Lineman vs plumber: who earns more
Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.
Lineman vs plumber: the numbers
| Lineman | Plumber | |
|---|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $45.83 | $30.67 |
| Median annual pay | $95,320 | $63,800 |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $24.74 | $21.22 |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61.87 | $52.13 |
| Jobs nationwide | 131,070 | 465,840 |
| Projected growth 2025-35 | +10.3% | +6.8% |
| Openings per year | 10,900 | 42,000 |
| 10-year real wage change | +5.6% | -7.2% |
| States where this trade pays more | 50 | 1 |
Which pays more where you live
| State | Lineman $/hr | Plumber $/hr | Pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $60.29 | $25.18 | Lineman |
| Hawaii | $64.59 | $37.53 | Lineman |
| California | $62.04 | $35.01 | Lineman |
| Washington | $63.97 | $38.96 | Lineman |
| Connecticut | $60.99 | $37.16 | Lineman |
| Vermont | $52.17 | $29.89 | Lineman |
| South Dakota | $46.79 | $24.82 | Lineman |
| New York | $58.31 | $37.26 | Lineman |
| New Jersey | $58.45 | $37.61 | Lineman |
| North Dakota | $50.90 | $30.56 | Lineman |
| Colorado | $49.99 | $30.40 | Lineman |
| Maryland | $51.01 | $31.44 | Lineman |
| Utah | $48.66 | $29.76 | Lineman |
| Pennsylvania | $51.07 | $32.73 | Lineman |
| Kansas | $48.86 | $31.36 | Lineman |
| Iowa | $48.17 | $30.72 | Lineman |
| New Hampshire | $49.12 | $32.12 | Lineman |
| Nevada | $46.42 | $29.62 | Lineman |
| Oregon | $63.02 | $46.66 | Lineman |
| Florida | $41.76 | $25.44 | Lineman |
| Alabama | $44.24 | $28.21 | Lineman |
| Arkansas | $39.16 | $23.39 | Lineman |
| Delaware | $46.72 | $31.11 | Lineman |
| Wyoming | $45.12 | $30.01 | Lineman |
| Nebraska | $44.30 | $29.31 | Lineman |
| Montana | $53.04 | $38.44 | Lineman |
| Ohio | $44.78 | $30.45 | Lineman |
| Missouri | $46.33 | $32.11 | Lineman |
| Rhode Island | $50.30 | $36.77 | Lineman |
| West Virginia | $40.29 | $27.39 | Lineman |
| Michigan | $51.39 | $38.56 | Lineman |
| Indiana | $49.06 | $36.69 | Lineman |
| Tennessee | $40.22 | $28.17 | Lineman |
| Wisconsin | $50.88 | $39.04 | Lineman |
| South Carolina | $36.96 | $25.93 | Lineman |
| Georgia | $38.50 | $27.50 | Lineman |
| Mississippi | $36.49 | $26.67 | Lineman |
| North Carolina | $37.15 | $27.44 | Lineman |
| Maine | $39.95 | $30.77 | Lineman |
| Texas | $37.95 | $28.77 | Lineman |
| Oklahoma | $36.54 | $27.87 | Lineman |
| Massachusetts | $52.99 | $45.14 | Lineman |
| Virginia | $36.82 | $29.07 | Lineman |
| New Mexico | $36.76 | $29.54 | Lineman |
| Arizona | $36.26 | $29.84 | Lineman |
| Kentucky | $37.03 | $30.84 | Lineman |
| Louisiana | $36.74 | $30.62 | Lineman |
| Minnesota | $50.09 | $45.39 | Lineman |
| Illinois | $51.98 | $48.05 | Lineman |
| District of Columbia | $48.67 | $48.57 | Lineman |
| Alaska | $44.46 | $45.15 | Plumber |
Questions this page answers
Who makes more, linemans or plumbers?
Nationally, electrical power-line installers and repairers: a median of $45.83 an hour against $30.67 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, a gap of $15.16 an hour in May 2025. Electrical power-line installers and repairers earn more in 50 states, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in 1.
Which has the better outlook, lineman or plumber?
BLS projects +10.3% growth for electrical power-line installers and repairers and +6.8% for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters over 2025-35, with 10,900 and 42,000 openings a year respectively.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.