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Petroleum County, MT · Electrical Utility Lineman
Electrical Utility Lineman prevailing wage in Petroleum County, Montana
$47.60an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$29.96 base wage + $17.64 fringe benefits · Highway Construction · Statewide
Petroleum County uses the same utility lineman rates as 55 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On Montana public works in Petroleum County, a utility lineman must be paid at least $47.60 an hour: a $29.96 base wage plus $17.64 in benefits. DLI prints no total, so $47.60 is our sum of the two.
DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026; this rate, effective April 25, 2026. "The wage rates applicable to a particular public works project are those in effect at the time the bid specifications are advertised" (ARM 24.17.127). Checked against erd.dli.mt.gov on October 25, 2026.
DLI lists 5 utility lineman rates for Petroleum County, from $47.60 to $75.90 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $29.96 + $17.64
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DLI prints the benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $29.96 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $17.64 |
| Base + benefits (our sum; DLI prints no total) | $47.60 |
When does this rate change?
- Montana rates lock when the bid specifications are advertised, so a later revision doesn't change an advertised project (ARM 24.17.127; section E of each 2026 schedule). Contracts of more than 30 months add 3% a year (MCA 18-2-417).
- DLI sets rates once a year and revises them mid-year when needed. The 2026 rates were revised effective April 25, 2026; the 2027 drafts are out for comment until November 15, 2026 (DLI rates page).
Every utility lineman rate in Petroleum County
As DLI lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- LINE CONSTRUCTION - LINEMANHeavy Construction · Statewide$75.90
- LINE CONSTRUCTION - LINEMANHighway Construction · Statewide$75.81
- LINE CONSTRUCTION - EQUIPMENT OPERATORSHighway Construction · Statewide$60.83
- LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMANHeavy Construction · Statewide$48.55
- LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMANHighway Construction · Statewide$47.60
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMANHeavy ConstructionStatewide | $30.33 | $18.22 | $48.55 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| LINE CONSTRUCTION - LINEMANHeavy ConstructionStatewide | $55.94 | $19.96 | $75.90 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| LINE CONSTRUCTION - EQUIPMENT OPERATORSHighway ConstructionStatewide | $41.91 | $18.92 | $60.83 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMANHighway ConstructionStatewide | $29.96 | $17.64 | $47.60 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| LINE CONSTRUCTION - LINEMANHighway ConstructionStatewide | $56.91 | $18.90 | $75.81 | Apr 25, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon utility lineman rate in Petroleum County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. Montana's law doesn't apply where federal law sets the rate, so a Davis-Bacon job uses the federal schedule (DLI FAQ).
We don't put a federal figure next to DLI's here, because this page leads with a classification the federal determinations don't list one to one. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway | ELECTRICIAN (LINE CONSTRUCTION): Equipment OperatorSAMT2026-001 | $55.14 | $78.51 | MT20260080 Mod 3 |
| Highway | ELECTRICIAN (LINE CONSTRUCTION): GroundmanSAMT2026-001 | $37.43 | $59.28 | MT20260080 Mod 3 |
| Highway | ELECTRICIAN (LINE CONSTRUCTION): LinemanSAMT2026-001 | $62.60 | $87.06 | MT20260080 Mod 3 |
| Heavy | LINE CONSTRUCTION: (1) LINEMANELEC0044-002 | $48.65 | $58.05 | MT20260077 Mod 1 |
| Heavy | LINE CONSTRUCTION: (3) GROUNDMANELEC0044-002 | $29.09 | $37.45 | MT20260077 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Montana Davis-Bacon changes
How Petroleum County compares
The main utility lineman rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Montana
Wage and benefits, nearby
- Petroleum Countybase $29.96$47.60
- Musselshell Countybase $29.96$47.60
- Fergus Countybase $29.96$47.60
- Garfield Countybase $29.96$47.60
Electrical Utility Lineman rates in nearby counties
Current DLI rates. Building rates apply "to the district in which the work is being performed"; heavy and highway rates are statewide (MCA 18-2-403).
DLI's utility lineman rates for Petroleum County are the same as in 55 other counties: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau and 47 more.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Petroleum County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | |
| Musselshell County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
| Fergus County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
| Garfield County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
| Golden Valley County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
| Treasure County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
| Phillips County | LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN | $29.96 | $47.60 | same |
Montana utility lineman prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from DLI on this rate
- DLI DLI 2026 schedule, page 12
- DLI's state prevailing wage rates
- DLI lists journey-level rates. Registered apprentices get their program's percentage of the rate plus the full benefit (MCA 18-2-416).
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to what your employer pays into benefit plans for you (or in cash), and compare it with the total. Contractors post the wages and benefits on site from day one and keep payroll records 3 years (MCA 18-2-422). DLI: (406) 444-6543.
Source
Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), DLI 2026 schedule MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, effective April 25, 2026, page 12: erd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/labor-standards/Prevailing-Wage/2026-Highway-Construction.pdf
We read every row of DLI's 2026 Building, Heavy and Highway PDFs and check every number with a second, separate reader. DLI prints no total; ours is base plus benefit. How we check · Download Petroleum County as CSV · Report an error