Electrical Power-Line Installer Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Install or repair high-voltage cables or wires used in electrical power transmission or distribution systems. Erect poles and transmission towers.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii HI | $133,725 | $64.29/hr | $82,241 | 450 | Urban Honolulu, HI | 162.6 |
| #2 | Oregon OR | $133,133 | $64.01/hr | $109,936 | 1,280 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | 121.1 |
| #3 | California CA | $130,456 | $62.72/hr | $88,206 | 7,460 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 147.9 |
| #4 | Idaho ID | $123,190 | $59.22/hr | $115,238 | 570 | Pocatello, ID | 106.9 |
| #5 | Washington WA | $121,432 | $58.38/hr | $105,685 | 1,520 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 114.9 |
| #6 | New York NY | $120,018 | $57.70/hr | $99,849 | 5,650 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 120.2 |
| #7 | Connecticut CT | $117,376 | $56.43/hr | $92,422 | 570 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 127.0 |
| #8 | Illinois IL | $115,030 | $55.31/hr | $101,348 | 1,910 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 113.5 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
CDL Class A, climbing school cert, high-voltage safety compliance
Hot stick work, bucket truck operations, transformer bank wiring
Storm emergency response, substation maintenance, live-line barehand
Crew management, outage dispatch coordination, grid safety oversight
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Electrical Power-Line Installer: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Skilled Trades Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Skilled Trades occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Electrical Power-Line Installer. Official 2026 economic data for Electrical Power-Line Installer compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Electrical Power-Line Installer range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Electrical Power-Line Installer: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Electrical Power-Line Installer is $95,320 per year ($45.83/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 261 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $63,630 in Wilmington, NC to $157,620 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Electrical Power-Line Installer
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $157,620 | +65.4% |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $140,270 | +47.2% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $137,180 | +43.9% |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $135,450 | +42.1% |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $135,400 | +42.0% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $135,300 | +41.9% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $135,080 | +41.7% |
| El Centro, CA | $134,950 | +41.6% |
| Salem, OR | $134,500 | +41.1% |
| Fresno, CA | $134,150 | +40.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,150 | +40.7% |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $133,220 | +39.8% |