Updated for 2026

Substation Relay Repairer Salary in 2026

This Substation Relay Repairer salary guide for 2026 centers on Careerclev's modeled national salary benchmark, built from the latest official BLS wage baseline and extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. It covers average salary, hourly pay, experience bands, salary by city, salary by state, industry premiums, in-demand skills, and long-term job outlook so readers can compare what drives higher compensation. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay".

Last updated: 202623,040 employment estimateFull salary breakdown12 min read
Average Salary
$81.4K
per year (USA)
Entry Level
$49.0K
starting range
Senior Level
$92.4K
upper percentile
Top Earners
$115K+
lead / principal
Hourly Rate
$39
avg. equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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What Does a Substation Relay Repairer Earn?

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Substation Relay Repairer pay at $81,352.0 per year in the United States. On the latest official 2024 BLS wage baseline, the lower end of the Substation Relay Repairer salary range starts around $60,820.0, while experienced professionals and top earners can reach $127,970 or more.

That national figure is only the starting point. In practice, pay for this role changes quickly once location, industry, experience level, and specialization enter the picture. A Substation Relay Repairer working in Fresno, CA or a stronger salary industry like Transportation and Warehousing may see a very different salary path than someone in a lower-cost market, especially when skills like role-specific skills and advanced tools define the role.

Key 2026 BenchmarkThe national median Substation Relay Repairer salary is $81,352.0, with an estimated hourly equivalent of $39.

What Substation Relay Repairer Professionals Do

Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Typical Responsibilities

Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
Core
Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
Core
Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
Core
Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
Core
Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
Core
Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
Core
Related job titlesElectrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician), Electrical Technician, Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Technician), Instrumentation and Control Technician (I and C Technician), Relay Technician, Substation Electrician

Substation Relay Repairer Salary by Experience Level

Experience is one of the strongest salary drivers for Substation Relay Repairer roles. Entry-level workers usually sit closer to the lower salary band while senior, lead, and principal-level professionals move into higher ranges as they take on ownership, decision-making, mentoring, and more specialized work.

That progression matters because the headline median can hide how wide the real pay ladder is. For some roles, early-career pay stays close to the middle; for others, the gap between first-job pay and senior pay is large enough to change how attractive the path looks over time.

LevelExperienceAvg. Base SalaryEstimated Total PayGrowth vs Previous
Entry Level Substation Relay Repairer0-2 years$49,001.0$51.5K - $67.6KN/A
Mid Level Substation Relay Repairer3-5 years$81,320.0$70.2K - $101K+66.0%
Senior Level Substation Relay Repairer6-10 years$92,442.0$91.9K - $117K+13.7%
Lead / Principal Substation Relay Repairer10+ years$103,161$108K - $135K+11.6%
How to read the experience tableThe cards show the quick salary story, while the table gives a more detailed view of how Substation Relay Repairerpay can move from entry-level work into senior and lead responsibility.

Substation Relay Repairer Salary by City

City salary differences matter because Substation Relay Repairer jobs are tied to local employer demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. Markets like Fresno, CA and Anchorage, AK can pay very differently even when the job title looks the same on paper.

That is why city pages are often more useful than national averages once you are actively job searching. They show whether a stronger nominal salary comes from a genuinely better market, a more specialized employer mix, or simply a more expensive metro.

United States — City Comparison

CityProjected SalaryVs. National BenchmarkCost of Living Signal
Fresno, CA$137,470+69%High salary market
Anchorage, AK$136,420+68%High salary market
Seattle, WA$131,680+62%High salary market
Visalia, CA$127,350+57%High salary market
Oregon$126,460+55%High salary market
Portland, OR$126,460+55%High salary market
Riverside, CA$125,250+54%High salary market
Worcester, MA$124,100+53%High salary market
Syracuse, NY$124,050+52%High salary market
Idaho$122,570+51%High salary market
City salary pictureA higher Substation Relay Repairer salary in a major metro does not always mean higher take-home value. Housing, taxes, commuting, and remote-work flexibility can change the real outcome.
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Substation Relay Repairer Salary by Industry

Industry can change a Substation Relay Repairer salary as much as geography. Employers in Transportation and Warehousing may pay more when the role sits close to revenue, regulated operations, complex infrastructure, or scarce technical expertise.

