Power linemen are among the best-compensated tradespeople in the country, and for good reason. The work is physically demanding, technically complex, and carries real safety stakes every day on the job. Pay reflects that.
The national average for a journeyman lineman runs $38 to $68 per hour depending on market, with IBEW locals in high-cost states regularly pushing well above that floor. When overtime, storm pay, per diem, and union benefit packages are factored in, total annual compensation for an experienced journeyman frequently exceeds $100,000.
Where any individual lineman lands within those ranges comes down to several variables: job title, years in the trade, union affiliation, state and metro market, employer type, and specialty. This page breaks each of those down with 2026 data.
Experience drives pay more than almost any other single factor in this trade. Here is how earnings typically progress from groundman through general foreman.
| Role | Experience | Typical Hourly Range |
|---|---|---|
| Groundman / Pre-Apprentice | 0–1 years | $18 – $28 |
| Apprentice Lineman | Years 1–4 | $22 – $44 |
| Journeyman Lineman | 4–8 years | $38 – $68 |
| Working Foreman | 7–12 years | $48 – $72 |
| Line Foreman | 10+ years | $52 – $80 |
| General Foreman / Superintendent | 12+ years | $55 – $85+ |
| Specialty Roles (Transmission, Substation, Underground HV, Bare Hand) | 8+ years | $52 – $82+ |
Apprentice rates are tied to a percentage scale, typically 60 to 85 percent of the journeyman rate in a given local. A late-period apprentice in a high-wage IBEW market can approach $44 per hour before completing their card. The jump from journeyman to working foreman is generally modest on paper but meaningful in total compensation once overtime and supervision premiums are applied.
Pay varies considerably by title even within the same employer. These are national ranges drawn from BLS, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and PayScale data as of early 2026.
| Job Title | Typical Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Groundman / Pre-Apprentice | $37,000 – $58,000 |
| Apprentice Lineman | $46,000 – $92,000 |
| Journeyman Lineman | $79,000 – $141,000 |
| Troubleman | $85,000 – $130,000 |
| Working Foreman | $100,000 – $150,000 |
| Line Foreman | $108,000 – $166,000 |
| General Foreman / Superintendent | $114,000 – $177,000+ |
| Transmission Lineman | $108,000 – $170,000 |
| Substation Electrician | $100,000 – $160,000 |
Annual figures reflect base wages only and do not include overtime, per diem, or the employer-funded benefit and pension contributions that come with most IBEW contracts. Add those in and total packages at the journeyman level and above routinely cross six figures even in mid-tier markets.
Union density and cost of living are the two biggest drivers of pay variation across markets.
| City | State | Typical Journeyman Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | NY | $58 – $75/hr | High IBEW density; prevailing wage on public work |
| Los Angeles, CA | CA | $55 – $72/hr | Strong IBEW locals; grid hardening and renewable buildout |
| Chicago, IL | IL | $55 – $70/hr | Among the strongest union markets in the Midwest |
| Houston, TX | TX | $40 – $58/hr | Energy sector demand; mixed union and non-union |
| Seattle, WA | WA | $56 – $72/hr | Active grid infrastructure investment |
| San Jose, CA | CA | $58 – $76/hr | Data center and utility buildout; top pay in state |
| Portland, OR | OR | $52 – $68/hr | Strong IBEW presence; BPA and PGE work |
| Philadelphia, PA | PA | $50 – $66/hr | Solid union market; prevailing wage on public projects |
| Phoenix, AZ | AZ | $42 – $58/hr | Rapid growth market; data center expansion driving demand |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $60 – $75/hr | IBEW Local 1547 journeyman rate $72.59/hr as of April 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | TX | $40 – $57/hr | One of the fastest-growing line construction markets in the U.S. |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $44 – $60/hr | Manufacturing and data center expansion; active union market |
| Denver, CO | CO | $46 – $62/hr | Grid modernization and renewable energy driving demand |
| Boston, MA | MA | $56 – $72/hr | High cost of living; strong IBEW locals |
| Charlotte, NC | NC | $38 – $54/hr | Growing market; lower union density than Northeast |
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alaska | IBEW Local 1547 journeyman base exceeds $72/hr |
| California | Strong IBEW locals statewide; renewable energy premium |
| Washington | BPA and investor-owned utility work; active grid spend |
