How much do power-line workers make in New York in 2026?

Power-line workers in New York earn a median annual wage of $121,280, which works out to $58.31 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour year. That puts New York well above the national picture for this trade, driven by the density of utility infrastructure, high cost of doing business in the state, and consistent demand for energized-line work across both the metro grid and rural transmission corridors.

The bottom quarter of earners — workers at the 25th percentile — take home $82,560 a year, or about $39.69 an hour. That range typically covers apprentices in the later stages of their program, entry-level line workers just off their apprenticeship cards, and workers in lower-cost regions of the state where the volume of complex, high-voltage work is thinner. It's solid pay by any standard, but it's the floor, not the ceiling.

The 75th percentile lands at $134,320 annually, or $64.58 an hour. Workers in that bracket are usually fully journeyed, comfortable with energized transmission and distribution work, and often pulling regular overtime — especially during storm response, scheduled outages, or large capital upgrade projects. The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is $51,760 a year, which is a meaningful spread and tells you experience and specialization pay off directly in this trade.

Geography moves the needle inside New York. Workers based in New York City and Westchester County, where utility infrastructure is older, denser, and under constant pressure, generally land higher on the pay scale than counterparts in the North Country or the Southern Tier. That said, rural transmission work on high-voltage lines can be well-compensated because it requires specialized skills and involves significant travel or per diem, which isn't always captured in the base wage figures.

Overtime is a real factor in annual take-home for power-line workers. Utilities call crews out around the clock for outages, and workers who stay available for storm duty can add tens of thousands of dollars to what the base hourly rate implies. The BLS OEWS data used here captures straight-time wages only — it does not include overtime pay, per diem, hazard pay, or fringe benefits. That means the numbers above understate what many experienced line workers actually bring home in a given year.

Apprenticeships for this trade typically run four to five years and follow a structured progression, with wage rates stepping up on a set schedule. By the time a worker reaches journeyman status, they're generally earning at or above the state median. Apprentice wages in the early years sit below the 25th percentile figures shown here, so if you're just starting out, expect the ramp-up period before you hit these numbers.

Some power-line workers in New York are represented by a union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement. If that applies to you, your specific wage scale, overtime rules, and benefit contributions are set by your local's agreement — check that document directly for accurate figures. Non-union contractors also operate throughout the state, particularly on distribution work and smaller municipal utility projects.

Certifications and specializations that can push pay higher include first aid/CPR instructor credentials, substation switching authorization, Class B or A CDL (required for most line trucks), and experience with underground residential distribution (URD) or underground transmission cable work. Workers who can handle both overhead and underground systems are more versatile and tend to command better rates.

The BLS OEWS figures here are from May 2025 and represent statewide averages across all employers — public utilities, investor-owned utilities, co-ops, and contractors. They are the most consistent benchmark available, but they're a starting point. Your actual pay depends on your employer, your seniority, the type of work you're doing, and how much overtime you're willing to take.

All hourly figures on this page are derived by dividing the annual wage by 2,080 hours. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.