How Much Do Substation Technicians Make?
Substation Technicians inspect, test, and repair the electrical equipment inside generating stations and substations. Official pay data from the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
The median substation technician salary is $103,020 per year — 102% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. About 20,720 people work in this trade nationwide.
Pay by percentile
| Percentile | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,730 | Entry level / lowest-paid areas |
| 25th | $81,860 | Early career |
| 50th — median | $103,020 | The typical worker |
| 75th | $118,870 | Experienced |
| 90th | $129,920 | Top earners / highest-paid areas |
Lifetime earnings potential
At today's median wage, here is what a career as a substation technician adds up to (in constant 2025 dollars, before raises or promotions — a conservative floor, not a projection):
| Career length | At the median ($103,020/yr) | In the top 10% ($129,920/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $1,030,200 | $1,299,200 |
| 20 years | $2,060,400 | $2,598,400 |
| 30 years | $3,090,600 | $3,897,600 |
Reaching the top 10% instead of the median is worth $807,000 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 substation technicians make?
- The median annual wage for electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay is $103,020 (BLS OES, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $81,860 and $118,870.
- What do the top substation technicians earn?
- The top 10% of substation technicians earn $129,920 or more per year, while the bottom 10% earn $65,730 or less.
- Is $103,020 good pay?
- It is 102% above the median for all U.S. occupations ($50,980, BLS May 2025).