Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 103 in Boston, MA earn $66.17/hr in base wages, or $101.51/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Mar 2026.
IBEW Local 103 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 103 pay scale for 2026 is $66.17 per hour for journeymen in Boston, MA, or about $132,340 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $101.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/14/26.
| Local 103 journeyman hourly wage | $66.17 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $101.51 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $132,340 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $29.78–$33.09 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 3/14/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 103 apprentice in Boston, MA starts at roughly $29.78 an hour — about 45% of the $66.17 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $49.63 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 103 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $29.78 / hour | $59,553 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $36.39 / hour | $72,787 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $43.01 / hour | $86,021 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $49.63 / hour | $99,255 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $56.24 / hour | $112,489 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $66.17 / hour | $132,340 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 represents the organized electrical workforce throughout the Greater Boston area and eastern Massachusetts. Based in Dorchester, this local is among the most influential building trades organizations in the Northeast, providing skilled labor for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. The market for Local 103 is characterized by high-density urban development, specialized institutional work for world-class universities, and significant healthcare infrastructure. By maintaining rigorous training standards through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), the union ensures that its members are prepared for the complex electrical systems required by modern building codes and the transition to renewable energy systems.
The strength of Local 103 lies in its deep integration with the Boston construction economy and its partnerships with major signatory contractors. Members work across diverse sectors including telecommunications, life sciences, and heavy infrastructure, often operating on large-scale public and private developments that define the Boston skyline. For contractors, the local provides a scalable and highly skilled labor pool, while for electricians, it offers a pathway to middle-class stability with comprehensive benefits. As the industry moves toward smarter grids and integrated building automation, Local 103 continues to adapt its curriculum and field practices to remain the primary source for electrical expertise in the region since 2014.
The wage structure for Local 103 is among the highest in the country, reflecting the high cost of living and the technical demands of the Boston market. As of March 14, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate is set at $66.17, with a total package reaching $101.51 per hour when fringes are included. This $35.34 fringe benefit gap covers critical protections like health insurance and retirement. Apprentices follow a strictly defined progression based on a percentage of the Journeyman rate. Typically, first-year apprentices start at approximately 35% to 40% of the scale, receiving scheduled incremental raises as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This ensures that as an apprentice's value to the signatory contractor increases, their compensation reflects their growing technical proficiency.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 103 covers the urban core of Boston and extends into a significant portion of eastern Massachusetts. This territory includes all of Suffolk County and numerous municipalities within Middlesex, Norfolk, and Essex Counties. The local manages all electrical installations, maintenance, and repair work within this footprint, ranging from high-rise commercial towers in the Seaport District to suburban office parks and industrial facilities. Members are dispatched through the Dorchester headquarters, following a referral system that prioritizes experience and certifications. The jurisdiction also encompasses specialized work in telecommunications and data systems, ensuring that all low-voltage and high-voltage electrical infrastructure projects fall under the collective bargaining agreement's standards.
The signatory contractor landscape in Boston is diverse, ranging from multi-national mechanical-electrical primes to specialized local shops focusing on service and maintenance. These firms rely on Local 103 to man projects that require hundreds of electricians simultaneously, such as major hospital expansions or high-tech manufacturing labs. The relationship between the union and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) ensures a stable labor environment where contractors can bid on complex work with certainty regarding labor costs and productivity. Hiring typically follows the ebbs and flows of the regional development cycle, with a current emphasis on sustainable energy projects and the modernization of the region's aging utility infrastructure.
The Inside Wireman is the primary classification for members who install and maintain electrical systems in commercial and industrial buildings. While Local 103 also represents technicians in telecommunications and residential sectors, the Inside Wireman receives the highest level of training and the full journeyman wage scale, as they are qualified to handle all aspects of power distribution and complex motor controls.
Members are expected to travel to any job site within the eastern Massachusetts territory defined by the charter. While many projects are centered in Boston, work in surrounding counties like Norfolk or Middlesex is common. The agreement outlines specific provisions for parking reimbursements or travel stipends when working in dense urban zones where contractor-provided parking is unavailable.
Journeyman transfers, often called 'traveling,' are governed by the IBEW Constitution and the local's current manning requirements. A member in good standing from another local must typically present a travel card and register at the Dorchester hall. Permanent transfers to 'Book 1' status usually require a period of residency and a specific number of hours worked within the 103 jurisdiction.
While the Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician License is the legal requirement for work, Local 103 often requires or provides specialized certifications for its members. These include OSHA 30 safety training, NFPA 70E arc flash safety, and specific manufacturer certifications for fire alarm systems, EV charging infrastructure, or advanced building automation controls to ensure contract compliance.
IBEW Local 103 is seated in Boston, Massachusetts (MA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Massachusetts — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Boston and the rest of Massachusetts, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 103. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 103 pay scale for 2026 is $66.17 per hour for journeymen in Boston, MA, or about $132,340 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $101.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/14/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 103 agreement make $66.17 an hour in base wages, or $101.51 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 3/14/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$66.17 per hour base wage and $101.51 per hour total package for a journeyman in Boston, MA, effective 3/14/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $132,340 before overtime.
A Local 103 apprentice in Boston, MA starts at roughly $29.78 an hour — about 45% of the $66.17 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $49.63 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 103 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $29.78 an hour, or roughly $59,553 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $66.17 journeyman rate effective 3/14/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $43.01 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $49.63 an hour in the fourth period and $66.17 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 103 training center.
The current IBEW Local 103 journeyman rate is $66.17/hour, with a total package of $101.51/hour including fringe benefits, effective 3/14/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $132,340 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 103 business office before relying on the figure.
The $66.17/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $101.51/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 103 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 $66.17/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $29.78–$33.09/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 103 is headquartered in Boston, MA 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 103 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 103 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 103 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 103 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 3/14/26 schedule; check with the Local 103 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 103 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.