--- title: "Lineworker Programs in California: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/ description: "Lineworker pay in California: BLS average $125,270 (all experience levels), median $129,040, bottom 10% $77,350. 18 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Lineworker](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/) 4. California California # Lineworker programs in *California* 18 listed power-line worker programs in California, plus BLS pay data for the state and 12 metro areas. - **$125,270** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$77,350** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$129,040** Median pay (state) - **$167,090** Top 10% earn over 8,930 jobs in California · 18 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Rancho Cucamonga 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/rancho-cucamonga/) - [San Bernardino 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/san-bernardino/) - [San Diego 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/san-diego/) - [Oakland 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/oakland/) - [Orange 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/orange/) - [Bakersfield 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/bakersfield/) - [Imperial 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/imperial/) - [Oroville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/oroville/) BLS wage data ## Lineworker pay in California Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $77,350 | $98,680 | $129,040 | $156,380 | $167,090 | $125,270 | 8,930 | | United States | $51,470 | $67,270 | $95,320 | $109,740 | $128,690 | $91,970 | 131,070 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100,200 | $121,590 | $157,620 | $196,690 | $196,690 | $153,330 | 300 | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,620 | $107,170 | $137,180 | $166,670 | $189,980 | $137,870 | 770 | | El Centro, CA | $68,210 | $98,790 | $134,950 | $134,950 | $134,950 | $117,940 | 40 | | Fresno, CA | $86,140 | $110,120 | $134,150 | $157,770 | $157,770 | $129,470 | 230 | | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,610 | $101,120 | $131,050 | $166,390 | $166,610 | $127,110 | 200 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,250 | $86,800 | $130,440 | $168,040 | $169,540 | $123,470 | 2,140 | | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,080 | $94,810 | $128,750 | $149,280 | $163,260 | $120,540 | 1,580 | | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,880 | $98,140 | $127,160 | $155,440 | $162,510 | $121,600 | 650 | | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $75,040 | $103,950 | $126,670 | $152,080 | $152,080 | $118,400 | 280 | | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $72,680 | $102,500 | $123,650 | $152,020 | $152,020 | $122,620 | 170 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $65,670 | $97,660 | $120,870 | $157,640 | $158,870 | $120,110 | 740 | | Vallejo, CA | $76,680 | $81,500 | $112,990 | $134,950 | $157,170 | $113,920 | 360 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in California Every power-line worker program we matched in California. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Chaffey College](https://www.chaffey.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 22 | $1,184–$11,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Chaffey College](https://www.chaffey.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Associate degree | 10 | $1,184–$11,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Chaffey College](https://www.chaffey.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 23 | $1,184–$11,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [College of the Sequoias](https://www.cos.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Visalia, CA | Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 26 | $1,394–$9,038 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Imperial Valley College](https://www.imperial.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Imperial, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | $1,148–$8,972 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Laney College](https://laney.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Oakland, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,258–$10,138 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Laney College](https://laney.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Oakland, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 5 | $1,258–$10,138 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Bernardino Valley College](https://www.valleycollege.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Bernardino, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,185–$11,121 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Bernardino Valley College](https://www.valleycollege.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Bernardino, CA | Associate degree | 2 | $1,185–$11,121 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Bernardino Valley College](https://www.valleycollege.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Bernardino, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 13 | $1,185–$11,121 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Diego City College](https://www.sdcity.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Diego, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $1,154–$10,010 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Diego City College](https://www.sdcity.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Diego, CA | Associate degree | 8 | $1,154–$10,010 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [San Diego City College](https://www.sdcity.edu/) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | San Diego, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 25 | $1,154–$10,010 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Santiago Canyon College](https://www.sccollege.edu/SitePages/Home.aspx) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Orange, CA | Associate degree | 1 | $1,160–$11,384 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | [Santiago Canyon College](https://www.sccollege.edu/SitePages/Home.aspx) Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | Orange, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 249 | $1,160–$11,384 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0301 | | American Lineman College | Bakersfield, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | [Northwest Lineman College Oroville Campus](https://lineman.edu/) | Oroville, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Cal-nev Power Lineman J.A.T.C. | Riverside, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Rancho Cucamonga 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/rancho-cucamonga/) - [San Bernardino 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/san-bernardino/) - [San Diego 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/san-diego/) - [Oakland 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/oakland/) - [Orange 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/orange/) - [Bakersfield 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/bakersfield/) - [Imperial 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/imperial/) - [Oroville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/oroville/) - [Riverside 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/riverside/) - [Visalia 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/visalia/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**Lineworker career path for veterans** Military experience, pre-apprenticeship and utility hiring. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/lineworker/) [**GI Bill-approved electrical programs** Electrical schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/electrician/) [**All registered apprenticeships in California** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [49-9051.00 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9051.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.