IBEW Local 96 — Worcester, MA: Application Dates & Pay

Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician  ·  Updated August 2026 ·  Reviewed for NEC accuracy

Everything you need to get into IBEW Local 96: whether applications are open right now, what the apprenticeship pays, how the process works, and a free alert the moment the next window opens.

Application status

Open now

Applications are OPEN now through February 28, 2027.

Applications are handled by Worcester Joint Apprenticeship & Training Program (Worcester JATC).

Official application page ↗

Status last verified August 6, 2026. Source: official JATC/local site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the JATC before making plans.

Get alerted when Local 96 opens

Windows at competitive locals can cap out in days. We watch Worcester’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.

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IBEW Local 96 pay scale

The journeyman inside wireman rate is $48.16/hr (2025 contract data), and the total package — wage plus health, pension, and annuity contributions — is about $88.61/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyman rate that steps up as they progress.

Apprentice step% of journeymanHourly rate
Period 140%$19.26
Period 245%$21.67
Period 348%$23.12
Period 455%$26.49
Period 565%$31.30
Period 680%$38.53
Journeyman100%$48.16

Rates move with each collective bargaining agreement; confirm current figures with the local before relying on them.

What to know before you apply

Apply in person Mon-Fri 8:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-3:45pm at IBEW Local 96, 242 Mill Street, Worcester, MA 01602. Requirements: 18+, HS diploma/GED/HiSET, one year algebra with C or better, valid MA driver's license, residency within Local 96's Central Massachusetts jurisdiction. Electrical Training Alliance aptitude test offered annually (March/April); qualifying scores advance to oral interview before the JATC. Program: 5 years schooling, 8,000 OJT hours, leads to MA Journeyman Electrician license.

Be ready before the window opens

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does IBEW Local 96 in Worcester accept apprenticeship applications?

As of August 6, 2026: Applications are OPEN now through February 28, 2027. Application schedules are set by the JATC and can change on short notice — always confirm on the JATC's own site before making plans.

How much does IBEW Local 96 pay?

The journeyman inside wireman rate for IBEW Local 96 is $48.16/hr (2025 contract data), with a total wage-plus-benefits package around $88.61/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of that rate, typically starting near 40% and stepping up each period.

How do I apply to IBEW Local 96?

Applications go through Worcester Joint Apprenticeship & Training Program (Worcester JATC). The usual process: submit the application with your HS diploma or GED, transcripts showing algebra, and ID; take the aptitude test; then complete a scored interview that sets your rank on the eligibility list.

What test does IBEW Local 96 use?

Most IBEW inside-wireman programs use the Electrical Training Alliance aptitude test (algebra & functions plus reading comprehension); a growing number use the broader GAN battery. Either way, your test score plus interview decide your ranking — prep before the window opens.

Related Resources

More IBEW locals near Worcester

Michael — IBEW Local 134 Journeyman Electrician and pre-apprenticeship instructor

Michael Briglio

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.

13-yr journeymanLicensed contractorLicensed IL teacherOSHA 30EPA 608100+ into IBEW
More about Michael →

Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.