Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051) earn a median $95,320 a year ($45.83 an hour) in the United States, with 131,070 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What electrical power-line installers and repairers do
Electrical power-line installers and repairers install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems, and may erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers. They install, maintain and repair distribution and transmission systems, covering conduits, cables, wires and associated equipment like transformers, circuit breakers and switches. To reach equipment they climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets. Before repairs they open switches or attach grounding devices to make disturbed or fallen lines safe from electrical hazards, and they inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment with reading and testing instruments to locate and identify problems. Damaged poles are replaced or straightened. Workers drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites, adhere to safety practices such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas, and coordinate work assignments with other workers. Titles include aerial lineman, cable splicer and cable installer repairer. Electrical and electronics repairers for powerhouses, substations and relays (49-2095) are excluded.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Aerial Lineman, Cable Inspector, Cable Installer, Cable Installer Repairer, Cable Layer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $24.74 | $32.34 | $45.83 | $52.76 | $61.87 | $44.22 | 131,070 |
| Annual | $51,470 | $67,270 | $95,320 | $109,740 | $128,690 | $91,970 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where electrical power-line installers and repairers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $39.00 | $47.68 | $64.59 | $65.15 | $69.31 | $56.78 | 600 | 0.95 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $81,120 | $99,170 | $134,340 | $135,510 | $144,170 | $118,110 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $38.77 | $51.74 | $63.97 | $65.80 | $71.06 | $58.70 | 2,340 | 0.66 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $80,640 | $107,620 | $133,060 | $136,850 | $147,810 | $122,100 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $37.18 | $51.22 | $63.02 | $67.27 | $73.97 | $59.37 | 1,640 | 0.83 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $77,330 | $106,530 | $131,090 | $139,920 | $153,860 | $123,490 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $37.19 | $47.44 | $62.04 | $75.18 | $80.33 | $60.23 | 8,930 | 0.49 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $77,350 | $98,680 | $129,040 | $156,380 | $167,090 | $125,270 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $22.58 | $43.63 | $60.99 | $63.07 | $65.25 | $51.78 | 940 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $46,960 | $90,740 | $126,850 | $131,180 | $135,730 | $107,700 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.48 | $28.92 | $37.95 | $47.65 | $51.71 | $37.82 | 17,280 | 1.23 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $46,760 | $60,150 | $78,940 | $99,110 | $107,550 | $78,670 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $37.19 | $47.44 | $62.04 | $75.18 | $80.33 | $60.23 | 8,930 | 0.49 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $77,350 | $98,680 | $129,040 | $156,380 | $167,090 | $125,270 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $24.37 | $30.68 | $41.76 | $49.85 | $52.55 | $40.82 | 6,420 | 0.65 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $50,690 | $63,810 | $86,870 | $103,680 | $109,300 | $84,900 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.24 | $39.69 | $58.31 | $64.58 | $67.87 | $51.94 | 5,840 | 0.60 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $58,740 | $82,560 | $121,280 | $134,320 | $141,160 | $108,030 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $23.16 | $29.08 | $37.15 | $48.23 | $50.69 | $37.29 | 5,650 | 1.14 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $48,180 | $60,490 | $77,270 | $100,310 | $105,430 | $77,570 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $48.17 | $58.46 | $75.78 | $94.56 | $94.56 | $73.72 | 300 | 0.27 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $100,200 | $121,590 | $157,620 | $196,690 | $196,690 | $153,330 | ||||
