Lineman salary: what linemen actually make
Linemen earned a median $45.83 an hour ($95,320 a year) in May 2025, across 131,070 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do linemen make?
The median lineman earned $45.83 an hour, or $95,320 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 131,070 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $32.34 and $52.76 an hour.
The middle half of linemen earn between $32.34 and $52.76 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $61.87 ($128,690 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $24.74. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master lineman pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level lineman earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master lineman, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $24.74 – $32.34 | $51,470 – $67,270 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $32.34 – $52.76 | $67,270 – $109,740 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $52.76 – $61.87 | $109,740 – $128,690 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Lineman pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $64.59 | 41% above |
| Washington | $63.97 | 40% above |
| Oregon | $63.02 | 38% above |
| California | $62.04 | 35% above |
| Connecticut | $60.99 | 33% above |
| Idaho | $60.29 | 32% above |
| New Jersey | $58.45 | 28% above |
| New York | $58.31 | 27% above |
| Montana | $53.04 | 16% above |
| Massachusetts | $52.99 | 16% above |
| Vermont | $52.17 | 14% above |
| Illinois | $51.98 | 13% above |
| Michigan | $51.39 | 12% above |
| Pennsylvania | $51.07 | 11% above |
| Maryland | $51.01 | 11% above |
| North Dakota | $50.90 | 11% above |
| Wisconsin | $50.88 | 11% above |
| Rhode Island | $50.30 | 10% above |
| Minnesota | $50.09 | 9% above |
| Colorado | $49.99 | 9% above |
| New Hampshire | $49.12 | 7% above |
| Indiana | $49.06 | 7% above |
| Kansas | $48.86 | 7% above |
| District of Columbia | $48.67 | 6% above |
| Utah | $48.66 | 6% above |
| Iowa | $48.17 | 5% above |
| South Dakota | $46.79 | 2% above |
| Delaware | $46.72 | 2% above |
| Nevada | $46.42 | 1% above |
| Missouri | $46.33 | 1% above |
| Wyoming | $45.12 | 2% below |
| Ohio | $44.78 | 2% below |
| Alaska | $44.46 | 3% below |
| Nebraska | $44.30 | 3% below |
| Alabama | $44.24 | 3% below |
| Florida | $41.76 | 9% below |
| West Virginia | $40.29 | 12% below |
| Tennessee | $40.22 | 12% below |
| Maine | $39.95 | 13% below |
| Arkansas | $39.16 | 15% below |
| Georgia | $38.50 | 16% below |
| Texas | $37.95 | 17% below |
| North Carolina | $37.15 | 19% below |
| Kentucky | $37.03 | 19% below |
| South Carolina | $36.96 | 19% below |
| Virginia | $36.82 | 20% below |
| New Mexico | $36.76 | 20% below |
| Louisiana | $36.74 | 20% below |
| Oklahoma | $36.54 | 20% below |
| Mississippi | $36.49 | 20% below |
| Arizona | $36.26 | 21% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $64.59 | $58.72 | #5 | 600 |
| Washington | $63.97 | $59.79 | #3 | 2,340 |
| Oregon | $63.02 | $60.95 | #2 | 1,640 |
| California | $62.04 | $56.04 | #8 | 8,930 |
| Connecticut | $60.99 | $58.87 | #4 | 940 |
| Idaho | $60.29 | $63.13 | #1 | 860 |
| New Jersey | $58.45 | $53.72 | #13 | 1,310 |
