Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 134 in Chicago, IL earn $57.75/hr in base wages, or $100.64/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
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The Local 134 pay scale for 2026 is $57.75 per hour for journeymen in Chicago, IL, or about $115,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $100.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/02/2025.
| Local 134 journeyman hourly wage | $57.75 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $100.64 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $115,500 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $25.99–$28.88 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 06/02/2025 |
| Classification | Electrician |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 134 apprentice in Chicago, IL starts at roughly $25.99 an hour — about 45% of the $57.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $43.31 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 134 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $25.99 / hour | $51,975 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $31.76 / hour | $63,525 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $37.54 / hour | $75,075 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $43.31 / hour | $86,625 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $49.09 / hour | $98,175 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $57.75 / hour | $115,500 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with Chicago listings first when available. Jobs elsewhere in the state are not necessarily near this hall. Union status is not verified for these jobs; confirm with your recruiter.
IBEW Local 134 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
IBEW Local 134 does not post an online application we could verify; contact the hall by phone for dispatch or apprenticeship. To be considered for direct-hire roles with mechanical, electrical and sheet metal contractors in this area, apply to Gulfstream. This is not an application to the union.
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Local 134 wages for 2025: $57.75 an hour on the journeyman scale, $100.64 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/02/2025. That is the most recent Chicago, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 43% of the IBEW Local 134 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Verified from official source: U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination IL20260009, rev. 2
Download the IBEW Local 134 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 2, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $42.89/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the IBEW Local 134 scale used across the Chicago, IL area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial and industrial electrical, building automation and controls wiring, data and low-voltage systems and service and retrofit work for signatory contractors throughout the Chicago metro, so a electrician wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits electrician talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Chicago. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 134 rates. For current Chicago scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 134 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (312) 454-1340 to confirm dispatch procedure, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 134 represents the professional electricians of Chicago and Cook County, serving as one of the most influential labor organizations in the Midwest. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the Chicago electrical landscape, noting that Local 134 members manage the critical infrastructure for the city's skyline, transit systems, and industrial hubs. The local maintains a strict focus on safety and technical proficiency, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of executing complex electrical installations in high-density urban environments. Their presence is a defining factor in the region's construction economy, driving high standards for both residential and commercial electrical systems.
The market for electrical work in Chicago is characterized by heavy institutional investment and a robust commercial core. Local 134 jurisdiction includes everything from the Loop's high-rise modernization projects to the sprawling data centers and healthcare facilities in the surrounding Cook County suburbs. Because Chicago follows rigorous municipal electrical codes, the specialized training provided by the local is a prerequisite for major development projects. For contractors, partnering with this local provides a reliable pipeline of labor that is well-versed in the specific conduit and wiring requirements unique to the Chicago area, which often exceed national minimum standards for fire safety and durability.
Based on the figures effective June 26, 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is set at $63.15. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $96.59 per hour. Apprentices in the IBEW Local 134 program follow a structured wage progression based on a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-45% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This ensures that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors while providing a clear career path for new entrants. The total package reflects a significant investment in retirement security and healthcare, making it one of the most competitive compensation structures in the building trades throughout the state of Illinois.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 134 primarily covers all of Cook County, Illinois. This territory is densely populated and includes the city of Chicago along with its immediate inner-ring suburbs. Work performed under this agreement encompasses all electrical construction, including inside wireman tasks, telecommunications, and sustainable energy installations like solar and EV charging infrastructure. Members are dispatched from the union hall to various project sites within this boundary, and the local maintains strict oversight of work rules to ensure compliance with the collective bargaining agreement. Due to the high volume of work in this concentrated area, travel is generally confined to the metro Chicago region, though members may seek portable benefits through reciprocity if working in neighboring locals.
The signatory contractor landscape in Chicago is diverse, ranging from small specialty shops to massive multi-state mechanical and electrical primes. These contractors rely on Local 134 to staff large-scale civic projects, including work at O'Hare and Midway airports, public transit upgrades, and the maintenance of significant commercial real estate portfolios. Hiring fluctuates based on major capital improvement cycles and municipal infrastructure spending. Because the local provides the labor force for the majority of Chicago's landmark vertical construction, signatory firms occupy a dominant position in the city's bidding environment. The relationship between the union and the a mechanical contractor Association (ECA) of Chicago remains central to the region's labor stability.
