Lineman salary in Kentucky
Median $37.03 an hour for 2,930 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Lineman pay in Kentucky: the full range
Kentucky ranks 44th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $41.05). 2,930 linemen work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $22.97 – $28.45 | $47,770 – $59,170 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.45 – $45.68 | $59,170 – $95,020 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $45.68 – $49.23 | $95,020 – $102,400 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in Kentucky
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $29.26 | $44.79 | $46.95 | $57.24 | 730 | 21% above |
| Clarksville | $23.74 | $40.27 | $44.30 | $48.18 | 140 | 9% above |
| Huntington | $22.36 | $38.37 | $43.40 | $52.57 | 290 | 4% above |
| Paducah | $22.82 | $37.75 | $43.84 | $48.98 | 70 | 2% above |
| Lexington | $22.97 | $37.35 | $40.20 | $48.42 | 600 | 1% above |
| Louisville | $22.84 | $37.03 | $39.77 | $51.02 | 650 | about the same as |
| Bowling Green | $23.30 | $29.05 | $32.21 | $45.98 | 80 | 22% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Lineman wages in Kentucky over time
Table
| Year | Kentucky $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.84 | $38.34 | $20.97 | 2,180 |
| 2000 | $19.87 | $37.15 | $22.01 | 1,830 |
| 2001 | $20.48 | $37.23 | $22.70 | 1,940 |
| 2002 | $21.05 | $37.67 | $23.33 | 1,790 |
| 2003 | $21.50 | $37.62 | $23.54 | 1,930 |
| 2004 | $21.43 | $36.52 | $23.61 | 2,230 |
| 2005 | $22.79 | $37.57 | $24.11 | 2,580 |
| 2006 | $21.95 | $35.05 | $24.41 | 2,340 |
| 2007 | $21.67 | $33.65 | $25.27 | 2,870 |
| 2008 | $22.33 | $33.39 | $26.49 | 3,000 |
| 2009 | $23.15 | $34.74 | $27.24 | 2,940 |
| 2010 | $24.23 | $35.77 | $27.90 | 2,360 |
| 2011 | $25.11 | $35.94 | $28.94 | 2,180 |
| 2012 | $26.68 | $37.41 | $30.41 | 2,430 |
| 2013 | $27.77 | $38.38 | $30.85 | 2,290 |
| 2014 | $29.23 | $39.75 | $31.70 | 2,490 |
| 2015 | $28.42 | $38.60 | $31.95 | 2,370 |
| 2016 | $31.05 | $41.65 | $32.70 | 2,560 |
| 2017 | $33.04 | $43.40 | $33.36 | 2,440 |
| 2018 | $32.38 | $41.51 | $34.09 | 2,720 |
| 2019 | $32.09 | $40.41 | $34.86 | 2,680 |
| 2020 | $29.62 | $36.85 | $36.07 | 2,660 |
| 2021 | $30.32 | $36.02 | $37.65 | 2,930 |
| 2022 | $36.94 | $40.64 | $39.59 | 2,590 |
| 2023 | $38.13 | $40.29 | $41.07 | 2,870 |
| 2024 | $36.56 | $37.52 | $44.50 | 2,640 |
| 2025 | $37.03 | $37.03 | $45.83 | 2,930 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in Kentucky changed by -4.1% over the last ten years of data and by -8.4% since 2019.
Are there more lineman jobs in Kentucky?
BLS counted 2,930 linemen in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 6%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for linemen in Kentucky
Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +3.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 2,700 to 2,800, with about 220 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 2,930 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Kentucky?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Kentucky
More on Kentucky
Questions this page answers
How much do linemen make in Kentucky?
The median lineman in Kentucky earned $37.03 an hour ($77,020 a year) in May 2025, 19% below the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $28.45–$45.68; the top 10% earn more than $49.23.
Where does Kentucky rank for lineman pay?
Kentucky ranks 44th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $37.03 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in Kentucky?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a lineman classification for most Kentucky counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many linemen work in Kentucky?
BLS counted 2,930 linemen in Kentucky in May 2025, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.74; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is lineman work growing in Kentucky?
Kentucky's labor market agency projects +3.7% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 2,700 to 2,800 jobs.
How many lineman openings a year are there in Kentucky?
Kentucky projects about 220 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, Kentucky 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.