| New York | $58.31 | $54.04 | #12 | 5,840 |
| Montana | $53.04 | $56.07 | #7 | 680 |
| Massachusetts | $52.99 | $50.09 | #22 | 2,350 |
| Vermont | $52.17 | $53.23 | #15 | 270 |
| Illinois | $51.98 | $51.98 | #19 | 3,090 |
| Michigan | $51.39 | $53.42 | #14 | 2,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $51.07 | $52.33 | #18 | 4,150 |
| Maryland | $51.01 | $48.58 | #28 | 1,830 |
| North Dakota | $50.90 | $57.19 | #6 | 740 |
| Wisconsin | $50.88 | $54.07 | #11 | 2,520 |
| Rhode Island | $50.30 | $49.17 | #25 | 120 |
| Minnesota | $50.09 | $50.80 | #21 | 2,190 |
| Colorado | $49.99 | $48.49 | #29 | 2,370 |
| New Hampshire | $49.12 | $47.14 | #31 | 560 |
| Indiana | $49.06 | $52.58 | #17 | 2,540 |
| Kansas | $48.86 | $54.23 | #10 | 1,610 |
| District of Columbia | $48.67 | $44.29 | #36 | 150 |
| Utah | $48.66 | $49.20 | #24 | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $48.17 | $54.86 | #9 | 1,390 |
| South Dakota | $46.79 | $52.81 | #16 | 740 |
| Delaware | $46.72 | $46.81 | #32 | 330 |
| Nevada | $46.42 | $46.42 | #33 | 920 |
| Missouri | $46.33 | $51.02 | #20 | 3,440 |
| Wyoming | $45.12 | $48.67 | #27 | 670 |
| Ohio | $44.78 | $48.25 | #30 | 4,260 |
| Alaska | $44.46 | $43.42 | #38 | 490 |
| Nebraska | $44.30 | $49.17 | #26 | 1,490 |
| Alabama | $44.24 | $49.82 | #23 | 2,730 |
| Florida | $41.76 | $40.39 | #44 | 6,420 |
| West Virginia | $40.29 | $45.02 | #35 | 1,260 |
| Tennessee | $40.22 | $43.76 | #37 | 3,900 |
| Maine | $39.95 | $41.19 | #42 | 1,160 |
| Arkansas | $39.16 | $45.06 | #34 | 1,510 |
| Georgia | $38.50 | $39.98 | #45 | 4,960 |
| Texas | $37.95 | $39.08 | #49 | 17,280 |
| North Carolina | $37.15 | $39.40 | #48 | 5,650 |
| Kentucky | $37.03 | $41.05 | #43 | 2,930 |
| South Carolina | $36.96 | $39.45 | #47 | 2,690 |
| Virginia | $36.82 | $36.42 | #50 | 2,920 |
| New Mexico | $36.76 | $39.87 | #46 | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $36.74 | $41.66 | #40 | 2,520 |
| Oklahoma | $36.54 | $41.62 | #41 | 3,290 |
| Mississippi | $36.49 | $41.94 | #39 | 2,290 |
| Arizona | $36.26 | $36.01 | #51 | 3,360 |
Lineman wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $20.97 | $40.52 | 99,090 |
| 2000 | $22.01 | $41.15 | 96,200 |
| 2001 | $22.70 | $41.27 | 99,140 |
| 2002 | $23.33 | $41.75 | 96,040 |
| 2003 | $23.54 | $41.19 | 95,190 |
| 2004 | $23.61 | $40.24 | 101,760 |
| 2005 | $24.11 | $39.74 | 106,060 |
| 2006 | $24.41 | $38.98 | 110,520 |
| 2007 | $25.27 | $39.24 | 109,990 |
| 2008 | $26.49 | $39.61 | 111,580 |
| 2009 | $27.24 | $40.88 | 108,980 |
| 2010 | $27.90 | $41.19 | 105,540 |
| 2011 | $28.94 | $41.42 | 105,570 |
| 2012 | $30.41 | $42.64 | 112,450 |
| 2013 | $30.85 | $42.63 | 111,350 |
| 2014 | $31.70 | $43.11 | 114,540 |
| 2015 | $31.95 | $43.40 | 115,380 |
| 2016 | $32.70 | $43.86 | 117,670 |
| 2017 | $33.36 | $43.82 | 116,650 |
| 2018 | $34.09 | $43.71 | 114,800 |
| 2019 | $34.86 | $43.90 | 111,660 |
| 2020 | $36.07 | $44.87 | 114,930 |
| 2021 | $37.65 | $44.73 | 123,940 |
| 2022 | $39.59 | $43.55 | 119,510 |
| 2023 | $41.07 | $43.39 | 120,170 |
| 2024 | $44.50 | $45.67 | 123,680 |
| 2025 | $45.83 | $45.83 | 131,070 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median lineman wage changed by +5.6% over the last ten years and by +4.4% since 2019.
Are there more lineman jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 131,070 linemen in May 2025, +13.6% compared with 115,380 ten years earlier and +17.4% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 99,090 |
| 2000 | 96,200 |
| 2001 | 99,140 |
| 2002 | 96,040 |
| 2003 | 95,190 |
| 2004 | 101,760 |
| 2005 | 106,060 |
| 2006 | 110,520 |
| 2007 | 109,990 |
| 2008 | 111,580 |
| 2009 | 108,980 |
| 2010 | 105,540 |
| 2011 | 105,570 |
| 2012 | 112,450 |
| 2013 | 111,350 |
| 2014 | 114,540 |
| 2015 | 115,380 |
| 2016 | 117,670 |
| 2017 | 116,650 |
| 2018 | 114,800 |
| 2019 | 111,660 |
| 2020 | 114,930 |
| 2021 | 123,940 |
| 2022 | 119,510 |
| 2023 | 120,170 |
| 2024 | 123,680 |
| 2025 | 131,070 |
Of the 11 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 7 counted more linemen in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Texas (+58.0%, 10,940 to 17,280); the weakest was Georgia (-19.3%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10,940 | 17,280 | +58.0% | +63.0% |
| California | 6,760 | 8,930 | +32.1% | +32.7% |
| Ohio | 3,250 | 4,260 | +31.1% | +31.9% |
| New York | 4,790 | 5,840 | +21.9% | +15.2% |
| North Carolina | 4,760 | 5,650 | +18.7% | +40.5% |
| Tennessee | 3,510 | 3,900 | +11.1% | +74.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,080 | 4,150 | +1.7% | +8.4% |
| Missouri | 3,500 | 3,440 | -1.7% | +28.4% |
| Illinois | 3,200 | 3,090 | -3.4% | -25.0% |
| Florida | 7,330 | 6,420 | -12.4% | +14.2% |
| Georgia | 6,150 | 4,960 | -19.3% | -20.0% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the lineman jobs are
Wyoming has the highest concentration of linemen, 2.8× the national share, followed by Mississippi (2.3×) and Oklahoma (2.3×). The lowest is District of Columbia at 0.2×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 670 | 2.4 | 2.8× |
| Mississippi | 2,290 | 2.0 | 2.3× |
| Oklahoma | 3,290 | 1.9 | 2.3× |
| Maine | 1,160 | 1.8 | 2.1× |
| West Virginia | 1,260 | 1.8 | 2.1× |
| North Dakota | 740 | 1.7 | 2.0× |
| South Dakota | 740 | 1.6 | 1.9× |
| Alaska | 490 | 1.5 | 1.8× |
| Kentucky | 2,930 | 1.5 | 1.7× |
| Nebraska | 1,490 | 1.4 | 1.7× |
| Montana | 680 | 1.3 | 1.6× |
| Louisiana | 2,520 | 1.3 | 1.6× |
| Alabama | 2,730 | 1.3 | 1.5× |
| Texas | 17,280 | 1.2 | 1.5× |
| Tennessee | 3,900 | 1.2 | 1.4× |
| Missouri | 3,440 | 1.2 | 1.4× |
| New Mexico | 1,020 | 1.2 | 1.4× |
| South Carolina | 2,690 | 1.2 | 1.4× |
| Arkansas | 1,510 | 1.2 | 1.4× |
| North Carolina | 5,650 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Kansas | 1,610 | 1.1 | 1.3× |
| Arizona | 3,360 | 1.0 | 1.2× |
| Georgia | 4,960 | 1.0 | 1.2× |
| Idaho | 860 | 1.0 | 1.2× |
| Hawaii | 600 | 0.9 | 1.1× |
| Iowa | 1,390 | 0.9 | 1.1× |
| Vermont | 270 | 0.9 | 1.1× |
| Wisconsin | 2,520 | 0.9 | 1.0× |
| Oregon | 1,640 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| Colorado | 2,370 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| New Hampshire | 560 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| Indiana | 2,540 | 0.8 | 0.9× |
| Ohio | 4,260 | 0.8 | 0.9× |
| Minnesota | 2,190 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| Virginia | 2,920 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Delaware | 330 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Pennsylvania | 4,150 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Maryland | 1,830 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Washington | 2,340 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Florida | 6,420 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Massachusetts | 2,350 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Michigan | 2,800 | 0.6 | 0.8× |