The 'A' card typically refers to the construction classification, covering inside wiremen who perform commercial and industrial installations. The 'C' card or Communications classification covers telecommunications, data cabling, and low-voltage systems. Each has a specific wage scale and training path, though both are essential to the modern Chicago job site.
The Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust (EJATT) operates a state-of-the-art technical institute in Alsip, Illinois. This facility serves as the hub for both apprentice education and journeyman continuing education, offering specialized certifications in areas like EVITP, instrumentation, and advanced motor controls.
While Local 134 covers Cook County, neighboring counties like DuPage, Will, and Lake are covered by different IBEW locals (such as 701, 176, or 150). Contractors working across county lines must adhere to the specific jurisdiction and CBA of the local where the work is physically located.
Generally, applicants are expected to live within the jurisdiction or nearby areas, as the work is concentrated in Cook County. While residency requirements can vary, the competitive nature of the program often favors those who are committed to working within the Chicago metropolitan area long-term.
IBEW Local 134 is seated in Chicago, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 42 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical construction and service staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Denver mechanical recruiter · Orange County mechanical recruiter · Seattle mechanical recruiter · Inland Empire mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Chicago and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 134. 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 134 pay scale for 2026 is $57.75 per hour for journeymen in Chicago, IL, or about $115,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $100.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/02/2025.
IBEW Local 134 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $57.75 per hour in Chicago, IL, with a total package of $100.64 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 06/02/2025. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 06/02/2025 with the IBEW Local 134 business office.
The IBEW Local 134 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $57.75 per hour ($100.64 per hour total package), effective 06/02/2025, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 134 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 06/02/2025 with the hall.
Local 134 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $57.75 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($25.99–$28.88 per hour) in the first period and stepping up each period to 100% at turnout. The exact percentage schedule is set by the IBEW Local 134 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 134 agreement make $57.75 an hour in base wages, or $100.64 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 06/02/2025. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$57.75 per hour base wage and $100.64 per hour total package for a journeyman in Chicago, IL, effective 06/02/2025. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $115,500 before overtime.
A Local 134 apprentice in Chicago, IL starts at roughly $25.99 an hour — about 45% of the $57.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $43.31 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 134 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $25.99 an hour, or roughly $51,975 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $57.75 journeyman rate effective 06/02/2025. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $37.54 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $43.31 an hour in the fourth period and $57.75 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 134 training center.
Local 134 wages for 2025: $57.75 an hour on the journeyman scale, $100.64 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/02/2025. That is the most recent Chicago, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 134 journeyman rate is $57.75 an hour ($100.64 total package), effective 06/02/2025 — roughly $115,500 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. It is the rate in force for 2025 unless the local has since ratified a new agreement.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 134 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-134-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $57.75 hourly scale, the $100.64 total package and the 06/02/2025 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 134 journeyman rate is $57.75/hour, with a total package of $100.64/hour including fringe benefits, effective 06/02/2025. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $115,500 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 134 business office before relying on the figure.
The $57.75/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $100.64/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 134 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 $57.75/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $25.99–$28.88/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 134 is headquartered in Chicago, IL 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 134 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 134 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 134 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 134 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 06/02/2025 schedule; check with the Local 134 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 134 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Chicago, IL, and you can apply directly through the apply form on this page. These are direct-hire positions with mechanical contractors that Gulfstream recruits for, not union dispatch or hall referrals. For the hall's out-of-work list, contact the Local 134 business office.
The IBEW Local 134 hall is at 2722 S Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616, serving Chicago, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (312) 454-1340.
IBEW Local 134 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (312) 454-1340 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 134 can be reached at (312) 454-1340. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
Apply through the local's joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC). Most programs open applications on a set schedule and require an aptitude test and interview. For IBEW Local 134's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (312) 454-1340.
Each Electricians local sets its own intake process, and it varies. The common paths: apprenticeship through the JATC; organizing in as an experienced worker, since journeymen and technicians already working in the trade can usually apply directly to the hall for membership; or transferring from another local of the same international with a transfer card from your current hall. For fees and requirements, contact the hall at (312) 454-1340.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 134's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (312) 454-1340.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 134's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (312) 454-1340.
IBEW Local 134's sourced electrician union rate is $57.75/hr in base wages and $100.64/hr for the total package, effective June 2, 2025. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$57.75/hr in base wages for electrician, or $100.64/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 2, 2025 per the U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination IL20260009, rev. 2 wage determination.
June 2, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination IL20260009, rev. 2) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $57.75/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $42.89/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $100.64/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Oct 5, 2026 (14 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.