What is the best state for linemen?

After cost of living, Idaho: the median of $125,410 a year buys about what $131,330 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays linemen the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $134,340. After cost of living it ranks 5th of 51.

What is the worst state for linemen after cost of living?

Arizona, where the median of $75,420 buys about what $74,910 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for linemen

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Idaho is the best-paying state for linemen: its median of $125,410 a year buys what $131,330 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, Hawaii leads at $134,340, but its higher prices drop it to 5th of 51. Counting prices moves 11 states ten or more places.

Lineman pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Idaho$125,410 median · prices 95.5	$131,330	$125,410	95.5
2	Oregon$131,090 median · prices 103.4	$126,830	$131,090	103.4
3	Washington$133,060 median · prices 107.0	$124,340	$133,060	107.0
4	Connecticut$126,850 median · prices 103.6	$122,430	$126,850	103.6
5	Hawaii$134,340 median · prices 110.0	$122,180	$134,340	110.0
6	North Dakota$105,870 median · prices 89.0	$119,010	$105,870	89.0
7	Montana$110,320 median · prices 94.6	$116,560	$110,320	94.6
8	California$129,040 median · prices 110.7	$116,550	$129,040	110.7
9	Iowa$100,200 median · prices 87.8	$114,170	$100,200	87.8
10	Kansas$101,620 median · prices 90.1	$112,830	$101,620	90.1
11	Wisconsin$105,820 median · prices 94.1	$112,460	$105,820	94.1
12	New York$121,280 median · prices 107.9	$112,380	$121,280	107.9
13	New Jersey$121,580 median · prices 108.8	$111,740	$121,580	108.8
14	Michigan$106,890 median · prices 96.2	$111,090	$106,890	96.2
15	Vermont$108,520 median · prices 98.0	$110,780	$108,520	98.0
16	South Dakota$97,310 median · prices 88.6	$109,850	$97,310	88.6
17	Indiana$102,040 median · prices 93.3	$109,330	$102,040	93.3
18	Pennsylvania$106,230 median · prices 97.6	$108,870	$106,230	97.6
19	Illinois$108,120 median · prices 100.0	$108,170	$108,120	100.0
20	Missouri$96,360 median · prices 90.8	$106,100	$96,360	90.8
21	Minnesota$104,180 median · prices 98.6	$105,640	$104,180	98.6
22	Massachusetts$110,210 median · prices 105.8	$104,210	$110,210	105.8
23	Alabama$92,030 median · prices 88.8	$103,610	$92,030	88.8
24	Utah$101,220 median · prices 98.9	$102,380	$101,220	98.9
25	Rhode Island$104,620 median · prices 102.3	$102,290	$104,620	102.3
26	Nebraska$92,150 median · prices 90.1	$102,270	$92,150	90.1
27	Wyoming$93,860 median · prices 92.7	$101,260	$93,860	92.7
28	Maryland$106,090 median · prices 105.0	$101,080	$106,090	105.0
29	Colorado$103,980 median · prices 103.1	$100,900	$103,980	103.1
30	Ohio$93,150 median · prices 92.8	$100,410	$93,150	92.8
31	New Hampshire$102,170 median · prices 104.2	$98,080	$102,170	104.2
32	Delaware$97,180 median · prices 99.8	$97,370	$97,180	99.8
33	Nevada$96,560 median · prices 100.0	$96,580	$96,560	100.0
34	Arkansas$81,450 median · prices 86.9	$93,690	$81,450	86.9
35	West Virginia$83,810 median · prices 89.5	$93,650	$83,810	89.5
36	District of Columbia$101,240 median · prices 109.9	$92,120	$101,240	109.9
37	Tennessee$83,660 median · prices 91.9	$91,060	$83,660	91.9
38	Alaska$92,470 median · prices 102.4	$90,340	$92,470	102.4
39	Mississippi$75,890 median · prices 87.0	$87,280	$75,890	87.0
40	Louisiana$76,410 median · prices 88.2	$86,630	$76,410	88.2
41	Oklahoma$76,010 median · prices 87.8	$86,530	$76,010	87.8
42	Maine$83,090 median · prices 97.0	$85,620	$83,090	97.0
43	Kentucky$77,020 median · prices 90.2	$85,430	$77,020	90.2
44	Florida$86,870 median · prices 103.4	$84,000	$86,870	103.4
45	Georgia$80,080 median · prices 96.3	$83,160	$80,080	96.3
46	New Mexico$76,470 median · prices 92.2	$82,930	$76,470	92.2
47	South Carolina$76,870 median · prices 93.7	$82,000	$76,870	93.7
48	North Carolina$77,270 median · prices 94.3	$81,920	$77,270	94.3
49	Texas$78,940 median · prices 97.1	$81,330	$78,940	97.1
50	Virginia$76,590 median · prices 101.1	$75,750	$76,590	101.1
51	Arizona$75,420 median · prices 100.7	$74,910	$75,420	100.7

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full lineman pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for linemen.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9051) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed linemen. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for linemen?: After cost of living, Idaho: the median of $125,410 a year buys about what $131,330 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays linemen the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $134,340. After cost of living it ranks 5th of 51.
What is the worst state for linemen after cost of living?: Arizona, where the median of $75,420 buys about what $74,910 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.