TRADEXP

Lineman Salary in Knoxville, TN

U.S. median $92,560/yr ($44.50/hr)

Wages for linemen in Knoxville, Tennessee track the trade's strong national pay, then rise with IBEW scale, high-voltage work, and storm-season overtime. These are the current local figures.

Checking live local pay...

National benchmarks

Median$92,560/yr ($44.50/hr)
Hourly range$25 to $62/hr
Bottom 10%under about $52,000/yr (about $25/hr)
Top 10%over about $128,000/yr (about $62/hr)

Local pay in Knoxville moves with cost of living, union presence, and demand. The live figure above reflects what Knoxville employers are posting right now.

Pay by experience

Apprentice / entry (groundman, apprentice lineman)Paid 3.5 to 4-year apprenticeship. You start around 60 percent of journeyman scale and step up on a set schedule (roughly $20 to $32 an hour) as you log hours and pass steps. No college needed, but you need a high school diploma or GED and usually a CDL.$45,000 to $70,000/yr
Journeyman lineman (topped out, 4+ yrs)This is the heart of the trade. Union utility scale commonly runs $45 to $60 an hour base, and that is before overtime. A journeyman at a big utility or on transmission work clears six figures in a normal year and much more in a heavy-overtime year.$85,000 to $120,000/yr base
Experienced / crew foreman / troubleman / specialistForemen, general foremen, troublemen (troubleshooters), and transmission or substation specialists sit at the top of the scale. Add overtime and per diem and big storm years can push total pay past $180,000.$110,000 to $160,000+/yr
General foreman / superintendent / contractorRunning crews or a line-construction business. Pay depends on the book of work, storm season, and how much travel and overtime the crews take on.$130,000 to $200,000+/yr

Lineman jobs in Knoxville

See Lineman jobs hiring in Knoxville with pay shown upfront.

Lineman pay in nearby cities

Nashville, TNMemphis, TNChattanooga, TN

Lineman pay in Knoxville: FAQs

How much do linemen make?

The national median was $92,560 a year, about $44.50 an hour, as of May 2024 (BLS). Most linemen fall between roughly $52,000 at the bottom 10 percent and $128,000 at the top 10 percent, with the top union and storm-chasing earners running even higher.

Do linemen make good money?

Yes. The median pay is nearly double the roughly $49,000 median for all U.S. jobs, and you train through a paid apprenticeship instead of paying for college. A topped-out journeyman with overtime routinely clears six figures.

Can you make $100,000 a year as a lineman?

Yes, and many do. Journeymen at union utilities, on transmission or substation crews, or working storm restoration and traveling per-diem jobs regularly pass $100,000. The top 10 percent of linemen earn over about $128,000.

What are the highest-paying lineman jobs?

Transmission and substation work, union (IBEW) utility scale, storm restoration, and traveling per-diem road work pay the most. Troubleman and foreman roles and high-scale states like California, Washington, Oregon, and New York add even more.

How much do linemen make per hour?

The median is $44.50 an hour as of May 2024. Apprentices start around $20 to $32 an hour, topped-out journeymen commonly earn $45 to $60 an hour on union scale, and that is before overtime and double-time.