How much does a power grid technician make?
a year · about $50 an hour
A typical power grid technician in the United States makes $103,020 a year, about $50 an hour, about 2× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a substation or power plant, they check relays and breakers with meters and wiring diagrams, then repair faults or test a relay with a laptop. They coordinate equipment shutdowns and record results, sometimes working outdoors.
Did you know? Some protective relays can help restore power automatically after a fault clears—sometimes in less than the blink of an eye.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $65,730 and $129,920How do you become one?
After high school or a GED, often at 18, start a utility apprenticeship or take a technical-college certificate or associate program; math helps. Apprentices learn on the job, and some electrical work requires a state license or exam.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and useful certifications or licenses, as well as employer and location. More complex relay or control duties may pay more, and overtime or shift premiums can change a paycheck.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($121,520), lowest in New York ($98,310).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65,730 | $103,020 | $129,920 | about 21,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $121,520 | about 2,000 |
| Georgia | $106,930 | about 540 |
| North Carolina | $104,710 | about 950 |
| Texas | $102,470 | about 2,000 |
| Florida | $101,780 | about 910 |
Official definition: Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/49-2095.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes492095.htm
- www.dws.nm.gov/en-us/Apprenticeship-Programs/Substation-Electrician-Apprenticesh
- getintoenergy.org/apprenticeships/
- oppdthewire.com/relay-specialists-help-keep-the-electrical-system-safe-and-relia
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY