Skilled Wages

Lineman salary in California

Median $62.04 an hour for 8,930 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$62.04/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$129,040/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$37.19 – $80.3310th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,930Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Lineman pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$20$40$60$80$100/hrCalifornia: 10th $37.19 · 25th $47.44 · median $62.04 · 75th $75.18 · 90th $80.33California$62.04$37.19$80.33United States: 10th $24.74 · 25th $32.34 · median $45.83 · 75th $52.76 · 90th $61.87United States$45.83
Hourly wage percentiles for linemen: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 4th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 8th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $56.04). 8,930 linemen work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$37.19 – $47.44$77,350 – $98,680roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$47.44 – $75.18$98,680 – $156,380the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$75.18 – $80.33$156,380 – $167,090the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Lineman pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60$80/hrSan Jose: $75.78San Jose$75.78San Francisco: $65.95San Francisco$65.95El Centro: $64.88El Centro$64.88Fresno: $64.50Fresno$64.50Oxnard: $63.00Oxnard$63.00Los Angeles: $62.71Los Angeles$62.71Riverside: $61.90Riverside$61.90Sacramento: $61.14Sacramento$61.14Bakersfield: $60.90Bakersfield$60.90San Luis Obispo: $59.45San Luis Obispo$59.45San Diego: $58.11San Diego$58.11Vallejo: $54.32Vallejo$54.32
Median hourly wage for linemen by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
San Jose$48.17$75.78$68.64$94.5630022% above
San Francisco$40.20$65.95$57.05$91.347706% above
El Centro$32.79$64.88$68.15$64.88405% above
Fresno$41.41$64.50$63.11$75.852304% above
Oxnard$39.72$63.00$57.01$80.102002% above
Los Angeles$37.14$62.71$55.20$81.512,1401% above
Riverside$36.09$61.90$58.18$78.491,580about the same as
Sacramento$28.79$61.14$57.30$78.136501% below
Bakersfield$36.08$60.90$60.36$73.122802% below
San Luis Obispo$34.94$59.45$54.74$73.091704% below
San Diego$31.57$58.11$51.93$76.387406% below
Vallejo$36.87$54.32$50.06$75.5636012% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Lineman wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$20$40$60$80200020052010201520202025$62.04California$45.83United States
Median hourly wage for linemen, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$24.62$47.58$20.975,710
2000$25.88$48.38$22.015,200
2001$27.57$50.12$22.70—
2002$29.23$52.31$23.334,780
2003$30.26$52.95$23.544,560
2004$30.45$51.90$23.614,360
2005$28.92$47.67$24.115,930
2006$30.11$48.08$24.416,100
2007$32.29$50.14$25.277,220
2008$38.14$57.03$26.497,040
2009$38.87$58.33$27.246,810
2010$39.55$58.39$27.906,240
2011$40.89$58.52$28.946,360
2012$44.44$62.31$30.417,260
2013$48.39$66.87$30.857,100
2014$49.23$66.95$31.707,360
2015$50.23$68.23$31.956,760
2016$50.08$67.18$32.707,340
2017$51.30$67.38$33.367,070
2018$49.15$63.01$34.097,460
2019$50.94$64.15$34.866,730
2020$49.50$61.57$36.078,010
2021$50.05$59.47$37.659,300
2022$50.19$55.21$39.599,190
2023$54.04$57.10$41.079,000
2024$58.91$60.46$44.5011,070
2025$62.04$62.04$45.838,930

In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in California changed by -9.1% over the last ten years of data and by -3.3% since 2019.

Are there more lineman jobs in California?

+32.7%Jobs since 20196,730 then, 8,930 in 2025
+32.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 48th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of linemen counted in California has changed by +56.4%, against +32.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +32.7%.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers in California vs United States, 1999 = 100CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025156California132United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, California vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearCalifornia jobsCalifornia indexUS index
19995,710100100
20005,2009197
20024,7808497
20034,5608096
20044,36076103
20055,930104107
20066,100107112
20077,220126111
20087,040123113
20096,810119110
20106,240109106
20116,360111106
20127,260127114
20137,100124112
20147,360129116
20156,760118116
20167,340128119
20177,070124118
20187,460131116
20196,730118113
20208,010140116
20219,300163125
20229,190161121
20239,000158121
202411,070194125
20258,930156132

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.

