Outside lineman pay
Idaho lineman pay scale
Checked against official pages October 24, 2026. Non-official sources are labeled.
IBEW Local 291
- Base / hr
- $51.02
- Fringe / hr
- $17.93
- Total
- $68.95
- Rate filed
- Mar 2021filed more than two years ago; the current scale may be higher
- Source
- ID20260110
| IBEW local | Base / hr | Fringe / hr | Total package | Rate filed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 291 | $51.02 | $17.93 | $68.95 | Mar 2021filed more than two years ago; the current scale may be higher | ID20260110 |
What these numbers are, and aren’t
They’re the union journeyman lineman rates in federal Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage determinations, which adopt the local’s negotiated rate for the area. “Fringe” is what the employer pays into benefits (pension, health, training) per hour on top of base. They don’t include per diem, overtime, storm-work premiums or foreman pay, and a new contract can raise the scale before the determination catches up. “Rate filed” is the date printed next to the rate in the determination.
Apprentice pay in Idaho
Idaho is covered by MSLCAT. Its apprentices are paid 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80 / 85 / 90% of the journeyman rate across 7 steps. On a $51.02 base, step one is about $30.61 an hour. MSLCAT’s own site lists the current journeyman wage as $59.47–$64.53 an hour (as of Sept. 1, 2026).
Idaho is covered by NW Line (northern Idaho only). Its apprentices are paid 60 / 63 / 67 / 72 / 78 / 86 / 90% of the journeyman rate across 7 steps. On a $51.02 base, step one is about $30.61 an hour. NW Line’s own site lists the journeyman wage as $64.17 an hour (as of Feb. 2024).
Getting in
The rate is the easy part to look up. The hard parts are the CDL, catching the application window, the aptitude test and the interview. How each program works · the aptitude test.