Skilled Wages

Lineman salary in District of Columbia

Median $48.67 an hour for 150 electrical power-line installers and repairers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2000.

$48.67/hrMedian hourly wageDistrict of Columbia, May data
$101,240/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$32.57 – $63.8910th to 90th percentilehourly range
150Jobs countedemployer survey

Lineman pay in District of Columbia: the full range

Wage percentiles, District of ColumbiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$20$40$60$80/hrDistrict of Columbia: 10th $32.57 · 25th $40.47 · median $48.67 · 75th $63.56 · 90th $63.89District of Columbia$48.67$32.57$63.89United States: 10th $24.74 · 25th $32.34 · median $45.83 · 75th $52.76 · 90th $61.87United States$45.83
Hourly wage percentiles for electrical power-line installers and repairers: District of Columbia vs United States, May 2025.

District of Columbia ranks 24th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 36th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.29). 150 electrical power-line installers and repairers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$32.57 – $40.47$67,750 – $84,170roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$40.47 – $63.56$84,170 – $132,200the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$63.56 – $63.89$132,200 – $132,900the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Lineman pay by metro in District of Columbia

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrWashington DC: $45.91Washington DC$45.91
Median hourly wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers by metro area in District of Columbia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$28.36$45.91$59.921,5306% below

Lineman wages in District of Columbia over time

District of Columbia, 2000-2025District of ColumbiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50$602000201520202025$48.67District of Columbia$45.83United States
Median hourly wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers, District of Columbia vs United States, 2000–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearDistrict of Columbia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
2000$23.12$43.22$22.01850
2002$26.36$47.17$23.33—
2007$24.50$38.04$25.27—
2008$23.50$35.14$26.49—
2009$23.31$34.98$27.24—
2011$31.21$44.67$28.9470
2012$31.21$43.76$30.4170
2013$27.64$38.20$30.8540
2014$31.46$42.78$31.7060
2015$33.91$46.06$31.95—
2019$27.70$34.88$34.86140
2020$25.60$31.84$36.07210
2021$35.78$42.51$37.65130
2022$29.96$32.96$39.59200
2023$46.98$49.64$41.07300
2024$46.27$47.49$44.50200
2025$48.67$48.67$45.83150

In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in District of Columbia changed by +5.7% over the last ten years of data.

Is construction work growing in District of Columbia?

14.3kConstruction jobsDistrict of Columbia, 2026-08
+2.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20265k8k10k12k15k18k1990199520002005201020152020202514kAug 2026
Construction employment in District of Columbia (thousands), mining, logging and construction, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Lineman pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in District of Columbia

Questions this page answers

How much do linemans make in District of Columbia?

The median lineman in District of Columbia earned $48.67 an hour ($101,240 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $40.47–$63.56; the top 10% earn more than $63.89.

Where does District of Columbia rank for lineman pay?

District of Columbia ranks 24th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $48.67 an hour, and 36th after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).

What is the union lineman rate in District of Columbia?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a lineman classification for most District of Columbia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many linemans work in District of Columbia?

BLS counted 150 electrical power-line installers and repairers in District of Columbia in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.25; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, District of Columbia and metro areas, SOC 49-9051.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.