Power Line Installer vs Ironworker
Which trade pays more? Side-by-side salary comparison using 2025 BLS data.
Higher Pay
Power Line Installer
Electrical · 4yr apprenticeship
Median Salary$87,732
Salary Range$74,545 – $112,855
5yr Growth+16%
Trade Pay ScoreA (86/100)
Total Employment217,003
Cities Tracked30
Ironworker
Structural · 4yr apprenticeship
Median Salary$61,718
Salary Range$51,635 – $76,788
5yr Growth+9%
Trade Pay ScoreC (61/100)
Total Employment146,883
Cities Tracked30
City-by-City Comparison
| City | Power Line Installer | Ironworker | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $112,855 | $76,788 | +$36,067 |
| San Francisco, CA | $104,999 | $76,392 | +$28,607 |
| Portland, OR | $99,431 | $67,774 | +$31,657 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $99,425 | $73,852 | +$25,573 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $98,777 | $67,403 | +$31,374 |
| Boston, MA | $98,333 | $70,882 | +$27,451 |
| Seattle, WA | $97,004 | $73,744 | +$23,260 |
| Chicago, IL | $94,049 | $61,751 | +$32,298 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $91,683 | $60,368 | +$31,315 |
| Houston, TX | $88,707 | $63,096 | +$25,611 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $88,613 | $66,649 | +$21,964 |
| Dallas, TX | $87,080 | $59,362 | +$27,718 |
| Denver, CO | $86,992 | $60,154 | +$26,838 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $86,876 | $66,286 | +$20,590 |
| Detroit, MI | $85,790 | $64,916 | +$20,874 |
| Columbus, OH | $85,011 | $59,476 | +$25,535 |
| Miami, FL | $84,373 | $53,124 | +$31,249 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $84,221 | $57,473 | +$26,748 |
| St. Louis, MO | $83,941 | $61,615 | +$22,326 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $83,676 | $60,483 | +$23,193 |
| Raleigh, NC | $82,108 | $52,177 | +$29,931 |
| New Orleans, LA | $82,075 | $51,635 | +$30,440 |
| Tampa, FL | $81,266 | $53,383 | +$27,883 |
| Atlanta, GA | $80,461 | $57,995 | +$22,466 |
| Kansas City, MO | $79,542 | $55,496 | +$24,046 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $79,227 | $56,542 | +$22,685 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $78,807 | $55,837 | +$22,970 |
| San Antonio, TX | $76,343 | $54,389 | +$21,954 |
| Nashville, TN | $75,751 | $53,348 | +$22,403 |
| Charlotte, NC | $74,545 | $59,148 | +$15,397 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Power Line Installers or Ironworkers make more money?
Power Line Installers earn more on average, with a national median salary of $87,732 compared to $61,718 — a difference of $26,014 per year.
Which trade has better job growth — Power Line Installer or Ironworker?
Power Line Installer has stronger 5-year wage growth at 16% vs 9%.
How long is the apprenticeship for each trade?
Power Line Installer requires 4 years of apprenticeship, while Ironworker requires 4 years.
Power Line Installer salary by city →
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All trades ranked by pay →
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