more
Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.
Electrician vs lineman: the numbers
| Electrician | Lineman | |
|---|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $30.38 | $45.83 |
| Median annual pay | $63,190 | $95,320 |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $20.50 | $24.74 |
| 90th percentile (top) | $52.17 | $61.87 |
| Jobs nationwide | 757,220 | 131,070 |
| Projected growth 2025-35 | +9.2% | +10.3% |
| Openings per year | 72,700 | 10,900 |
| 10-year real wage change | -10.3% | +5.6% |
| States where this trade pays more | 0 | 51 |
Which pays more where you live
| State | Electrician $/hr | Lineman $/hr | Pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $43.00 | $44.46 | Lineman |
| Maine | $36.24 | $39.95 | Lineman |
| Illinois | $47.87 | $51.98 | Lineman |
| Virginia | $30.24 | $36.82 | Lineman |
| Arizona | $29.36 | $36.26 | Lineman |
| Louisiana | $29.59 | $36.74 | Lineman |
| Oklahoma | $29.33 | $36.54 | Lineman |
| Mississippi | $29.26 | $36.49 | Lineman |
| Kentucky | $28.71 | $37.03 | Lineman |
| Wyoming | $36.59 | $45.12 | Lineman |
| New Mexico | $28.07 | $36.76 | Lineman |
| South Carolina | $28.24 | $36.96 | Lineman |
| West Virginia | $31.16 | $40.29 | Lineman |
| Texas | $28.16 | $37.95 | Lineman |
| North Carolina | $27.31 | $37.15 | Lineman |
| Georgia | $28.04 | $38.50 | Lineman |
| District of Columbia | $37.97 | $48.67 | Lineman |
| Tennessee | $29.37 | $40.22 | Lineman |
| Nevada | $35.37 | $46.42 | Lineman |
| Minnesota | $37.58 | $50.09 | Lineman |
| Ohio | $31.11 | $44.78 | Lineman |
| Wisconsin | $36.80 | $50.88 | Lineman |
| Florida | $27.52 | $41.76 | Lineman |
| Oregon | $48.71 | $63.02 | Lineman |
| Rhode Island | $35.62 | $50.30 | Lineman |
| Michigan | $36.67 | $51.39 | Lineman |
| Massachusetts | $38.18 | $52.99 | Lineman |
| Missouri | $31.45 | $46.33 | Lineman |
| Nebraska | $29.24 | $44.30 | Lineman |
| Arkansas | $23.59 | $39.16 | Lineman |
| Maryland | $35.33 | $51.01 | Lineman |
| Delaware | $30.63 | $46.72 | Lineman |
| Indiana | $32.93 | $49.06 | Lineman |
| Montana | $36.90 | $53.04 | Lineman |
| Kansas | $31.66 | $48.86 | Lineman |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | $46.79 | Lineman |
| Alabama | $26.78 | $44.24 | Lineman |
| Washington | $45.78 | $63.97 | Lineman |
| Hawaii | $46.38 | $64.59 | Lineman |
| Pennsylvania | $32.50 | $51.07 | Lineman |
| Utah | $29.81 | $48.66 | Lineman |
| New Hampshire | $30.21 | $49.12 | Lineman |
| Iowa | $29.26 | $48.17 | Lineman |
| North Dakota | $31.59 | $50.90 | Lineman |
| Colorado | $29.92 | $49.99 | Lineman |
| New York | $37.86 | $58.31 | Lineman |
| New Jersey | $37.14 | $58.45 | Lineman |
| Vermont | $30.49 | $52.17 | Lineman |
| Connecticut | $37.28 | $60.99 | Lineman |
| California | $36.62 | $62.04 | Lineman |
| Idaho | $30.29 | $60.29 | Lineman |
Questions this page answers
Who makes more, electricians or linemans?
Nationally, electrical power-line installers and repairers: a median of $45.83 an hour against $30.38 for electricians, a gap of $15.45 an hour in May 2025. Electricians earn more in 0 states, electrical power-line installers and repairers in 51.
Which has the better outlook, electrician or lineman?
BLS projects +9.2% growth for electricians and +10.3% for electrical power-line installers and repairers over 2025-35, with 72,700 and 10,900 openings a year respectively.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.