Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 129 in Lorain, OH earn $45.20/hr in base wages, or $63.51/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
IBEW Local 129 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 129 pay scale for 2026 is $45.20 per hour for journeymen in Lorain, OH, or about $90,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/31/26.
| Local 129 journeyman hourly wage | $45.20 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $63.51 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $90,400 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.34–$22.60 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/31/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 129 apprentice in Lorain, OH starts at roughly $20.34 an hour — about 45% of the $45.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.90 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 129 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.34 / hour | $40,680 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.86 / hour | $49,720 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.38 / hour | $58,760 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $33.90 / hour | $67,800 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $38.42 / hour | $76,840 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $45.20 / hour | $90,400 |
IBEW Local 129 serves as the primary labor organization for Inside Wiremen and electrical workers throughout Lorain, Ohio, and its surrounding territories. Established to maintain high standards of workmanship and safety, this local provides a skilled workforce for the region's diverse industrial and commercial sectors. The union operates in a market defined by both traditional manufacturing infrastructure and modern commercial development, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to journey-level talent capable of executing complex power distribution, lighting, and control systems. Members benefit from collective bargaining that secures competitive compensation while ensuring projects meet the National Electrical Code requirements through rigorous training and field experience.
The Lorain market remains a vital hub for electrical construction due to its proximity to Lake Erie and the industrial corridors of Northern Ohio. Local 129 plays a critical role in the regional economy by staffing large-scale infrastructure improvements and institutional facility maintenance. By partnering with the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA), the local maintains a stable labor-management environment that facilitates predictable project timelines and labor costs for developers and general contractors. For the electrician, membership offers a clear career path from apprenticeship to master-level proficiency, supported by a structured referral system and robust fringe benefits that are standard for the IBEW in the Great Lakes region.
Based on the effective rate of July 31, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly wage is set at $45.20, with a total compensation package reaching $63.51 per hour. This total package includes the base rate plus all employer-paid fringes such as health insurance and retirement contributions. Apprentices in the Lorain JATC program earn a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting between 40% and 50% for first-year students and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases are strictly governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, ensuring that as an apprentice's skill set grows, their compensation reflects their increasing value to the signatory contractor. Final fifth-year apprentices often reach 80% to 90% of the full scale before taking their journeyman exam.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 129 encompasses the entirety of Lorain County and specific portions of surrounding areas in Northern Ohio. This territory requires members to be available for dispatch to job sites ranging from Lake Erie waterfront developments to the southern rural borders of the county. The jurisdiction covers all inside electrical work, including commercial build-outs, industrial motor controls, and high-voltage distribution within the footprint of a facility. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the local's referral procedures and wage scales, ensuring that all electrical installations meet the specific safety and quality benchmarks defined by the local's territory and the International Office of the IBEW.
The signatory contractor landscape in Lorain County is comprised of a mix of long-standing local shops and larger regional mechanical-electrical firms. These entities range from small service-oriented contractors focusing on commercial maintenance to major industrial primes that handle heavy manufacturing plant upgrades. Hiring is conducted through the union's referral hall, where contractors request manpower based on project needs. This system allows for a flexible workforce that can scale rapidly for large institutional projects, such as healthcare facilities or educational campuses, while maintaining a core group of specialized technicians for complex industrial control and automation work across the Northeast Ohio region.
The hourly wage of $45.20 is the gross amount paid directly on the member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $63.51 includes that wage plus an additional $18.31 in employer-paid benefits, including pension contributions and health insurance. These benefits are paid by the contractor over and above the hourly rate, providing significant value not seen in non-union roles.
Transfers, or 'traveling,' are governed by the IBEW Constitution. A member from another local must generally work in the Local 129 jurisdiction as a traveler first. Obtaining permanent status usually requires the approval of the business manager and may involve a waiting period or residency requirements within Lorain County, depending on the current local bylaws and work outlook.
Yes, through the JATC, Local 129 provides journeyman upgrade classes. These include certifications for EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), instrumentation, fire alarm systems, and OSHA safety standards. Staying current with these certifications allows members to remain highly employable as the industry shifts toward renewable energy and complex building automation systems.
Members are required to provide a basic set of hand tools as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement's 'Tool List.' This typically includes pliers, screwdrivers, a tape measure, and a level. Contractors are responsible for providing all power tools, specialized testing equipment, and large-scale machinery required to complete the installation safely and efficiently.
IBEW Local 129 is seated in Lorain, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Lorain and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 129. 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 129 pay scale for 2026 is $45.20 per hour for journeymen in Lorain, OH, or about $90,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/31/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 129 agreement make $45.20 an hour in base wages, or $63.51 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/31/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$45.20 per hour base wage and $63.51 per hour total package for a journeyman in Lorain, OH, effective 7/31/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $90,400 before overtime.
A Local 129 apprentice in Lorain, OH starts at roughly $20.34 an hour — about 45% of the $45.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.90 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 129 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.34 an hour, or roughly $40,680 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $45.20 journeyman rate effective 7/31/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.38 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $33.90 an hour in the fourth period and $45.20 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 129 training center.
The current IBEW Local 129 journeyman rate is $45.20/hour, with a total package of $63.51/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/31/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $90,400 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 129 business office before relying on the figure.
The $45.20/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $63.51/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 129 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 $45.20/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.34–$22.60/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 129 is headquartered in Lorain, OH 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 129 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 129 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 129 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 129 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 7/31/26 schedule; check with the Local 129 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 129 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.