Lineman salary in Michigan
Median $51.39 an hour for 2,800 electrical power-line installers and repairers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Lineman pay in Michigan: the full range
Michigan ranks 13th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 14th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $53.42). 2,800 electrical power-line installers and repairers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $31.48 – $40.89 | $65,480 – $85,050 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $40.89 – $60.12 | $85,050 – $125,050 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $60.12 – $63.25 | $125,050 – $131,570 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in Michigan
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $40.24 | $52.39 | $61.38 | 60 | 2% above |
| Detroit | $30.61 | $50.17 | $62.56 | 860 | 2% below |
| Grand Rapids | $32.07 | $50.02 | $63.28 | 170 | 3% below |
| South Bend | $36.73 | $49.90 | $60.21 | 130 | 3% below |
| Niles | $31.36 | $48.00 | $59.34 | 60 | 7% below |
Lineman wages in Michigan over time
Table
| Year | Michigan $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $22.71 | $43.89 | $20.97 | 4,530 |
| 2000 | $21.76 | $40.68 | $22.01 | 4,840 |
| 2001 | $23.11 | $42.01 | $22.70 | 4,310 |
| 2002 | $24.17 | $43.25 | $23.33 | 3,610 |
| 2003 | $24.47 | $42.81 | $23.54 | 3,430 |
| 2004 | $24.91 | $42.45 | $23.61 | 2,580 |
| 2005 | $28.10 | $46.32 | $24.11 | 2,470 |
| 2006 | $27.32 | $43.63 | $24.41 | 2,930 |
| 2007 | $28.38 | $44.07 | $25.27 | 2,490 |
| 2008 | $27.99 | $41.85 | $26.49 | 2,610 |
| 2009 | $29.35 | $44.04 | $27.24 | 2,520 |
| 2010 | $31.15 | $45.99 | $27.90 | 2,500 |
| 2011 | $29.96 | $42.88 | $28.94 | 2,870 |
| 2012 | $31.29 | $43.88 | $30.41 | 3,470 |
| 2013 | $31.76 | $43.89 | $30.85 | 3,640 |
| 2014 | $33.84 | $46.02 | $31.70 | 4,010 |
| 2015 | $35.17 | $47.77 | $31.95 | 4,100 |
| 2016 | $36.18 | $48.53 | $32.70 | 4,680 |
| 2017 | $37.10 | $48.73 | $33.36 | 4,260 |
| 2018 | $36.59 | $46.91 | $34.09 | 3,500 |
| 2019 | $37.57 | $47.31 | $34.86 | 3,230 |
| 2020 | $41.43 | $51.54 | $36.07 | 3,560 |
| 2021 | $46.98 | $55.82 | $37.65 | 3,750 |
| 2022 | $48.54 | $53.40 | $39.59 | 4,170 |
| 2023 | $48.53 | $51.28 | $41.07 | 3,580 |
| 2024 | $49.67 | $50.98 | $44.50 | 3,580 |
| 2025 | $51.39 | $51.39 | $45.83 | 2,800 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in Michigan changed by +7.6% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Michigan?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Michigan
Questions this page answers
How much do linemans make in Michigan?
The median lineman in Michigan earned $51.39 an hour ($106,890 a year) in May 2025, 12% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $40.89–$60.12; the top 10% earn more than $63.25.
Where does Michigan rank for lineman pay?
Michigan ranks 13th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $51.39 an hour, and 14th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in Michigan?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a lineman classification for most Michigan counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many linemans work in Michigan?
BLS counted 2,800 electrical power-line installers and repairers in Michigan in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.75; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan 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.