Skilled Wages

Lineman salary in New York

Median $58.31 an hour for 5,840 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$58.31/hrMedian hourly wageNew York, May data
$121,280/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$28.24 – $67.8710th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,840Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Lineman pay in New York: the full range

Wage percentiles, New YorkMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$20$40$60$80/hrNew York: 10th $28.24 · 25th $39.69 · median $58.31 · 75th $64.58 · 90th $67.87New York$58.31$28.24$67.87United States: 10th $24.74 · 25th $32.34 · median $45.83 · 75th $52.76 · 90th $61.87United States$45.83
Hourly wage percentiles for linemen: New York vs United States, May 2025.

New York ranks 8th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $54.04). 5,840 linemen work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$28.24 – $39.69$58,740 – $82,560roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$39.69 – $64.58$82,560 – $134,320the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$64.58 – $67.87$134,320 – $141,160the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Lineman pay by metro in New York

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60$80/hrPoughkeepsie: $65.09Poughkeepsie$65.09Albany: $61.34Albany$61.34Binghamton: $61.14Binghamton$61.14Syracuse: $60.08Syracuse$60.08Utica: $59.47Utica$59.47New York City: $58.89New York City$58.89Buffalo: $52.57Buffalo$52.57Rochester: $50.53Rochester$50.53Watertown: $50.20Watertown$50.20
Median hourly wage for linemen by metro area in New York, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Poughkeepsie$34.37$65.09$59.50$66.3024012% above
Albany$30.38$61.34$61.59$63.244605% above
Binghamton$39.07$61.14$65.81$64.291005% above
Syracuse$36.57$60.08$62.78$63.292503% above
Utica$29.68$59.47$64.15$61.171202% above
New York City$28.14$58.89$52.30$71.513,8501% above
Buffalo$32.03$52.57$54.87$62.8827010% below
Rochester$28.26$50.53$52.09$61.4231013% below
Watertown$32.46$50.20$57.24$64.565014% below

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

Lineman wages in New York over time

New York, 1999-2025New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$20$40$60$80200020052010201520202025$58.31New York$45.83United States
Median hourly wage for linemen, New York vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNew York $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$29.53$57.06$20.972,910
2000$29.46$55.08$22.013,960
2001$30.40$55.26$22.703,620
2002$31.30$56.01$23.334,310
2003$30.94$54.14$23.544,260
2004$29.40$50.11$23.614,150
2005$30.89$50.92$24.114,870
2006$30.96$49.44$24.414,640
2007$32.55$50.54$25.273,640
2008$33.66$50.33$26.493,710
2009$35.35$53.05$27.243,680
2010$35.50$52.41$27.903,080
2011$35.22$50.41$28.942,980
2012$37.74$52.92$30.413,810
2013$38.58$53.32$30.853,560
2014$37.61$51.15$31.704,310
2015$38.10$51.75$31.954,790
2016$37.97$50.93$32.705,000
2017$40.07$52.63$33.364,750
2018$37.41$47.96$34.095,300
2019$38.79$48.85$34.865,070
2020$40.86$50.83$36.074,770
2021$48.29$57.37$37.653,460
2022$51.00$56.10$39.593,850
2023$53.67$56.71$41.074,400
2024$56.49$57.98$44.505,270
2025$58.31$58.31$45.835,840

In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in New York changed by +12.7% over the last ten years of data and by +19.4% since 2019.

Are there more lineman jobs in New York?

+15.2%Jobs since 20195,070 then, 5,840 in 2025
+21.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 43rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of linemen counted in New York has changed by +100.7%, against +32.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +15.2%.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers in New York vs United States, 1999 = 100New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025201New York132United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, New York vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNew York jobsNew York indexUS index
19992,910100100
20003,96013697
20013,620124100
20024,31014897
20034,26014696
20044,150143103
20054,870167107
20064,640160112
20073,640125111
20083,710128113
20093,680126110
20103,080106106
20112,980102106
20123,810131114
20133,560122112
20144,310148116
20154,790165116
20165,000172119
20174,750163118
20185,300182116
20195,070174113
20204,770164116
20213,460119125
20223,850132121
20234,400151121
20245,270181125
20255,840201132

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 New York

+10.1%Projected growth in New York2024–2034, state agency
560Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,350Jobs in 20247,000 projected for 2034
+10.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

New York's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +10.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,350 to 7,000, with about 560 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,840 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for linemen in New York

