How Much Does a Lineman Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$95,320
Linemen in the U.S. earn a median of $95,320 a year, or $45.83 an hour. Half of linemen earn more than $95,320 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $128,690.
Pay percentiles for linemen
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24.74 | $51,470 |
| 25th | $32.34 | $67,270 |
| 50th (median) | $45.83 | $95,320 |
| 75th | $52.76 | $109,740 |
| 90th | $61.87 | $128,690 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for linemen
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $134,340 | $64.59 | +41% |
| Washington | $133,060 | $63.97 | +40% |
| Oregon | $131,090 | $63.02 | +38% |
| California | $129,040 | $62.04 | +35% |
| Connecticut | $126,850 | $60.99 | +33% |
| Idaho | $125,410 | $60.29 | +32% |
| New Jersey | $121,580 | $58.45 | +28% |
| New York | $121,280 | $58.31 | +27% |
| Montana | $110,320 | $53.04 | +16% |
| Massachusetts | $110,210 | $52.99 | +16% |
| United States | $95,320 | $45.83 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many linemen are there?
BLS counts about 131,070 linemen employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers”. The most jobs are in Texas (17,280), California (8,930) and Florida (6,420).
The mean (average) annual wage is $91,970, lower than the median of $95,320.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $7,943
- Biweekly
- $3,666
- Weekly
- $1,833
- Daily (8 hours)
- $367
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do linemen make an hour?
The median hourly wage for linemen is $45.83. The middle 50% earn between $32.34 and $52.76 an hour.
Which state pays linemen the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for linemen at $134,340, +41% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for linemen?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of linemen earn less than $51,470 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.