Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 102 in Paterson, NJ earn $67.92/hr in base wages, or $110.03/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
IBEW Local 102 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 102 pay scale for 2026 is $67.92 per hour for journeymen in Paterson, NJ, or about $135,840 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $110.03 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/3/26.
| Local 102 journeyman hourly wage | $67.92 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $110.03 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $135,840 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $30.56–$33.96 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/3/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 102 apprentice in Paterson, NJ starts at roughly $30.56 an hour — about 45% of the $67.92 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $50.94 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 102 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $30.56 / hour | $61,128 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $37.36 / hour | $74,712 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $44.15 / hour | $88,296 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $50.94 / hour | $101,880 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $57.73 / hour | $115,464 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $67.92 / hour | $135,840 |
IBEW Local 102 represents highly skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across a significant portion of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Paterson, this local is a powerhouse in the tri-state area's construction landscape, providing labor for critical infrastructure, commercial high-rises, and industrial facilities. The organization maintains a sophisticated training center that ensures its members stay ahead of evolving technologies like green energy, advanced automation, and complex power distribution. Because the North Jersey market is characterized by dense urban development and high-tech industrial corridors, Local 102 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the electrical standards required for both public safety and economic growth.
Since 2014, our recruitment team has tracked the impact of Local 102 on the regional labor market, noting its influence on prevailing wage standards and contractor competition. The local operates under a collective bargaining agreement that balances the needs of signatory contractors with the demand for fair compensation and robust benefits. For the traveling wireman or the aspiring apprentice, Local 102 offers one of the most comprehensive packages in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. This market is particularly known for its rigorous safety standards and the high density of pharmaceutical, data center, and logistics projects that require the precision and scale only a large union workforce can provide.
Based on the figures effective July 3, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate is set at $67.92, with a total package reaching $110.03 per hour when fringes are included. This substantial package covers healthcare, multiple retirement vehicles, and training. Apprentices do not start at this full rate; instead, they progress through a five-year program with wages calculated as a percentage of the Journeyman scale. Typically, a first-year apprentice might start around 40% of the base wage, receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, apprentices often earn 80% or more of the full rate, ensuring their compensation matches their increasing technical proficiency until they reach full Journeyman status upon graduation and licensure.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 102 is extensive, covering several counties in Northern and Central New Jersey, as well as portions of Eastern Pennsylvania. This territory includes major economic hubs where signatory contractors manage everything from municipal lighting to massive industrial installations. The jurisdiction is defined by specific geographic boundaries that dictate travel pay, zone requirements, and dispatch procedures for members. Work performed under this agreement encompasses the installation, maintenance, and repair of all electrical systems, including power, lighting, controls, and telecommunications. Members may be dispatched to various jobsites across the territory, ranging from the urban center of Paterson to the growing industrial parks in the surrounding counties.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 102 consists of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from small specialty shops to massive multi-state mechanical-electrical primes. These contractors rely on the local's hiring hall to scale their workforces according to project demands, particularly for large-scale commercial developments and public works projects. The market is highly competitive, with signatory contractors specializing in distinct niches such as pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, renewable energy installations, and large-scale residential complexes. Because of the high density of corporate headquarters and research labs in North Jersey, the hiring environment frequently favors contractors with proven experience in specialized systems and rigorous safety protocols.
The base wage of $67.92 is the gross hourly pay shown on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $110.03 includes this base wage plus an additional $42.11 in employer-paid benefits. These benefits cover health insurance, pension contributions, annuity, and training funds, which are not deducted from the base wage but are paid by the contractor on top of it.
Wage increases are determined by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated between the union and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases usually occur annually or semi-annually on specific dates. The jump to the $67.92 rate is scheduled for July 2026, reflecting the pre-negotiated step-ups designed to keep pace with the cost of living in New Jersey.
Transfers, or 'traveling,' are managed through the ERTS (Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System). A member in good standing from another local can work in Local 102's jurisdiction if there is a call for labor that cannot be filled by local members. Permanent transfers of membership (changing your 'home' local) are subject to the discretion of the Business Manager and the executive board.
Yes, through the JATC, Local 102 provides ongoing training for certifications in EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), NABCEP (Solar), welding, and various specialized instrumentation and safety protocols. These certifications are often required for specific job sites in the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, making certified members highly valuable to signatory contractors.
IBEW Local 102 is seated in Paterson, New Jersey (NJ). We hold published wage sheets for 12 locals across New Jersey — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Paterson and the rest of New Jersey, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 102. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 102 pay scale for 2026 is $67.92 per hour for journeymen in Paterson, NJ, or about $135,840 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $110.03 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/3/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 102 agreement make $67.92 an hour in base wages, or $110.03 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/3/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$67.92 per hour base wage and $110.03 per hour total package for a journeyman in Paterson, NJ, effective 7/3/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $135,840 before overtime.
A Local 102 apprentice in Paterson, NJ starts at roughly $30.56 an hour — about 45% of the $67.92 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $50.94 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 102 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $30.56 an hour, or roughly $61,128 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $67.92 journeyman rate effective 7/3/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $44.15 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $50.94 an hour in the fourth period and $67.92 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 102 training center.
The current IBEW Local 102 journeyman rate is $67.92/hour, with a total package of $110.03/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/3/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $135,840 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 102 business office before relying on the figure.
The $67.92/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $110.03/hour total package adds employer-paid fringes — health and welfare, pension, annuity, apprenticeship training, and industry funds. Contractors bid work off the total package, so that is the number that matters when comparing electricians labor costs across locals.
Apprentices under the IBEW Local 102 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40–50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $67.92/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $30.56–$33.96/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 102 is headquartered in Paterson, NJ and dispatches electricians manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform electricians work. Some Local 102 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the IBEW Local 102 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 102 training center directly.
Electricians apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the IBEW Local 102 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union electricians professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Rates move with the collective bargaining agreement, typically on a fixed anniversary date each year of a three- to five-year contract, with negotiated increases split between the base wage and the fringe package. The figures on this page reflect the 7/3/26 schedule; check with the Local 102 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 102 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.