On federally funded construction in New York, contractors must pay linemen at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 36 of the 36 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $97.77 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $58.31.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NYAlbany: $97.77 (union)Allegany: n/aBronx: $109.76 (union)Broome: $97.77 (union)Cattaraugus: n/aCayuga: n/aChautauqua: n/aChemung: $97.77 (union)Chenango: $97.77 (union)Clinton: n/aColumbia: $97.77 (union)Cortland: n/aDelaware: n/aDutchess: $97.77 (union)Erie: $97.77 (union)Essex: n/aFranklin: n/aFulton: $97.77 (union)Genesee: n/aGreene: $97.77 (union)Hamilton: n/aHerkimer: $97.77 (union)Jefferson: n/aKings: $109.76 (union)Lewis: n/aLivingston: $97.77 (union)Madison: n/aMonroe: $97.77 (union)Montgomery: $97.77 (union)Nassau: $109.76 (union)New York: $109.76 (union)Niagara: n/aOneida: n/aOnondaga: n/aOntario: $97.77 (union)Orange: $97.77 (union)Orleans: $97.77 (union)Oswego: n/aOtsego: n/aPutnam: $97.77 (union)Queens: $109.76 (union)Rensselaer: $97.77 (union)Richmond: $109.76 (union)Rockland: $97.77 (union)St. Lawrence: n/aSaratoga: $97.77 (union)Schenectady: $97.77 (union)Schoharie: $97.77 (union)Schuyler: $97.77 (union)Seneca: n/aSteuben: n/aSuffolk: $109.76 (union)Sullivan: $97.77 (union)Tioga: $97.77 (union)Tompkins: n/aUlster: $97.77 (union)Warren: $97.77 (union)Washington: $97.77 (union)Wayne: n/aWestchester: $94.48 (union)Wyoming: n/aYates: n/aUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$97.77n/a
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$120/hrBronx (New York City): market median $58.89, prevailing (union) $109.76, gap +$50.87Bronx (New York City)+$50.87Livingston (Rochester): market median $50.53, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$47.24Livingston (Rochester)+$47.24Erie (Buffalo): market median $52.57, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$45.20Erie (Buffalo)+$45.20Chemung (New York): market median $58.31, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$39.46Chemung (New York)+$39.46Herkimer (Utica): market median $59.47, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$38.30Herkimer (Utica)+$38.30Broome (Binghamton): market median $61.14, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$36.63Broome (Binghamton)+$36.63Albany (Albany): market median $61.34, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$36.43Albany (Albany)+$36.43Dutchess (Poughkeepsie): market median $65.09, prevailing (union) $97.77, gap +$32.68Dutchess (Poughkeepsie)+$32.68
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for linemen, metro counties in New York.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BronxUnion ELEC1049-001 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260003
KingsUnion ELEC1049-001 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260003
NassauUnion ELEC1049-002 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260012
New YorkUnion ELEC1049-001 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260003
QueensUnion ELEC1049-001 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260003
RichmondUnion ELEC1049-001 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260003
SuffolkUnion ELEC1049-002 2025-03-30$70.57$39.19$109.76NY20260012
AlbanyUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260002
BroomeUnion ELEC1249-011 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260004
ChemungUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260005
ChenangoUnion ELEC1249-011 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260004
ColumbiaUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260002
DutchessUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260007
ErieUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260050
FultonUnion ELEC1249-004 2025-05-05$61.56$36.21$97.77NY20260002

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

Is construction work growing in New York?

396.1kConstruction jobsNew York, 2026-09
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k200k300k400k500k19901995200020052010201520202025396kSep 2026
Construction employment in New York (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Lineman pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in New York

More on New York

Questions this page answers

How much do linemen make in New York?

The median lineman in New York earned $58.31 an hour ($121,280 a year) in May 2025, 27% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $39.69–$64.58; the top 10% earn more than $67.87.

Where does New York rank for lineman pay?

New York ranks 8th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $58.31 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for New York's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).

What is the union lineman rate in New York?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for linemen in 36 counties, with a typical package of $97.77 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many linemen work in New York?

BLS counted 5,840 linemen in New York in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.72; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is lineman work growing in New York?

The BLS employer survey count of linemen in New York went from 4,790 in 2015 to 5,840 in 2025, +21.9%, and +15.2% since 2019. New York's labor market agency projects +10.1% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 6,350 to 7,000 jobs.

How many lineman openings a year are there in New York?

New York projects about 560 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, New York 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: New York labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.