Grid & Power Search · 2026 Pay Index
Relay Technician Salary: 2026 Pay Index
Pay for p&c relay engineers, neta level iii/iv technicians and battery storage commissioning leads depends on more than title. Pick your combination to see a modeled base and contract hourly rate anchored to published wage data, then unlock the upper range, per diem and the employer types that hire.
Model your number
Every figure is a published number with its source shown underneath. Inputs marked “for matching” help us place you and do not change the estimate.
Base Salary
$120,630
BLS May 2025 median, electrical engineers
Hourly Rate
$85/hr
Midpoint of a posted $75-$95/hr P&C temp range (Michael Page, Portland, 2026)
Where these numbers come from
We do not publish our own salary estimates. Each figure is a number from federal wage data, a professional society salary survey or a 2026 employer job posting, and its source is printed under it. Per diem is the federal GSA rate for the hub you pick, times the weeks you would be away. Where no credible source exists, the calculator says so rather than filling the gap.
Base, upper and hourly figures are published wage data or 2026 employer job postings, as cited under each figure. Postings are single employers, not market averages. Per diem is the GSA FY2027 federal rate for lodging plus meals times weeks away; many employers pay less. Inputs marked "for matching" do not change the numbers.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (49-2095), via O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Electrical Engineers (17-2071), via O*NET OnLine
- Michael Page, Protection & Controls substation engineer temp posting, Portland, 2026 ($75-$95/hr)
- Canadian Solar, Sr. Commissioning Manager posting via REjobs, 2026 ($160k-$185k)
- Westinghouse, BESS Commissioning Manager W-2 contract posting, 2026 ($99-$104/hr)
- NETA, Technician Certification levels and requirements
- GSA per diem rates, FY2027 (lodging and meals and incidental expenses)
- IRS Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses
What gets you hired anywhere, permanent or contract
What employers in this field screen for, drawn from current job postings and the certifying bodies cited on this page. Have these ready and we can put you in front of employers quickly.
- NETA Level 3 (five years) or Level 4 (ten years), or NICET equivalent, with the cert number ready
- Multi-vendor relays: SEL plus GE Vernova or Siemens, and the settings software for each
- End-to-end satellite testing, power factor, TTR and SFRA, and switching authority
- For engineers: a PE or PE track, ASPEN or CAPE studies, IEC 61850, and NERC PRC experience including PRC-029
- For storage: PCS, BMS, EMS and SCADA start-up, utility witness testing and NABCEP ESIP
- A clean driving record and willingness to travel 50% to 80%
Frequently asked questions
How much does a protection and control engineer make?
BLS puts the May 2025 median for electrical engineers, the occupation P&C engineers fall under, at $120,630, with the 90th percentile at $184,300. 2026 P&C postings we reviewed ranged from about $100,000 to $157,000, with senior and PE-licensed roles at the top. A posted P&C temp role in Portland paid $75 to $95 an hour.
What is the difference between NETA Level 3 and Level 4?
NETA requires five years of experience for Level 3 and ten for Level 4, and candidates must pass each lower exam first while working for a NETA-accredited company. A Level 3 technician can supervise Level 1 and 2 technicians and perform electrical power switching. A Level 4 technician supervises large projects and multiple crews and can work independently.