Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Electrical power-line installers and repairers (occupation code 49-9051) work in a field that combines strong earning potential with solid employment prospects. Nationally, the median annual salary is $92,560, and employment stands at 127,000, indicating a sizeable workforce. Projected employment growth of 6.6% and about 11,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. This career rewards a mix of physical capability, mechanical aptitude, and problem-solving skills. Workers in this field benefit from opportunities across many regions, with particularly strong options in states such as California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado, as well as several major metro areas. For people considering related paths, similar occupations include riggers, solar photovoltaic installers, rolling machine setters (metal and plastic), rotary drill operators (oil and gas), and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators. Overall, it can be an appealing choice for individuals who want a hands-on, technically oriented career with clear openings nationwide.
Electrical power-line installers and repairers earn a national median annual salary of $92,560, giving this occupation substantial earning potential. Pay can vary considerably by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $133,060 and California $129,040, while New York is at $121,280 and Massachusetts at $110,210. Colorado’s median of $103,980 is also above the national median. Major metro areas can offer even higher pay levels. In particular, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro posts a median salary of $157,620, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro reaches $137,180. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro reports a median of $122,480, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH sits at $111,490. These figures show that location choices can significantly influence earning potential within this occupation.
Electrical power-line installers and repairers have a national employment level of 127,000, indicating a well-established occupation. Projected employment growth of 6.6% points to continued demand over the forecast period. In addition, about 11,000 annual openings are expected. Those openings reflect both new positions created by growth and positions that need to be filled as people move out of the occupation. The combination of existing employment size, measurable projected growth, and thousands of openings each year suggests that job seekers may find recurring opportunities to enter or advance in this field. Because the same 6.6% growth rate appears in the featured states and metro areas, the outlook is consistently positive across many highlighted regions rather than being concentrated in just one part of the country. For individuals planning a career move, this consistent outlook can support long-term career planning in electrical power-line installation and repair.
Location can play a major role in opportunities for electrical power-line installers and repairers. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $129,040, employment of 8,930, growth of 6.6%, and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York offers a median salary of $121,280 and employment of 5,840, while Washington combines a high median salary of $133,060 with employment of 2,340. Massachusetts and Colorado also provide strong options, with median salaries of $110,210 and $103,980 and comparable 6.6% growth rates. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area has the highest listed median salary at $157,620 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42, although employment there is relatively small at 300. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a similar top-tier opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 3,850. Other notable metros include San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH, all combining solid salaries with meaningful employment levels.
The typical education requirement for electrical power-line installers and repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent. While this role does not generally require a college degree, it does call for a strong set of technical and personal skills. Key strengths include mechanical skills, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor abilities, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding nature of the work. Being detail oriented and strong in problem solving and decision making is also important, as is critical and analytical thinking. Interpersonal and customer service skills contribute to interacting effectively with coworkers and customers. Leadership abilities can support taking initiative and guiding others on tasks or projects. Science knowledge also appears among the top skills, highlighting the value of understanding underlying technical concepts. Together, these skills complement the typical education level and help define what it takes to succeed in this occupation.
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