Lineman salary in Massachusetts
Median $52.99 an hour for 2,350 electrical power-line installers and repairers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Lineman pay in Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 10th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $50.09). 2,350 electrical power-line installers and repairers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $39.17 – $45.37 | $81,470 – $94,370 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $45.37 – $60.60 | $94,370 – $126,040 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $60.60 – $61.36 | $126,040 – $127,620 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $41.52 | $55.99 | $60.60 | 380 | 6% above |
| Providence | $35.73 | $54.39 | $60.38 | 190 | 3% above |
| Boston | $39.05 | $53.60 | $61.81 | 1,550 | 1% above |
| Springfield | $32.29 | $48.82 | $57.21 | 190 | 8% below |
| Amherst | $40.85 | $45.86 | $60.47 | 30 | 13% below |
Lineman wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $23.48 | $45.37 | $20.97 | 1,510 |
| 2000 | $28.70 | $53.66 | $22.01 | 2,760 |
| 2001 | $28.51 | $51.83 | $22.70 | 2,510 |
| 2002 | $25.85 | $46.26 | $23.33 | 2,520 |
| 2003 | $26.65 | $46.63 | $23.54 | 2,650 |
| 2004 | $25.74 | $43.87 | $23.61 | 1,910 |
| 2005 | $26.90 | $44.34 | $24.11 | 1,490 |
| 2006 | $27.09 | $43.26 | $24.41 | 1,680 |
| 2007 | $31.89 | $49.52 | $25.27 | 1,220 |
| 2008 | $33.01 | $49.36 | $26.49 | 1,440 |
| 2009 | $33.13 | $49.72 | $27.24 | 1,720 |
| 2010 | $32.70 | $48.28 | $27.90 | 1,670 |
| 2011 | $34.96 | $50.04 | $28.94 | 2,130 |
| 2012 | $36.77 | $51.56 | $30.41 | 2,100 |
| 2013 | $39.32 | $54.34 | $30.85 | 1,830 |
| 2014 | $40.69 | $55.34 | $31.70 | 1,680 |
| 2015 | $41.80 | $56.78 | $31.95 | 2,270 |
| 2016 | $42.28 | $56.71 | $32.70 | 2,900 |
| 2017 | $42.59 | $55.94 | $33.36 | 2,920 |
| 2018 | $43.72 | $56.05 | $34.09 | 2,640 |
| 2019 | $43.84 | $55.21 | $34.86 | 2,060 |
| 2020 | $46.44 | $57.77 | $36.07 | 2,140 |
| 2021 | $47.52 | $56.46 | $37.65 | 1,890 |
| 2022 | $48.67 | $53.54 | $39.59 | 1,730 |
| 2023 | $48.42 | $51.16 | $41.07 | 1,850 |
| 2024 | $51.25 | $52.60 | $44.50 | 2,520 |
| 2025 | $52.99 | $52.99 | $45.83 | 2,350 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in Massachusetts changed by -6.7% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for linemans in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay linemans at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 12 of the 12 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $88.60 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $52.99.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Suffolk | Union ELEC0104-001 2024-09-01 | $58.41 | $30.19 | $88.60 | MA20260001 |
| Berkshire | Union ELEC0042-003 2017-09-03 | $46.96 | $25.05 | $72.01 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union ELEC0042-003 2017-09-03 | $46.96 | $25.05 | $72.01 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union ELEC0042-003 2017-09-03 | $46.96 | $25.05 | $72.01 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union ELEC0042-003 2017-09-03 | $46.96 | $25.05 | $72.01 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do linemans make in Massachusetts?
The median lineman in Massachusetts earned $52.99 an hour ($110,210 a year) in May 2025, 16% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $45.37–$60.60; the top 10% earn more than $61.36.
Where does Massachusetts rank for lineman pay?
Massachusetts ranks 10th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $52.99 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for linemans in 12 counties, with a typical package of $88.60 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many linemans work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 2,350 electrical power-line installers and repairers in Massachusetts in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts 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.