Union Electrician Salary 2026 — What IBEW Members Actually Make
Union electricians earn meaningfully more than the national average — and the paycheck is only part of the story. Here's what IBEW pay looks like by experience level and local, and why the total package is the number that matters.
The Union vs Non-Union Pay Gap
The U.S. median electrician salary is roughly $61,000 per year per BLS data, with the top 10% earning over $100,000. Union electricians cluster toward the top of that distribution. IBEW journeyman scale runs $30-$60+/hour depending on the local — and in most markets, that check rate alone beats the typical non-union shop rate by a comfortable margin.
Being conservative with the numbers: in strong union markets, expect union scale to run 10-30% above comparable non-union wages, before you count the benefits package. In low-union-density Southern states the wage gap narrows, but the benefits gap — pension, health, annuity — rarely does.
Union Electrician Salary by Experience
Union pay follows a published progression. You know exactly what you’ll earn at every stage, from your first day as an apprentice to running work as a general foreman. Ranges below span smaller locals up to major urban locals:
| Level | Hourly Range | Annual Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice — Year 1 (40-50% of scale) | $15-28/hr | $31,000-$56,000 |
| Apprentice — Year 3 (60-70% of scale) | $20-40/hr | $42,000-$80,000 |
| Journeyman (100% of scale) | $30-60+/hr | $62,000-$125,000+ |
| Foreman (typically scale + 10-15%) | $34-68/hr | $70,000-$140,000 |
| General Foreman (typically scale + 20-25%) | $37-75/hr | $77,000-$155,000 |
Annual figures assume roughly 2,000-2,080 hours. Overtime — common on industrial and commercial projects — pushes real-world W-2s well above these numbers.
The Real Number: Total Package
The single biggest mistake people make comparing union and non-union pay is looking only at the check rate. Union compensation is negotiated as a total package: your hourly wage plus employer contributions to pension, health coverage, and annuity — money that goes to you but never shows up on the paycheck.
- Pension contributions — defined-benefit pension funded per hour worked
- Health coverage — often full family coverage, employer-paid
- Annuity / 401(k)-style contributions — a second retirement account on top of the pension
- Training fund — your continuing education is paid for
In most locals, the package adds $20-30/hour on top of the check rate. A journeyman earning $45/hour on the check is often working under a $70+/hour total package. That’s the honest comparison against a non-union job where health insurance comes out of your pocket and the 401(k) match is 3%.
Union Pay by Region and Local
Every IBEW local negotiates its own agreement, so the journeyman rate varies dramatically by geography. Examples of typical journeyman check rates:
| Local | Region | Journeyman Rate (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Local 134 | Chicago, IL | $52-58/hr |
| Local 3 | New York City, NY | $52+/hr |
| Local 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $50+/hr |
| Local 46 | Seattle, WA | $40-45/hr |
| Local 613 | Atlanta, GA | $35-40/hr |
| Local 640 | Phoenix, AZ | $35-42/hr |
| Smaller Southern/rural locals | Various | $28-35/hr |
Cost of living explains part of the spread, but not all of it — a journeyman in Chicago 134 earning $55/hour with a full package is ahead of most markets even after housing costs. Many electricians “travel” to high-rate locals when work is booming.
How Union Pay Is Set
Union wages come from a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated between the local and its signatory contractors. The scale is published, it applies to everyone, and it renews on a schedule — typically with negotiated raises each year of the agreement.
- No negotiating your own rate — every journeyman on the job earns scale
- No wondering whether the new hire makes more than you
- Raises are contractual, not dependent on an annual review
- The benefits package is defined per hour worked, not at your employer’s discretion
For some people the lack of individual negotiation feels limiting. In practice, published scale plus contractual raises beats what most electricians could negotiate alone — and the pay floor never drops when the market softens.
How to Get Union Pay
The path to these numbers is the IBEW apprenticeship: five years of paid on-the-job training that ends at journeyman scale with zero student debt. The gate into the apprenticeship is the IBEW aptitude test — a timed algebra and reading exam that determines whether you get an interview. Score well and you’re on the path to the pay scale above; score poorly and you wait to retest.
Union pay starts with passing the aptitude test
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Take the Free Practice TestFrequently Asked Questions
Do union electricians make more than non-union?
On average, yes. IBEW journeyman scale runs $30-$60+/hour depending on the local, and union agreements add employer-paid pension, health, and annuity contributions on top of the check rate. Non-union electricians in the same market typically earn less per hour and receive weaker benefits — though the gap is smaller in low-union-density Southern states.
How much does an IBEW journeyman make?
IBEW journeyman rates vary by local — typical scale ranges from around $30/hour in smaller Southern locals to $55+/hour in major urban locals like Chicago 134 or NYC 3. At 2,000 hours per year that is roughly $60,000-$120,000+ in base wages, before overtime and before the benefits package.
Are union dues worth it for electricians?
Dues typically run a small percentage of gross wages plus a modest monthly amount. For most members, the higher wage scale, employer-funded pension and annuity, and family health coverage far outweigh the cost of dues — the pension contributions alone usually exceed dues by a wide margin.
What are the highest paying IBEW locals?
Large urban locals lead the pay rankings: Chicago Local 134, New York City Local 3, and Los Angeles Local 11 all sit at or near the top with journeyman scale in the $50-60+/hour range, plus strong benefit packages negotiated into their agreements.
Do union apprentice electricians get paid?
Yes — IBEW apprentices earn a percentage of journeyman scale from day one, typically 40-50% in year 1 rising to 100% by year 5, with health insurance and pension contributions included throughout the apprenticeship.
Related Resources
Michael B.
IBEW Local 134 Journeyman · Licensed Contractor · IL Educator
Michael started in the IBEW at 18 and made foreman as a 3rd-year apprentice. Thirteen years in, he’s a Local 134 journeyman, a licensed electrical contractor, a licensed Illinois teacher, and OSHA 30 and EPA 608 certified. He teaches a federally recognized pre-apprenticeship on the south side of Chicago — where he’s helped 100+ students get into the IBEW. He built Sparky AI around exactly what the NJATC exam tests and what trips people up. Prep with this and you walk in ready.