Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Before negotiating salary, check what the market actually pays — city by city. The national median salary for Line Installer/Repairers in 2026 is $84,964, with entry-level positions averaging $61,174 and senior roles reaching $120,649. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $154,760, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Installation & Maintenance within the broader Skilled Trades industry, Line Installer/Repairers typically hold High school + training. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is outdoor. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$94,170 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Line Installer/Repairer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $154,760 — $94,170 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($60,590). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Line Installer/Repairers average $61,174, the median sits at $84,964, and senior earners pull in $120,649. That $59,475 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $4,597 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $144,540 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $61,077. That $83,463 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Line Installer/Repairer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $154,760 — $94,170 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($60,590). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Line Installer/Repairer is $61,174, while senior-level (P90) earners average $120,649. That $59,475 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Line Installer/Repairers pull in an average of $120,649. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Line Installer/Repairers average $61,174 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $61,174 | $84,964 | $120,649 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £33,624 | £46,700 | £66,314 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$51,463 | CA$71,476 | CA$101,496 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,900 | A$87,361 | A$124,053 |
| Sweden | 24 | 352,752 kr | 489,933 kr | 695,706 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $73,834 | $102,547 | $145,617 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $71,350 | $99,098 | $140,719 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $70,956 | $98,550 | $139,941 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $65,700 | $91,250 | $129,575 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $64,912 | $90,155 | $128,020 |
| Washington | 8 | $63,663 | $88,421 | $125,558 |
| New York | 5 | $59,919 | $83,220 | $118,173 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $59,918 | $83,220 | $118,172 |
| Florida | 22 | $59,464 | $82,590 | $117,277 |
| Colorado | 11 | $58,437 | $81,163 | $115,251 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $58,342 | $81,030 | $115,063 |
| Nevada | 5 | $58,237 | $80,884 | $114,855 |
| Arizona | 12 | $57,947 | $80,483 | $114,285 |
| Oregon | 5 | $57,816 | $80,300 | $114,026 |
| Idaho | 3 | $57,641 | $80,057 | $113,680 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $57,185 | $79,424 | $112,782 |
| Utah | 4 | $57,028 | $79,205 | $112,471 |
| Virginia | 7 | $56,089 | $77,901 | $110,620 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $55,363 | $76,893 | $109,189 |
| Alaska | 1 | $55,188 | $76,650 | $108,843 |
| Illinois | 5 | $54,557 | $75,774 | $107,599 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $53,202 | $73,892 | $104,927 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $52,560 | $73,000 | $103,660 |
| Montana | 1 | $52,560 | $73,000 | $103,660 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $52,385 | $72,757 | $103,315 |
| Texas | 40 | $52,126 | $72,398 | $102,805 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $52,035 | $72,270 | $102,624 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $51,772 | $71,905 | $102,105 |
| Georgia | 6 | $51,596 | $71,662 | $101,760 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $51,509 | $71,540 | $101,587 |
| Kansas | 4 | $51,246 | $71,175 | $101,069 |
| Michigan | 6 | $51,071 | $70,932 | $100,723 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $50,458 | $70,080 | $99,514 |
| Maryland | 1 | $50,458 | $70,080 | $99,514 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $49,932 | $69,350 | $98,477 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $49,932 | $69,350 | $98,477 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $48,618 | $67,525 | $95,885 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $48,355 | $67,160 | $95,367 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $47,698 | $66,248 | $94,072 |
| Missouri | 4 | $47,698 | $66,248 | $94,071 |
| Alabama | 5 | $47,514 | $65,992 | $93,708 |
| Indiana | 3 | $46,778 | $64,970 | $92,257 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $46,778 | $64,970 | $92,257 |
| Iowa | 2 | $46,253 | $64,240 | $91,221 |
| Ohio | 6 | $46,165 | $64,118 | $91,048 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $44,150 | $61,320 | $87,074 |
Geography shapes Line Installer/Repairer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $102,547 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($154,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $73,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $154,760 | 212 | $73,000 | $92,153 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $144,540 | 198 | $73,000 | $86,527 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $134,320 | 184 | $73,000 | $80,901 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $132,130 | 181 | $73,000 | $79,695 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $129,940 | 178 | $73,000 | $78,489 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $129,210 | 177 | $73,000 | $78,088 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $129,210 | 177 | $73,000 | $78,088 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $126,290 | 173 | $73,000 | $76,480 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $126,290 | 173 | $73,000 | $76,480 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $123,370 | 169 | $73,000 | $74,873 |
From a career planning perspective, Line Installer/Repairer offers a $59,475 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires High school + training. Day-to-day, expect outdoor work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Line Installer/Repairers is $84,964 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $61,174, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $120,649.
The highest-paying city for Line Installer/Repairers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $154,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($154,760), Santa Clara ($144,540), Irvine ($134,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Line Installer/Repairer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $60,590. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Line Installer/Repairers (10th percentile) average $61,174 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $111,427. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Line Installer/Repairers average $120,649 nationally — $59,475 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Line Installer/Repairers can earn up to $219,759.
The top-paying states for Line Installer/Repairers are California ($102,547 median), Massachusetts ($99,098 median), Hawaii ($98,550 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Line Installer/Repairer involves High school + training. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically outdoor.
With a national median of $84,964 and representation across 288 metro areas, Line Installer/Repairer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $59,475 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.