| New York | 5,840 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Nevada | 920 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Utah | 1,030 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Connecticut | 940 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Illinois | 3,090 | 0.5 | 0.6× |
| California | 8,930 | 0.5 | 0.6× |
| New Jersey | 1,310 | 0.3 | 0.4× |
| Rhode Island | 120 | 0.2 | 0.3× |
| District of Columbia | 150 | 0.2 | 0.2× |
Metros with the most lineman jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,380 | $39.77 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,930 | $37.46 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,850 | $58.89 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,810 | $36.26 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,660 | $40.18 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,140 | $62.71 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,830 | $59.34 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,580 | $61.90 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,550 | $53.60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,530 | $45.91 |
Highest-paying metros for linemen
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $65.95 | $57.05 | #6 | $91.34 | 770 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65.05 | $61.72 | #1 | $77.49 | 810 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64.50 | $58.06 | #3 | $72.99 | 1,010 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62.71 | $55.20 | #8 | $81.51 | 2,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61.90 | $58.18 | #2 | $78.49 | 1,580 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61.14 | $57.30 | #4 | $78.13 | 650 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59.34 | $57.28 | #5 | $63.35 | 1,830 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58.89 | $52.30 | #14 | $71.51 | 3,850 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58.11 | $51.93 | #15 | $76.38 | 740 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57.44 | $55.98 | #7 | $60.59 | 1,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $53.60 | $49.49 | #17 | $61.81 | 1,550 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $52.40 | $54.08 | #9 | $58.24 | 530 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $51.52 | $49.30 | #18 | $61.22 | 930 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51.37 | $49.02 | #19 | $58.81 | 1,130 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50.76 | $53.60 | #10 | $57.29 | 1,030 |
Metros with at least 500 linemen. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 44 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for linemen
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for linemen in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 100% | $108.24 | — | 30/30 |
| Illinois | 100% | $99.39 | — | 8/102 |
| New York | 100% | $97.77 | — | 36/62 |
| Pennsylvania | 100% | $95.46 | — | 5/67 |
| California | 93% | $94.87 | $24.88 | 56/58 |
| Nevada | 20% | $93.51 | $88.49 | 5/17 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $89.71 | — | 5/5 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $88.60 | — | 12/14 |
| Indiana | 100% | $28.60 | — | 21/92 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $55.73 | 3/46 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of linemen to change by +10.3% over 2025-35, from 131,900 to 145,500, with about 10,900 openings a year.