IndustryProjected SalaryBonus PotentialJob SecurityGrowth Pace
Transportation and Warehousing$104,150HighStrongFast
Utilities$104,080HighStrongFast
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$98,220.0HighStrongFast
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$98,220.0ModerateStrongFast
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$84,220.0ModerateStrongModerate
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$81,550.0ModerateModerateModerate
Management of Companies and Enterprises$78,350.0ModerateModerateModerate
Construction$76,590.0LowerModerateModerate
Manufacturing$64,330.0LowerVariableSlow
Wholesale Trade$58,310.0LowerVariableSlow

The strongest-paying industries for Substation Relay Repairer roles usually combine higher budgets with urgent business needs. Use this table to compare not only salary, but also the tradeoff between upside, stability, and long-term growth.

Substation Relay Repairer Salary by Skill Specialization

Skills shape salary because they tell employers what kind of problems a Substation Relay Repairer can solve. Strong signals around role-specific skills, advanced tools, tools, platforms, analysis, communication, and domain knowledge can help candidates move from average pay into stronger compensation bands.

Common tool stackO*NET maps Substation Relay Repairer work to tools such as Microsoft Excel, Fluke Corporation FlukeView Forms, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Office software.
role-specific skills can raise the ceilingThe most valuable Substation Relay Repairer skills are the ones connected to business-critical work, scarce tools, and hard-to-fill responsibilities. Pairing role-specific skills with advanced tools can make a candidate easier to price at the top of the salary range.

Remote vs Onsite vs Hybrid — Salary Comparison

Remote, onsite, and hybrid pay can shift the salary story for Substation Relay Repairer jobs. Remote roles often widen the hiring market, while onsite roles may pay more in expensive metros when employers need local availability, team coverage, or specialized workplace access.

Work TypeAvg. BaseExperienceBenefitsFlexibility
Remote Substation Relay Repairer$81,352.0Market dependentVariableHigh
Hybrid Substation Relay Repairer$83,792.6Metro dependentStrongMedium
Onsite Substation Relay Repairer$82,165.5Location dependentStrongLower

Hybrid roles can carry a small premium in high-cost cities, while fully remote roles can be especially powerful for workers outside the most expensive labor markets. The best comparison is total pay after location, taxes, commuting, and lifestyle costs.

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How to Become a Substation Relay Repairer

The most common path into Substation Relay Repairer work is to pair the expected baseline education with early hands-on practice and proof that you can handle the core responsibilities of the role. Candidates move faster when they can connect training, projects, internships, or prior adjacent work to the exact kinds of tasks employers hire substation relay repairer professionals to do.

If you want the fuller step-by-step version, open the full How to Become a Substation Relay Repairer guide.

Practical shortcutThe strongest early candidates for Substation Relay Repairer jobs usually show job-relevant work samples, clear fundamentals, and evidence that they can contribute with limited supervision.
Knowledge areas employers associate with this roleMechanical, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, and Public Safety and Security.

Substation Relay Repairer Work Environment

Work environment can shape job fit just as much as salary. For Substation Relay Repairer, the day-to-day experience may vary based on employer type, digital vs on-site workflows, collaboration intensity, schedule predictability, and how much independent judgment the role requires.

Common work-style signalsO*NET highlights Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, and Integrity for Substation Relay Repairer work.
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Entry-Level Substation Relay Repairer Salary Expectations

Entry-level Substation Relay Repairer salary expectations should be viewed as a starting range, not a ceiling. New workers in this role often earn around $49,001.0, with pay rising as they build practical experience, stronger judgment, better tools, and a clearer track record of delivering work without close supervision.

Internship / Trainee
$24/hr
$36.8K - $56.4K annualized
Early practical exposure, supervised assignments, portfolio building, and conversion into a first full-time role.
New Grad / Junior
$49.0K
$49.0K - $64.4K base
First full-time Substation Relay Repairer roles reward candidates who can show useful work, reliable fundamentals, and coachability.

Typical Promotion Timeline

Promotions usually follow the move from supervised work to independent delivery, then to broader ownership. Switching employers can sometimes accelerate salary growth when the current role has a narrow pay band.

