Power linemen are among the best-compensated tradespeople in the country. The work is physically demanding, technically complex, and carries real safety stakes every day. Pay reflects that.
Experience drives pay more than any other single factor in this trade. Ranges below are typical hourly, not including overtime or per diem.
Zero to one year. Entry point to the trade. See the groundman to journeyman progression for what the climb looks like.
Years one through four. Rates are tied to a percentage scale, typically 60 to 85 percent of the local journeyman rate. A late-period apprentice in a high-wage IBEW market can approach the top of that range before finishing their card.
Four to eight years. The benchmark rate the whole scale is built around.
Seven to twelve years. The base jump looks modest on paper but overtime and supervision premiums widen it in practice.
Ten-plus years running crews and schedules.
Twelve-plus years. Multi-crew and project-level responsibility.
Eight-plus years in transmission, substation, underground high voltage, or bare hand work.
National ranges drawn from BLS, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and PayScale data as of early 2026. These are base wages only. They exclude overtime, per diem, and the employer-funded benefit and pension contributions that come with most IBEW contracts.
Ground support, material handling, and the first rung on the ladder.
Wide range because it spans first-period through late-period apprentices on a percentage scale.
The core of the trade. See the full journeyman lineman pay scale for union and non-union breakdowns.
Solo response and diagnostics. The troubleman career guide covers requirements and shift structure.
Still on the tools, now running the crew.
Full crew leadership, scheduling, and job planning.
Multiple crews, project oversight, and utility client contact.
High-voltage corridor work. Compare paths in distribution vs. transmission.
Additional training, additional premium. See the substation technician guide.
Add overtime and benefits 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. Journeyman hourly ranges below.
Alaska, California, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Oregon, Illinois, and Hawaii. The pattern is consistent: dense IBEW representation, prevailing wage requirements, and high cost of living. Full breakdown in the best states for line workers guide.
Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Alabama. Rural cooperative work dominates, right-to-work laws suppress union rates, and utility footprints are smaller.
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 gap widens when benefits and pension are included.
If you are weighing the union path, start with the IBEW local finder and figure out which book to sign.
CDL Class AEffectively required above groundman level and carries a premium on non-union contractor bids. See CDL requirements for linemen.
OSHA 30Signals safety leadership and is often required for foreman-track work.
Splicing & High Voltage CertsUnderground and high voltage splicing commands a meaningful premium in markets running active cable replacement programs.
Hot Line & Bare HandPuts you in a small category of workers who can work energized transmission lines. Significantly expands earning potential and job access.
Specialty SettingTransmission and substation work sit at the top of the journeyman scale. Helicopter lineman work is among the highest-compensated specialty work in the trade.
Storm RestorationPays above standard rates due to overtime intensity, travel, and compressed scheduling. Details in the storm pay guide.
Employer TypeInvestor-owned utilities and large transmission contractors typically pay more than rural cooperatives or small distribution contractors. Prevailing wage projects set floors above open-market rates.
OvertimeThis is an overtime trade. Many journeymen and foremen work 50 to 60 hours per week during active phases. At 1.5x base, that adds $15,000 to $30,000 or more to annual take-home in busy markets.
Demand for qualified linemen is outpacing the available workforce, and that pressure is pushing wages up across every tier.
For qualified linemen, the current market is as favorable as it has been in decades.
How much does a journeyman lineman make per hour in 2026?
The national range is roughly $38 to $68 per hour. IBEW locals in high-cost states regularly pay above that, with top markets like Anchorage, San Jose, and New York running $58 to $76 per hour.
Can a lineman make $100,000 a year?
Yes. Experienced journeymen frequently exceed $100,000 in total annual compensation once overtime, storm pay, per diem, and union benefit packages are factored in. Foremen and specialty roles clear it on base wages alone in many markets.
Do union linemen make more than non-union linemen?
Non-union linemen typically earn 15 to 30 percent less than IBEW counterparts in the same market. In top-tier union locals, the gap can be $10 to $20 per hour on base wages alone, before benefits and pension are counted.
Which states pay linemen the most?
Alaska, California, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Oregon, Illinois, and Hawaii. All share dense IBEW representation, prevailing wage requirements, or high cost of living.
How much do apprentice linemen make?
Apprentice rates run $22 to $44 per hour and 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.
What certifications increase lineman pay the most?
Hot line and bare hand certification has the largest impact because it qualifies you for energized transmission work. CDL Class A, OSHA 30, and underground high voltage splicing certification also carry premiums.
Browse open lineman positions across every state and specialty.
Browse Lineman JobsWritten by Matthew Sorensen, skilled trades recruiting executive and founder of PowerLinemanJobs.com. 15+ years placing electrical and commercial trades professionals, author of four books on hiring, and host of the Hired podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% of career podcasts worldwide.