Of those openings, 1,400 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 9,500 from replacement: 3,000 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 6,500 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: long-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Tennessee projects the fastest growth for linemen at +16.5%; by openings, Texas (1,230 a year), California (770 a year), Florida (640 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 6,110 | 7,120 | +16.5% | 590 |
| West Virginia | 1,250 | 1,440 | +15.3% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | 2,560 | 2,900 | +13.5% | 240 |
| Massachusetts | 2,520 | 2,860 | +13.3% | 240 |
| Montana | 640 | 720 | +13.0% | 60 |
| New Mexico | 1,130 | 1,270 | +12.6% | 100 |
| South Carolina | 2,650 | 2,980 | +12.3% | 240 |
| Idaho | 250 | 280 | +12.1% | 20 |
| Arkansas | 1,600 | 1,790 | +11.9% | 150 |
| Utah | 920 | 1,030 | +11.8% | 80 |
| Mississippi | 1,850 | 2,050 | +11.0% | 170 |
| New York | 6,350 | 7,000 | +10.1% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | 220 | 240 | +10.1% | 20 |
| Arizona | 2,090 | 2,300 | +9.9% | 180 |
| Wyoming | 510 | 560 | +9.9% | 40 |
| Illinois | 3,650 | 4,000 | +9.7% | 320 |
| New Jersey | 1,290 | 1,410 | +9.4% | 110 |
| Oregon | 1,310 | 1,430 | +9.1% | 110 |
| Florida | 7,450 | 8,060 | +8.3% | 640 |
| Maryland | 1,810 | 1,960 | +8.2% | 160 |
| Indiana | 2,440 | 2,640 | +8.1% | 210 |
| California | 9,000 | 9,700 | +7.8% | 770 |
| Minnesota | 1,740 | 1,870 | +7.7% | 150 |
| Nevada | 850 | 910 | +7.7% | 70 |
| South Dakota | 740 | 800 | +7.7% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,990 | 4,290 | +7.5% | 340 |
| Virginia | 2,790 | 2,990 | +7.4% | 240 |
| Delaware | 230 | 250 | +7.3% | 20 |
| Alabama | 3,590 | 3,840 | +6.9% | 300 |
| District of Columbia | 220 | 240 | +6.7% | 20 |
| Ohio | 4,770 | 5,080 | +6.5% | 400 |
| Michigan | 3,550 | 3,770 | +6.4% | 300 |
| Texas | 14,810 | 15,750 | +6.4% | 1,230 |
| Georgia | 4,290 | 4,560 | +6.3% | 360 |
| Missouri | 3,650 | 3,880 | +6.3% | 300 |
| North Carolina | 4,970 | 5,270 | +6.1% | 410 |
| Hawaii | 460 | 480 | +5.9% | 40 |
| Oklahoma | 3,010 | 3,180 | +5.8% | 250 |
| North Dakota | 800 | 840 | +5.5% | 60 |
| Nebraska | 1,550 | 1,620 | +4.8% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | 390 | 410 | +4.8% | 30 |
| Colorado | 2,280 | 2,380 | +4.6% | 190 |
| Connecticut | 890 | 930 | +4.6% | 70 |
| Iowa | 1,710 | 1,790 | +4.4% | 140 |
| Kentucky | 2,700 | 2,800 | +3.7% | 220 |
| Washington | 2,390 | 2,480 | +3.6% | 200 |
| Louisiana | 1,480 | 1,520 | +2.6% | 120 |
| Vermont | 280 | 280 | +0.4% | 20 |
| Kansas | 1,480 | 1,480 | +0.2% | 110 |
| Alaska | 340 | 330 | -1.5% | 20 |
| Maine | 910 | 890 | -1.8% | 60 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare lineman pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do linemen make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $24.74 at the 10th percentile to $61.87 at the 90th, with a median of $45.83. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice lineman make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $24.74 to $32.34 an hour ($51,470 to $67,270 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays linemen the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $64.59 an hour in May 2025, followed by Washington ($63.97) and Oregon ($63.02). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are lineman wages going up?
In today's dollars the median lineman wage changed by +5.6% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $31.95 to $45.83.
Is lineman a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $95,320 a year, a 90th percentile of $128,690, projected growth of +10.3% and about 10,900 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are lineman jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 131,070 linemen in May 2025, +13.6% compared with ten years earlier and +17.4% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +10.3% growth over 2025-35 with about 10,900 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most linemen?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Texas (1,230 a year, +6.4% growth), California (770 a year, +7.8% growth), Florida (640 a year, +8.3% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are linemen most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Wyoming has the highest concentration at 2.8× the national share, then Mississippi (2.3×) and Oklahoma (2.3×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9051 (Electrical power-line installers and repairers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.