Statewide pay Government data
Electrical lineworkers in North Dakota earn a statewide median of $105,870 a year, 9% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #16 of 50 states and DC. About 740 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near North Dakota
See all states on the electrical lineworkers nationwide.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes electrical lineworker pay for 3 North Dakota metros: Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand ForksNORTH DAKOTA · ND | $113,700 | $131,198 | 70 |
| FargoNORTH DAKOTA · ND | $104,920 | $115,460 | 100 |
| BismarckNORTH DAKOTA · ND | $104,800 | $115,134 | 90 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for North Dakota's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,900 openings a year. Typical training: long-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, electrical lineworkers have 177 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 2.0× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is overexertion and repetitive strain.
What the work is like Government data
How often electrical lineworkers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Registered apprenticeships Government data
Of electrical lineworker apprentices in North Dakota who finished or left a registered program in fiscal years 2020–2024, 80% completed (U.S.: 68%), about 22 graduates a year. The typical program runs 8,000 hours, about 4 years of full-time work. Search open registered programs near you on the official Apprenticeship Finder.
U.S. Department of Labor, RAPIDS apprentice records (Completion Rate Analysis), FY2020–2024 exits.
Where to train in North Dakota Government data
3 schools in North Dakota offer electrical and power line installer programs below the bachelor's level. Many people in this trade learn through an apprenticeship instead; a program can shorten it or get you hired as a helper.
| School | Credential | Yearly cost | Recent grads | First-year pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND · Public | Associate degree | $17,565 | 60 | — |
| Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND · Public | Certificate | $16,017 | 33 | $69,717 |
| Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND · Public | Associate degree | $16,017 | 8 | — |
| Sitting Bull College Fort Yates, ND · Public | Certificate | $9,405 | 4 | — |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (data updated October 2026). Cost is the school's average yearly cost of attendance before financial aid; earnings are the median for graduates one year after finishing, shown only where the school has enough graduates to publish. “—” means not published.
Licensing in North Dakota Official source
The main state licensing office in North Dakota is the North Dakota Secretary of State. Contractor licensing; electricians and plumbers have their own state boards. It can point you to the right license for electrical lineworkers.
Official North Dakota licensing site ↗
Requirements for electrical lineworkers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 6.0% of wage and salary workers in North Dakota were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#35 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.4% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only electrical lineworkers.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Cities in North Dakota
All trades in North Dakota.