As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Underground Utility Locator I in the United States is $43,370 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.
However, an Underground Utility Locator I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Underground Utility Locator I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $47,660 | $3,972 | $917 | $23 |
| Average | $43,370 | $3,614 | $834 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,620 | $3,302 | $762 | $19 |
An Underground Utility Locator I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Underground Utility Locator I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Underground Utility Locator I | $43,090 |
| Intermediate Level Underground Utility Locator I | $43,818 |
| Senior Level Underground Utility Locator I | $44,459 |
| Specialist Level Underground Utility Locator I | $44,651 |
| Expert Level Underground Utility Locator I | $44,779 |
Underground Utility Locator I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $47,721. While startup companies pay approximate $40,441.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $40,441 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $42,751 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $46,106 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $47,721 |
Understanding how an Underground Utility Locator I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $47,660 | $3,972 | $917 | $23 |
| Average | $43,370 | $3,614 | $834 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,620 | $3,302 | $762 | $19 |
For an Underground Utility Locator I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Field Utility Line Locator II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $68,800 - a projected growth of 59% over your current level.
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