How Much Do Power Line Installers Make?
Power Line Installers install and repair the high-voltage lines and cables that carry electricity across the grid. Official pay data from the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
The median power line installer salary is $95,320 per year — 87% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. About 131,070 people work in this trade nationwide.
Pay by percentile
| Percentile | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,470 | Entry level / lowest-paid areas |
| 25th | $67,270 | Early career |
| 50th — median | $95,320 | The typical worker |
| 75th | $109,740 | Experienced |
| 90th | $128,690 | Top earners / highest-paid areas |
Power Line Installer salary by state
Median annual wage by state, highest first.
| # | State | Median wage | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $134,340 | +41% |
| 2 | Washington | $133,060 | +40% |
| 3 | Oregon | $131,090 | +38% |
| 4 | California | $129,040 | +35% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $126,850 | +33% |
| 6 | Idaho | $125,410 | +32% |
| 7 | New Jersey | $121,580 | +28% |
| 8 | New York | $121,280 | +27% |
| 9 | Montana | $110,320 | +16% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $110,210 | +16% |
| 11 | Vermont | $108,520 | +14% |
| 12 | Illinois | $108,120 | +13% |
| 13 | Michigan | $106,890 | +12% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $106,230 | +11% |
| 15 | Maryland | $106,090 | +11% |
| 16 | North Dakota | $105,870 | +11% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $105,820 | +11% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $104,620 | +10% |
| 19 | Minnesota | $104,180 | +9% |
| 20 | Colorado | $103,980 | +9% |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $102,170 | +7% |
| 22 | Indiana | $102,040 | +7% |
| 23 | Kansas | $101,620 | +7% |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $101,240 | +6% |
| 25 | Utah | $101,220 | +6% |
| 26 | Iowa | $100,200 | +5% |
| 27 | South Dakota | $97,310 | +2% |
| 28 | Delaware | $97,180 | +2% |
| 29 | Nevada | $96,560 | +1% |
| 30 | Missouri | $96,360 | +1% |
| 31 | Wyoming | $93,860 | -2% |
| 32 | Ohio | $93,150 | -2% |
| 33 | Alaska | $92,470 | -3% |
| 34 | Nebraska | $92,150 | -3% |
| 35 | Alabama | $92,030 | -3% |
| 36 | Florida | $86,870 | -9% |
| 37 | West Virginia | $83,810 | -12% |
| 38 | Tennessee | $83,660 | -12% |
| 39 | Maine | $83,090 | -13% |
| 40 | Arkansas | $81,450 | -15% |
| 41 | Georgia | $80,080 | -16% |
| 42 | Texas | $78,940 | -17% |
| 43 | North Carolina | $77,270 | -19% |
| 44 | Kentucky | $77,020 | -19% |
| 45 | South Carolina | $76,870 | -19% |
| 46 | Virginia | $76,590 | -20% |
| 47 | New Mexico | $76,470 | -20% |
| 48 | Louisiana | $76,410 | -20% |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $76,010 | -20% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $75,890 | -20% |
| 51 | Arizona | $75,420 | -21% |
Lifetime earnings potential
At today's median wage, here is what a career as a power line installer adds up to (in constant 2025 dollars, before raises or promotions — a conservative floor, not a projection):
| Career length | At the median ($95,320/yr) | In the top 10% ($128,690/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $953,200 | $1,286,900 |
| 20 years | $1,906,400 | $2,573,800 |
| 30 years | $2,859,600 | $3,860,700 |
Reaching the top 10% instead of the median is worth $1,001,100 over a 30-year career — usually the gap between entry-level work and specialization, licenses, or high-paying states. Compare this trade against any other with the trade comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How much do power line installers make?
- The median annual wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers is $95,320 (BLS OES, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $67,270 and $109,740.
- What do the top power line installers earn?
- The top 10% of power line installers earn $128,690 or more per year, while the bottom 10% earn $51,470 or less.
- Which state pays power line installers the most?
- Hawaii has the highest published median at $134,340, followed by Washington ($133,060) and Oregon ($131,090).