Outlook for linemen in California

+7.8%Projected growth in California2024–2034, state agency
770Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,000Jobs in 20249,700 projected for 2034
+10.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

California's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +7.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,000 to 9,700, with about 770 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,930 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for linemen in California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay linemen at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 52 of the 56 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $94.87 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.88). 4 of the 56 counties still use a survey rate dated 1986 or earlier (for example Del Norte County at $24.88). The market median for the state is $62.04.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $94.87 (union)Alpine: $94.87 (union)Amador: $94.87 (union)Butte: $94.87 (union)Calaveras: $94.87 (union)Colusa: $94.87 (union)Contra Costa: $94.87 (union)Del Norte: $24.88 (survey)El Dorado: $94.87 (union)Fresno: $94.87 (union)Glenn: $94.87 (union)Humboldt: $24.88 (survey)Imperial: $94.87 (union)Inyo: $94.87 (union)Kern: $94.87 (union)Kings: $94.87 (union)Lake: $24.88 (survey)Lassen: $94.87 (union)Los Angeles: $94.87 (union)Madera: $94.87 (union)Marin: $94.87 (union)Mariposa: $94.87 (union)Mendocino: $24.88 (survey)Merced: $94.87 (union)Modoc: $94.87 (union)Mono: $94.87 (union)Monterey: $94.87 (union)Napa: $94.87 (union)Nevada: $94.87 (union)Orange: $94.87 (union)Placer: $94.87 (union)Plumas: $94.87 (union)Riverside: $94.87 (union)Sacramento: $94.87 (union)San Benito: $94.87 (union)San Bernardino: $94.87 (union)San Diego: $94.87 (union)San Francisco: $94.87 (union)San Joaquin: $94.87 (union)San Luis Obispo: $94.87 (union)San Mateo: $94.87 (union)Santa Barbara: $94.87 (union)Santa Clara: $94.87 (union)Santa Cruz: $94.87 (union)Shasta: $94.87 (union)Sierra: $94.87 (union)Siskiyou: $94.87 (union)Solano: $94.87 (union)Sonoma: $94.87 (union)Stanislaus: $94.87 (union)Sutter: $94.87 (union)Tehama: $94.87 (union)Trinity: $94.87 (union)Tulare: n/aTuolumne: $94.87 (union)Ventura: n/aYolo: $94.87 (union)Yuba: $94.87 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hrn/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for linemen by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$40$60$80$100/hrSolano (Vallejo): market median $54.32, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$40.55Solano (Vallejo)+$40.55San Diego (San Diego): market median $58.11, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$36.76San Diego (San Diego)+$36.76San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo): market median $59.45, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$35.42San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo)+$35.42Kern (Bakersfield): market median $60.90, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$33.97Kern (Bakersfield)+$33.97El Dorado (Sacramento): market median $61.14, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$33.73El Dorado (Sacramento)+$33.73Riverside (Riverside): market median $61.90, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$32.97Riverside (Riverside)+$32.97Butte (California): market median $62.04, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$32.83Butte (California)+$32.83Los Angeles (Los Angeles): market median $62.71, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$32.16Los Angeles (Los Angeles)+$32.16Fresno (Fresno): market median $64.50, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$30.37Fresno (Fresno)+$30.37Imperial (El Centro): market median $64.88, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$29.99Imperial (El Centro)+$29.99Alameda (San Francisco): market median $65.95, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$28.92Alameda (San Francisco)+$28.92San Benito (San Jose): market median $75.78, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$19.09San Benito (San Jose)+$19.09
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for linemen, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamedaUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260018
AlpineUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
AmadorUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
ButteUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
CalaverasUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260018
ColusaUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
Contra CostaUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260018
El DoradoUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
FresnoUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260018
GlennUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007
ImperialUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260002
InyoUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260020
KernUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260020
KingsUnion ELEC1245-001 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260018
LassenUnion ELEC1245-004 2025-01-01$70.16$24.71$94.87CA20260007

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the California prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in California?

895.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025896kSep 2026
Construction employment in California (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Lineman pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

More on California

Questions this page answers

How much do linemen make in California?

The median lineman in California earned $62.04 an hour ($129,040 a year) in May 2025, 35% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $47.44–$75.18; the top 10% earn more than $80.33.

Where does California rank for lineman pay?

California ranks 4th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $62.04 an hour, and 8th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union lineman rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for linemen in 52 counties, with a typical package of $94.87 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many linemen work in California?

BLS counted 8,930 linemen in California in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.58; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is lineman work growing in California?

The BLS employer survey count of linemen in California went from 6,760 in 2015 to 8,930 in 2025, +32.1%, and +32.7% since 2019. California's labor market agency projects +7.8% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 9,000 to 9,700 jobs.

How many lineman openings a year are there in California?

California projects about 770 openings a year for linemen over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 10,900 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 49-9051. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.