| Massachusetts | High cost of living; dense union market |
| New Jersey | Utility corridor demand; prevailing wage on much of the work |
| Connecticut | Strong IBEW presence; Northeast utility market |
| New York | NYC prevailing wage rates; among the highest in the country |
| Oregon | BPA region; PGE and Pacific Power union contracts |
| Illinois | Chicago market drives state average; strong IBEW density |
| Hawaii | Remote market premium; HECO utility work |
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | Limited IBEW density; rural cooperative work dominates |
| Arkansas | Right-to-work state; non-union contractor rates prevail |
| West Virginia | Smaller utility footprint; lower prevailing wages |
| South Carolina | Mixed union presence; growing but starting from a low base |
| Alabama | Limited IBEW density outside major metros |
Union affiliation has a larger impact on lineman pay than in almost any other trade. IBEW collective bargaining agreements set journeyman base rates that non-union contractors rarely match, and the total compensation gap widens significantly when benefits and pension are included.
Non-union linemen typically earn 15 to 30 percent less than their IBEW counterparts in the same market. In top-tier union locals, that gap can be $10 to $20 per hour on base wages alone.
IBEW journeymen in markets like Chicago, New York, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest commonly earn $55 to $75 per hour before overtime. Total compensation packages including wages, health benefits, and pension contributions regularly exceed $100,000 annually, even for journeymen who have not yet moved into a foreman role.
States with the strongest IBEW influence and highest lineman wages: Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Illinois.
Beyond experience and location, these factors consistently push pay higher:
Credentials and Certifications
CDL Class A is effectively required above groundman level and carries a premium on non-union contractor bids. OSHA 30 certification signals safety leadership and is often required for foreman-track work. Underground and high voltage splicing certification commands a meaningful premium in markets with active cable replacement programs. Hot line and bare hand certification puts a lineman in a small category of workers who can work energized transmission lines, which significantly expands earning potential and job access.
Specialty and Setting
Transmission linemen working high-voltage corridors typically earn at the top of the journeyman scale or above. Substation work requires additional training and commands a premium at most utilities. Storm restoration work pays above standard rates due to overtime intensity, travel requirements, and compressed scheduling. Helicopter lineman work is among the highest-compensated specialty work in the trade.
Employer Type
Investor-owned utilities and large transmission contractors typically pay more than rural cooperatives or small distribution contractors. Federal and prevailing wage projects set wage floors above open-market rates in many jurisdictions. Data center and grid modernization projects are currently among the most active and best-paying construction environments for line construction crews.
Overtime
Line construction is an overtime trade. Many journeymen and foremen work 50 to 60 hours per week during active project phases, and storm restoration can run significantly higher. Overtime at 1.5x base adds $15,000 to $30,000 or more to annual take-home for full-time workers in busy markets.
Demand for qualified power linemen is outpacing the available workforce, and that pressure is pushing wages upward across every tier of the trade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong employment growth for line installers and repairers through 2033. The aging U.S. electrical grid requires continuous maintenance, rebuild, and expansion work. AI infrastructure buildout is driving an unprecedented wave of data center construction, each requiring new transmission and distribution connections. Renewable energy projects, offshore wind development, and EV charging infrastructure are creating sustained demand for line construction crews in markets that previously had limited utility work. And retirements are accelerating faster than new apprentices can complete their training, which continues to tighten the supply of journeymen and foremen in most regions.
For qualified linemen, the current market is as favorable as it has been in decades.
Looking for your next power lineman job? Browse open positions at PowerLinemanJobs.com.