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | Hourly | $46.89 | $61.87 | $67.44 | $72.97 | $72.97 | $63.44 | 120 | 0.78 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $97,530 | $128,690 | $140,270 | $151,770 | $151,780 | $131,940 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $40.20 | $51.53 | $65.95 | $80.13 | $91.34 | $66.28 | 770 | 0.33 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $83,620 | $107,170 | $137,180 | $166,670 | $189,980 | $137,870 | ||||
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | Hourly | $48.84 | $61.15 | $65.12 | $71.49 | $73.26 | $63.38 | 50 | 0.37 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $101,590 | $127,200 | $135,450 | $148,710 | $152,380 | $131,820 | ||||
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | Hourly | $34.37 | $49.21 | $65.09 | $65.13 | $66.30 | $58.05 | 240 | 0.89 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $71,500 | $102,360 | $135,400 | $135,460 | $137,900 | $120,740 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.43 | $29.97 | $39.77 | $49.02 | $55.68 | $40.27 | 4,380 | 1.33 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $48,730 | $62,340 | $82,710 | $101,960 | $115,800 | $83,770 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.48 | $28.55 | $37.46 | $47.24 | $50.81 | $37.20 | 3,930 | 0.97 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $46,750 | $59,390 | $77,910 | $98,260 | $105,680 | $77,380 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.14 | $40.79 | $58.89 | $66.03 | $71.51 | $53.21 | 3,850 | 0.41 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $58,540 | $84,850 | $122,480 | $137,340 | $148,740 | $110,670 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $23.03 | $27.79 | $36.26 | $46.19 | $63.60 | $39.45 | 2,810 | 1.18 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $47,900 | $57,800 | $75,420 | $96,080 | $132,280 | $82,060 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $25.05 | $30.86 | $40.18 | $49.57 | $58.85 | $41.37 | 2,660 | 0.92 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $52,100 | $64,200 | $83,570 | $103,100 | $122,410 | $86,040 | ||||
Top industries employing electrical power-line installers and repairers
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution employ 47.7% of electrical power-line installers and repairers nationally (62,470 jobs) at a median $102,550 a year ($49.30 an hour), followed by Utility System Construction (29.7%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (10.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution NAICS 221100 | 62,470 | 47.7% | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 38,990 | 29.7% | $76,060 | $36.57 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 13,150 | 10.0% | $90,060 | $43.30 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 7,660 | 5.8% | $76,250 | $36.66 |
| Natural Gas Distribution NAICS 221200 | 2,830 | 2.2% | $137,360 | $66.04 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (131,070). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $78,310 for electrical power-line installers and repairers in May 2021 and $95,320 in May 2025, with employment of 123,940 and 131,070.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $78,310 | $37.65 | 123,940 |
| May 2022 | $82,340 | $39.59 | 119,510 |
| May 2023 | $85,420 | $41.07 | 120,170 |
| May 2024 | $92,560 | $44.50 | 123,680 |
| May 2025 | $95,320 | $45.83 | 131,070 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $64.59 | $134,340 | $81,120 | $144,170 | 600 | 0.95 | 1.13 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $63.97 | $133,060 | $80,640 | $147,810 | 2,340 | 0.66 | 0.78 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $63.02 | $131,090 | $77,330 | $153,860 | 1,640 | 0.83 | 0.99 |
| 4 | California profile | $62.04 | $129,040 | $77,350 | $167,090 | 8,930 | 0.49 | 0.58 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $60.99 | $126,850 | $46,960 | $135,730 | 940 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| 6 | Idaho profile | $60.29 | $125,410 | $75,770 | $131,140 | 860 | 1.00 | 1.19 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $58.45 | $121,580 | $81,470 | $126,350 | 1,310 | 0.31 | 0.36 |
| 8 | New York profile | $58.31 | $121,280 | $58,740 | $141,160 | 5,840 | 0.60 | 0.72 |
