How much do power-line workers make in Texas in 2026?

The median pay for a power-line worker in Texas is $78,940 per year, which works out to roughly $37.95 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of the field — half of Texas power-line workers earn more, half earn less. It is a strong baseline for a physically demanding trade that puts workers in hazardous conditions every day.

At the bottom quarter of earners, pay comes in at $60,150 annually, or about $28.92 an hour. Workers at this level are typically newer to the trade — linemen who recently completed an apprenticeship or who are still building years of field experience. Entry-level line work still pays well above the statewide median for all occupations, but $28.92 an hour reflects the reality that you earn more as you accumulate certifications, climb experience, and take on more complex transmission and distribution work.

The 75th percentile in Texas lands at $99,110 per year, or approximately $47.65 an hour. Getting here usually requires several years on the tools, demonstrated competency on both overhead and underground systems, and often a willingness to take the jobs that involve the most risk and the most hours. Some workers in this bracket are foremen or crew leads who carry additional supervisory responsibility.

Geography matters significantly within Texas. The state's size means wages differ by employer type and region. Workers in the Houston metro and DFW corridor tend to access a larger volume of utility infrastructure work, including major transmission projects tied to ERCOT grid expansion. West Texas has seen increased line work demand tied to renewable energy buildout — wind and solar installations require substantial distribution and transmission infrastructure, and employers competing for skilled workers in those areas sometimes pay above the statewide figures shown here. Rural co-ops in less densely populated parts of the state may pay closer to the lower end of the range, though they often offset that with housing allowances or lower cost of living.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Storm response, grid emergencies, and large capital projects routinely push linemen well past 40 hours a week. A worker earning the median $37.95 an hour who logs 300 hours of overtime in a year at time-and-a-half adds roughly $17,000 to their annual take-home. That kind of overtime is not guaranteed, but it is not unusual either — Texas weather alone generates consistent storm-response work.

Apprenticeship is the standard entry path. Most linemen complete a multi-year apprenticeship program — typically four to five years — that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Completing a structured apprenticeship and earning a journeyman line worker credential is the clearest route to moving off the entry-level pay tier and into the median and above. Some employers in Texas also pay wage premiums for workers certified in rubber-glove work, hot-stick techniques, or CDL licensure, since line crews almost always require someone who can legally operate the equipment trucks.

Some power-line workers in Texas are covered by collective bargaining agreements. If you work under a union contract, your pay and benefits are set by your local's agreement — check that agreement directly for your specific scale, since the BLS figures here blend both union and non-union employment and do not break out those rates separately.

The numbers on this page come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. BLS surveys employers, not workers, which means tips, per diem, and some overtime premiums may not be fully captured. The figures represent wages only — benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, and tool allowances are not included. For a trade like line work, where employer-provided benefits can be substantial, total compensation often exceeds what the wage figures alone suggest.