StageTypical TimelineSalary JumpKey Milestone
Intern → JuniorInternship → first role$8.8K - $15.7KFirst full-time offer
Junior → Mid18-30 months$9.8K - $17.9KDeliver work independently
Mid → Senior2-4 years$11.1K - $20.3KOwn larger outcomes
Senior → Lead3-6 years$12.4K - $25.8KInfluence teams or strategy

Substation Relay Repairer Career Progression & Salary Path

This step is useful because experience level and career progression are related, but not identical. The pay path below shows how compensation tends to widen as the work moves from narrower execution into broader ownership and leadership scope.

1
Intern / Trainee
$58.5K$78.7K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
2
Junior
$72.7K$95.9K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$90.8K$113K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
4
Senior
$109K$141K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
5
Lead
$129K$164K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$151K$207K
Substation Relay Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.

Factors That Affect a Substation Relay Repairer's Salary

A Substation Relay Repairer salary is rarely determined by job title alone. Employers also price the role based on education, certifications, tools used, industry setting, workplace responsibility, and how difficult it is to find qualified candidates with the same mix of skills.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

Substation Relay Repairer Job Demand & Market Outlook

The Substation Relay Repairer job outlook matters because demand affects hiring, salary growth, and how much leverage qualified workers have. The current projection points to 5.5% employment change from 2024 to 2034, which helps explain whether employers are likely to keep competing for qualified talent.

Salary is easier to interpret when it sits next to a demand signal. Strong wages in a shrinking field can tell a very different story from strong wages in a role where openings, replacement demand, and market expansion are all still active.

BLS Employment ProjectionEmployment is projected to change by 5.5% from 2024 to 2034.
Faster than averageAnnual openings: 2 thousand.
Metric2026 Status
Projected employment23.4k → 24.7k
Typical educationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related experiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Remote job availabilityMeaningful for roles with portable work and digital workflows
Salary market signalMedian pay of $81,352.0 suggests a solid compensation track.

How to Increase Your Substation Relay Repairer Salary

The most reliable way to increase a Substation Relay Repairer salary is to make your value easier for employers to measure. That usually means building stronger evidence around outcomes, expanding into higher-value skills, moving toward better-paying industries, and negotiating with current market salary data in hand.

StrategyAvg. Salary ImpactTimelineEffort Level
Benchmark against stronger markets+15-30%1-3 monthsHigh ROI
Build a visible specialization$9.8K - $22.8K3-9 monthsMedium
Target higher-paying industries$6.5K - $14.6K2-6 monthsMedium
The fastest salary liftFor many Substation Relay Repairer professionals, the fastest path is a focused mix of stronger proof, higher-value skills, and better market selection. Salary gains usually come faster when candidates combine a clear portfolio with targeted applications and negotiation.

Substation Relay Repairer vs Similar Career Salaries

Comparing Substation Relay Repairer salary with Electrical Power-line Installer and Repairer and other nearby careers helps show whether this job title is underpaid, fairly priced, or part of a stronger salary path. These comparisons are useful when choosing between roles, planning a career move, or deciding which skills to build next.

Electrical Power-line Installer and Repairer
$92.6K
Related role
Above baseline
Signal and Track Switch Repairer
$83.6K
Related role
Above baseline
Transportation Equipment Electronics Technician
$82.7K
Related role
Above baseline
Avionic Technician
$81.4K
Related role
Above baseline
Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician
$78.7K
Related role
Below baseline
Maintenance Supervisor
$78.3K
Related role
Below baseline
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer
$74.7K
Related role
Below baseline
Electrical and Electronic Repairer
$71.3K
Related role
Below baseline
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Frequently Asked Questions

These questions usually come up after readers compare the national salary, experience bands, and city differences. Together they clarify how to read the salary data and what to pay attention to when you compare this role with nearby careers.

What is the average Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay salary?
The latest national baseline for Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay is about $100,900 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay salary?
Entry-level estimates for Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $60,800 per year nationally.
How much can senior Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay professionals earn?
Senior Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $114,700 per year nationally.
Does location affect Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & Methodology
Updated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
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