Lineman salary in Texas
Median $37.95 an hour for 17,280 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Lineman pay in Texas: the full range
Texas ranks 42nd of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 49th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.08). 17,280 linemen work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $22.48 – $28.92 | $46,760 – $60,150 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.92 – $47.65 | $60,150 – $99,110 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $47.65 – $51.71 | $99,110 – $107,550 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in Texas
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $23.43 | $39.77 | $40.33 | $55.68 | 4,380 | 5% above |
| Austin | $23.06 | $39.48 | $40.24 | $51.30 | 1,270 | 4% above |
| College Station | $22.38 | $39.13 | $43.00 | $50.47 | 100 | 3% above |
| Waco | $24.91 | $38.76 | $41.90 | $49.50 | 110 | 2% above |
| Beaumont | $24.93 | $38.70 | $43.00 | $48.53 | 320 | 2% above |
| Longview | $26.41 | $38.70 | $43.24 | $49.44 | 160 | 2% above |
| El Paso | $16.48 | $38.34 | $42.65 | $54.00 | 140 | 1% above |
| Abilene | $22.03 | $38.27 | $42.33 | $47.97 | 80 | 1% above |
| Lubbock | $24.22 | $37.65 | $41.24 | $49.67 | 190 | 1% below |
| San Antonio | $23.26 | $37.52 | $39.62 | $51.73 | 1,310 | 1% below |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $22.48 | $37.46 | $36.33 | $50.81 | 3,930 | 1% below |
| Corpus Christi | $22.13 | $37.39 | $40.33 | $52.12 | 250 | 1% below |
| Midland | $22.09 | $37.21 | $38.84 | $45.25 | 290 | 2% below |
| Killeen | $21.59 | $36.61 | $40.19 | $48.48 | 90 | 4% below |
| McAllen | $16.39 | $35.91 | $41.80 | $45.21 | 180 | 5% below |
| Victoria | $24.24 | $35.51 | $39.54 | $54.18 | 90 | 6% below |
| Sherman | $20.75 | $35.38 | $37.72 | $45.59 | 280 | 7% below |
| Wichita Falls | $22.69 | $33.37 | $37.28 | $46.24 | 40 | 12% below |
| Odessa | $23.43 | $32.34 | $34.44 | $47.95 | 200 | 15% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Lineman wages in Texas over time
Table
| Year | Texas $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.31 | $33.45 | $20.97 | 5,160 |
| 2000 | $16.86 | $31.52 | $22.01 | 5,360 |
| 2001 | $18.14 | $32.98 | $22.70 | 6,270 |
| 2002 | $18.26 | $32.68 | $23.33 | 6,210 |
| 2003 | $18.62 | $32.58 | $23.54 | 6,620 |
| 2004 | $19.87 | $33.86 | $23.61 | 7,240 |
| 2005 | $20.52 | $33.83 | $24.11 | 7,540 |
| 2006 | $19.41 | $31.00 | $24.41 | 8,920 |
| 2007 | $19.87 | $30.85 | $25.27 | 9,000 |
| 2008 | $20.30 | $30.35 | $26.49 | 9,060 |
| 2009 | $21.09 | $31.65 | $27.24 | 9,080 |
| 2010 | $22.52 | $33.25 | $27.90 | 9,110 |
| 2011 | $22.53 | $32.25 | $28.94 | 9,090 |
| 2012 | $25.15 | $35.27 | $30.41 | 8,860 |
| 2013 | $25.97 | $35.89 | $30.85 | 9,170 |
| 2014 | $26.25 | $35.70 | $31.70 | 9,880 |
| 2015 | $25.87 | $35.14 | $31.95 | 10,940 |
| 2016 | $26.05 | $34.94 | $32.70 | 10,680 |
| 2017 | $26.80 | $35.20 | $33.36 | 11,110 |
| 2018 | $28.23 | $36.19 | $34.09 | 11,430 |
| 2019 | $28.04 | $35.31 | $34.86 | 10,600 |
| 2020 | $26.87 | $33.42 | $36.07 | 10,410 |
| 2021 | $30.66 | $36.43 | $37.65 | 14,090 |
| 2022 | $31.60 | $34.76 | $39.59 | 11,960 |
| 2023 | $34.86 | $36.83 | $41.07 | 13,710 |
| 2024 | $37.29 | $38.27 | $44.50 | 14,130 |
| 2025 | $37.95 | $37.95 | $45.83 | 17,280 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in Texas changed by +8.0% over the last ten years of data and by +7.5% since 2019.
Are there more lineman jobs in Texas?
Since 1999, the number of linemen counted in Texas has changed by +234.9%, against +32.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +63.0%.
Table
| Year | Texas jobs | Texas index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,160 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,360 | 104 | 97 |
| 2001 | 6,270 | 122 | 100 |
| 2002 | 6,210 | 120 | 97 |
| 2003 | 6,620 | 128 | 96 |
| 2004 | 7,240 | 140 | 103 |
| 2005 | 7,540 | 146 | 107 |
| 2006 | 8,920 | 173 | 112 |
| 2007 | 9,000 | 174 | 111 |
| 2008 | 9,060 | 176 | 113 |
| 2009 | 9,080 | 176 | 110 |
| 2010 | 9,110 | 177 | 106 |
| 2011 | 9,090 | 176 | 106 |
| 2012 | 8,860 | 172 | 114 |
| 2013 | 9,170 | 178 | 112 |
| 2014 | 9,880 | 192 | 116 |
| 2015 | 10,940 | 212 | 116 |
| 2016 | 10,680 | 207 | 119 |
| 2017 | 11,110 | 215 | 118 |
| 2018 | 11,430 | 222 | 116 |
| 2019 | 10,600 | 205 | 113 |
| 2020 | 10,410 | 202 | 116 |
| 2021 | 14,090 | 273 | 125 |
| 2022 | 11,960 | 232 | 121 |
| 2023 | 13,710 | 266 | 121 |
| 2024 | 14,130 | 274 | 125 |
| 2025 | 17,280 | 335 | 132 |
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 Texas
Texas's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +6.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 14,810 to 15,750, with about 1,230 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 17,280 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Texas?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Texas
More on Texas
Questions this page answers
How much do linemen make in Texas?
The median lineman in Texas earned $37.95 an hour ($78,940 a year) in May 2025, 17% below the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $28.92–$47.65; the top 10% earn more than $51.71.
Where does Texas rank for lineman pay?
Texas ranks 42nd of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $37.95 an hour, and 49th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in Texas?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a lineman classification for most Texas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many linemen work in Texas?
BLS counted 17,280 linemen in Texas in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.46; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is lineman work growing in Texas?
The BLS employer survey count of linemen in Texas went from 10,940 in 2015 to 17,280 in 2025, +58.0%, and +63.0% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +6.4% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 14,810 to 15,750 jobs.
How many lineman openings a year are there in Texas?
Texas projects about 1,230 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.