Lineman (Power Line Worker) Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) lineman in the US earns $45.83 an hour, or $95,320 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 131,070 jobs (May 2025, occupation: power line installers and repairers). The middle half earn between $67,270 and $109,740 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $128,690.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $75,888 a year ($6,324 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($100,366 a year) and lowest in Virginia ($59,121).
Lineman (Power Line Worker) pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $24.74 | $51,470 | $43,536 |
| 25th percentile | $32.34 | $67,270 | $56,155 |
| Median (half earn more) | $45.83 | $95,320 | $75,888 |
| 75th percentile | $52.76 | $109,740 | $86,032 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $61.87 | $128,690 | $99,226 |
The average (mean) is $91,970 a year ($44.22 an hour), below the median because a group of lower earners pull it down. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9051. Source
Lineman (Power Line Worker) salary by state
The highest median pay for linemen is in Hawaii ($134,350), Washington ($133,060), Oregon ($131,080), California ($129,040), Connecticut ($126,860). The lowest is in Arizona ($75,420), Mississippi ($75,900), Oklahoma ($76,000).
The most linemen work in Texas (17,280), California (8,930), Florida (6,420).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($100,366), Hawaii ($94,008), Idaho ($91,179), Connecticut ($90,604), Oregon ($89,506). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44.24 | $92,020 | $69,776 | 2,730 |
| Alaska | $44.46 | $92,480 | $73,427 | 490 |
| Arizona | $36.26 | $75,420 | $60,380 | 3,360 |
| Arkansas | $39.16 | $81,450 | $63,605 | 1,510 |
| California | $62.04 | $129,040 | $89,256 | 8,930 |
| Colorado | $49.99 | $103,980 | $77,189 | 2,370 |
| Connecticut | $60.99 | $126,860 | $90,604 | 940 |
| Delaware | $46.72 | $97,180 | $71,734 | 330 |
| District of Columbia | $48.67 | $101,230 | $80,045* | 150 |
| Florida | $41.76 | $86,860 | $69,936 | 6,420 |
| Georgia | $38.50 | $80,080 | $61,919 | 4,960 |
| Hawaii | $64.59 | $134,350 | $94,008 | 600 |
| Idaho | $60.29 | $125,400 | $91,179 | 860 |
| Illinois | $51.98 | $108,120 | $79,685 | 3,090 |
| Indiana | $49.06 | $102,040 | $75,593 | 2,540 |
| Iowa | $48.17 | $100,190 | $76,040 | 1,390 |
| Kansas | $48.86 | $101,630 | $75,455 | 1,610 |
| Kentucky | $37.03 | $77,020 | $60,436 | 2,930 |
| Louisiana | $36.74 | $76,420 | $60,628 | 2,520 |
| Maine | $39.95 | $83,100 | $62,741 | 1,160 |
| Maryland | $51.01 | $106,100 | $75,561 | 1,830 |
| Massachusetts | $52.99 | $110,220 | $80,993 | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $51.39 | $106,890 | $79,735 | 2,800 |
| Minnesota | $50.09 | $104,190 | $75,387 | 2,190 |
| Mississippi | $36.49 | $75,900 | $59,912 | 2,290 |
| Missouri | $46.33 | $96,370 | $73,038 | 3,440 |
| Montana | $53.04 | $110,320 | $81,552 | 680 |
| Nebraska | $44.30 | $92,140 | $70,069 | 1,490 |
| Nevada | $46.42 | $96,550 | $76,753 | 920 |
| New Hampshire | $49.12 | $102,170 | $80,707 | 560 |
| New Jersey | $58.45 | $121,580 | $87,136 | 1,310 |
| New Mexico | $36.76 | $76,460 | $59,809 | 1,020 |
| New York | $58.31 | $121,280 | $87,220 | 5,840 |
| North Carolina | $37.15 | $77,270 | $60,563 | 5,650 |
| North Dakota | $50.90 | $105,870 | $82,373 | 740 |
| Ohio | $44.78 | $93,140 | $71,951 | 4,260 |
| Oklahoma | $36.54 | $76,000 | $59,410 | 3,290 |
| Oregon | $63.02 | $131,080 | $89,506 | 1,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $51.07 | $106,230 | $80,227 | 4,150 |
| Rhode Island | $50.30 | $104,620 | $77,178 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $36.96 | $76,880 | $59,708 | 2,690 |
| South Dakota | $46.79 | $97,320 | $77,295 | 740 |
| Tennessee | $40.22 | $83,660 | $67,684 | 3,900 |
| Texas | $37.95 | $78,940 | $64,364 | 17,280 |
| Utah | $48.66 | $101,210 | $75,533 | 1,030 |
| Vermont | $52.17 | $108,510 | $80,151 | 270 |
| Virginia | $36.82 | $76,590 | $59,121 | 2,920 |
| Washington | $63.97 | $133,060 | $100,366 | 2,340 |
| West Virginia | $40.29 | $83,800 | $64,835 | 1,260 |
| Wisconsin | $50.88 | $105,830 | $78,001 | 2,520 |
| Wyoming | $45.12 | $93,850 | $74,853 | 670 |
Overtime and pay rules for linemen
Linemen who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a lineman's pay
On the median $95,320, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 20.4% of pay for a single filer: $12,140 of income tax and $7,292 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $79,220, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($4,766 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $1,049, so it costs about $3,717 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed linemen are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architect | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Ultrasound Tech (Sonographer) | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| MRI Tech | $95,480 | $45.91 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $45 an hour is how much a year.
Lineman (Power Line Worker) salary questions
How much does a lineman make?
The median pay is $45.83 an hour, or $95,320 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $51,470 and the top 10% more than $128,690.
How much does a lineman make after taxes?
About $75,888 a year, or $2,919 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Virginia, at that state's own median pay, it is about $59,121.
How much does a lineman make a month?
About $7,943 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $6,324 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays linemen the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $134,350 a year ($64.59 an hour). Next are Washington ($133,060) and Oregon ($131,080). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a lineman make an hour?
The median is $45.83 an hour. The middle half earn $32.34 to $52.76, and the top 10% more than $61.87.
Do linemen get paid overtime?
Linemen who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.