---
title: "Lineman Salary: What Power Line Workers Make | ShapeMyCareer"
description: "How much linemen make: BLS May 2025 pay for electrical power-line installers and repairers, from the bottom 10 percent to the top, plus storm overtime."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/salary/lineman/
updated: 2026-10-11
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Trade pay · Lineman

# Lineman salary

Power-line work pays near the top of the trades.

BLS wage data, May 2025

Here is the full pay spread for this trade, not just the middle number, along with the factors that push people toward the top.

In short

Electrical power-line installers and repairers earned a median $95,320 a year in May 2025, about $46 an hour, according to BLS. The bottom 10 percent earned under $51,470 and the top 10 percent over $128,690. Storm restoration overtime, which BLS wage figures leave out, can add a lot to a lineman's year.

**Sources checked October 11, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

Bottom 10% earn under**$51,470** about $24.75 an hour

Bottom quarter under**$67,270** about $32.34 an hour

Middle (median)**$95,320** about $45.83 an hour

Top quarter over**$109,740** about $52.76 an hour

Top 10% over**$128,690** about $61.87 an hour

Yearly wages for electrical power-line installers and repairers across the U.S., [BLS OEWS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/), May 2025. Hourly figures divide by 2,080 hours, so overtime is not counted. New apprentices usually sit near or below the bottom-quarter line.

| Middle pay | $95,320 a year, roughly $45.83 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then long-term on-the-job training |
| People in the trade | About 131,900 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 10.3% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 10,900, counting retirements |

From the [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.

## What moves lineman pay

- **Topping out:** journeyman linemen earn far more than apprentices and groundmen.
- **Storm work:** restoration jobs often mean long overtime shifts and per diem.
- **Utility vs contractor:** utilities may offer steadier hours; contractors may offer more overtime and travel.
- **Union scale:** outside line locals negotiate wage scales and benefits.

### See training for this trade

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## Straight answers

### How much do linemen make an hour?

The median works out to about $46 an hour.

### Do linemen make six figures?

Many do. The top 25 percent earned more than $109,740 in May 2025, before overtime.

### Why do linemen make so much?

The work is dangerous, physically demanding and requires years of training, and storm work adds overtime.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/)
- [Electrical power-line installers and repairers in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm)
- [BLS OOH: Line Installers and Repairers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm)
- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)

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