| 9 | Montana profile | $53.04 | $110,320 | $73,220 | $125,010 | 680 | 1.33 | 1.58 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $52.99 | $110,210 | $81,470 | $127,620 | 2,350 | 0.65 | 0.77 |
| 11 | Vermont profile | $52.17 | $108,520 | $89,450 | $125,680 | 270 | 0.89 | 1.05 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $51.98 | $108,120 | $72,820 | $129,230 | 3,090 | 0.51 | 0.60 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $51.39 | $106,890 | $65,480 | $131,570 | 2,800 | 0.64 | 0.75 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $51.07 | $106,230 | $64,550 | $122,510 | 4,150 | 0.69 | 0.81 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $51.01 | $106,090 | $62,160 | $124,750 | 1,830 | 0.66 | 0.79 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | $50.90 | $105,870 | $61,020 | $121,990 | 740 | 1.72 | 2.04 |
| 17 | Wisconsin profile | $50.88 | $105,820 | $58,330 | $119,850 | 2,520 | 0.86 | 1.02 |
| 18 | Rhode Island profile | $50.30 | $104,620 | $72,710 | $125,200 | 120 | 0.23 | 0.27 |
| 19 | Minnesota profile | $50.09 | $104,180 | $78,390 | $122,110 | 2,190 | 0.74 | 0.88 |
| 20 | Colorado profile | $49.99 | $103,980 | $59,170 | $131,360 | 2,370 | 0.83 | 0.98 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | $49.12 | $102,170 | $67,030 | $126,870 | 560 | 0.82 | 0.97 |
| 22 | Indiana profile | $49.06 | $102,040 | $53,290 | $116,720 | 2,540 | 0.79 | 0.94 |
| 23 | Kansas profile | $48.86 | $101,620 | $50,510 | $122,970 | 1,610 | 1.12 | 1.33 |
| 24 | District of Columbia profile | $48.67 | $101,240 | $67,750 | $132,900 | 150 | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $48.66 | $101,220 | $49,380 | $124,180 | 1,030 | 0.59 | 0.70 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $48.17 | $100,200 | $65,310 | $109,980 | 1,390 | 0.89 | 1.06 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $46.79 | $97,310 | $63,840 | $118,530 | 740 | 1.61 | 1.91 |
| 28 | Delaware profile | $46.72 | $97,180 | $48,570 | $119,790 | 330 | 0.69 | 0.82 |
| 29 | Nevada profile | $46.42 | $96,560 | $65,000 | $134,930 | 920 | 0.60 | 0.71 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $46.33 | $96,360 | $59,900 | $115,740 | 3,440 | 1.17 | 1.39 |
| 31 | Wyoming profile | $45.12 | $93,860 | $49,820 | $119,810 | 670 | 2.38 | 2.83 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $44.78 | $93,150 | $58,840 | $111,760 | 4,260 | 0.77 | 0.91 |
| 33 | Alaska profile | $44.46 | $92,470 | $52,040 | $139,750 | 490 | 1.50 | 1.78 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $44.30 | $92,150 | $52,930 | $118,040 | 1,490 | 1.45 | 1.72 |
| 35 | Alabama profile | $44.24 | $92,030 | $44,150 | $105,400 | 2,730 | 1.29 | 1.53 |
| 36 | Florida profile | $41.76 | $86,870 | $50,690 | $109,300 | 6,420 | 0.65 | 0.77 |
| 37 | West Virginia profile | $40.29 | $83,810 | $47,760 | $115,350 | 1,260 | 1.80 | 2.14 |
| 38 | Tennessee profile | $40.22 | $83,660 | $58,240 | $105,000 | 3,900 | 1.19 | 1.41 |
| 39 | Maine profile | $39.95 | $83,090 | $52,190 | $121,950 | 1,160 | 1.81 | 2.15 |
| 40 | Arkansas profile | $39.16 | $81,450 | $51,150 | $115,120 | 1,510 | 1.16 | 1.37 |
| 41 | Georgia profile | $38.50 | $80,080 | $50,440 | $116,900 | 4,960 | 1.01 | 1.20 |
| 42 | Texas profile | $37.95 | $78,940 | $46,760 | $107,550 | 17,280 | 1.23 | 1.46 |
| 43 | North Carolina profile | $37.15 | $77,270 | $48,180 | $105,430 | 5,650 | 1.14 | 1.36 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $37.03 | $77,020 | $47,770 | $102,400 | 2,930 | 1.47 | 1.74 |
| 45 | South Carolina profile | $36.96 | $76,870 | $48,890 | $102,860 | 2,690 | 1.17 | 1.38 |
| 46 | Virginia profile | $36.82 | $76,590 | $49,520 | $106,860 | 2,920 | 0.71 | 0.84 |
| 47 | New Mexico profile | $36.76 | $76,470 | $46,640 | $105,590 | 1,020 | 1.17 | 1.39 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $36.74 | $76,410 | $46,200 | $117,990 | 2,520 | 1.30 | 1.55 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | $36.54 | $76,010 | $48,630 | $117,020 | 3,290 | 1.93 | 2.29 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $36.49 | $75,890 | $45,620 | $98,200 | 2,290 | 1.97 | 2.34 |
| 51 | Arizona profile | $36.26 | $75,420 | $48,760 | $124,300 | 3,360 | 1.04 | 1.23 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9051 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.