Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 141 in Wheeling, WV earn $35.20/hr in base wages, or $62.66/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
IBEW Local 141 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 141 pay scale is $35.20 per hour for journeymen in Wheeling, WV, or about $70,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $62.66 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 141 journeyman hourly wage | $35.20 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $62.66 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $70,400 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.84–$17.60 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 141 apprentice in Wheeling, WV starts at roughly $15.84 an hour — about 45% of the $35.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.40 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 141 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.84 / hour | $31,680 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.36 / hour | $38,720 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.88 / hour | $45,760 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $26.40 / hour | $52,800 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $29.92 / hour | $59,840 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $35.20 / hour | $70,400 |
IBEW Local 141 represents skilled electrical workers across the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and parts of Eastern Ohio. Headquartered in Wheeling, this local provides the labor force for critical infrastructure, heavy industrial facilities, and commercial developments within the Upper Ohio Valley. The membership consists of inside wiremen who handle power distribution, lighting, and control systems, as well as specialized technicians for low-voltage and industrial applications. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region as a key hub for industrial power requirements and commercial construction projects that depend on the highly regulated training standards maintained by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
The Wheeling market serves as a strategic crossroads between the Pittsburgh industrial corridor and the energy-rich Ohio River valley. Local 141 members are essential to the operation of regional manufacturing plants, health care facilities, and educational institutions. By maintaining a steady pipeline of journey-level electricians through rigorous five-year apprenticeship programs, the local ensures that signatory contractors can meet the technical demands of modern electrical codes and safety standards. For contractors, the local provides a scalable workforce that reduces the overhead associated with permanent recruitment, while members benefit from collectively bargained wages and comprehensive fringe benefits that are competitive within the West Virginia and Ohio tri-state labor markets.
As of the October 21, 2022 update, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 141 is $35.20 per hour. When factoring in the fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $62.66 per hour. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% and receiving scheduled incremental raises every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training combined with successful classroom completion. By the fifth year, senior apprentices often earn 80% to 90% of the full scale. These figures represent the base building trades agreement; specialized classifications or foremen roles carry additional premiums. Contractors should contact the business office to verify if any subsequent cost-of-living adjustments have been implemented since the 2022 schedule was published.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 141 covers a multi-state territory centered on Wheeling, West Virginia. This includes the entirety of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall counties in West Virginia, along with portions of Belmont and Jefferson counties in Ohio. The local manages dispatch for all electrical work falling under the Inside Wireman agreement, ranging from small-scale commercial build-outs to massive industrial power systems. Because the territory spans state lines, members must be familiar with both West Virginia and Ohio electrical licensing requirements. The union hall coordinates manpower requests to ensure that projects throughout the Northern Panhandle are staffed with qualified locals, minimizing the need for outside travelers on standard commercial and industrial deployments.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 141 is diverse, ranging from small family-owned electrical shops to large regional mechanical-electrical primes. These firms handle a mix of long-term maintenance contracts for industrial sites along the Ohio River and competitive bid work for public works projects. Signatory contractors benefit from the NECA-IBEW partnership, which provides a standardized framework for labor costs and dispute resolution. Hiring typically fluctuates based on industrial outages and new commercial developments in the Wheeling metro area. Because the local maintains a high standard for safety and technical proficiency, signatory firms are frequently selected for high-complexity projects in the healthcare and heavy manufacturing sectors where downtime is not an option.
Based on the 2022 scale, the total cost is $62.66 per hour. This includes the $35.20 cash wage plus $27.46 in fringe benefits such as pension, health insurance, and training funds. Contractors must also account for statutory taxes and insurance like FICA, FUTA, and workers' compensation, which are not included in the union's total package figure.
Yes, Local 141 has a multi-state jurisdiction. While headquartered in West Virginia, it covers significant portions of Belmont and Jefferson counties in Ohio. Electricians working in these areas are dispatched from the Wheeling hall and work under the same collective bargaining agreement, though state-specific tax withholdings and licensing may apply depending on the job site location.
Wage increases are determined through negotiations between the IBEW and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These usually occur annually or semi-annually as dictated by the multi-year collective bargaining agreement. Incremental raises for apprentices occur more frequently, triggered by the completion of specific work hour milestones and passing their required classroom modules.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have completed one year of high school algebra with a passing grade. The process requires an aptitude test and an interview. Once accepted, apprentices work full-time for signatory contractors while attending classes, earning a progressive wage that increases as they gain proficiency.
IBEW Local 141 is seated in Wheeling, West Virginia (WV). We hold published wage sheets for 8 locals across West Virginia — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Wheeling and the rest of West Virginia, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 141. 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 141 pay scale is $35.20 per hour for journeymen in Wheeling, WV, or about $70,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $62.66 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 141 agreement make $35.20 an hour in base wages, or $62.66 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/21/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$35.20 per hour base wage and $62.66 per hour total package for a journeyman in Wheeling, WV, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $70,400 before overtime.
A Local 141 apprentice in Wheeling, WV starts at roughly $15.84 an hour — about 45% of the $35.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.40 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 141 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.84 an hour, or roughly $31,680 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $35.20 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.88 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $26.40 an hour in the fourth period and $35.20 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 141 training center.
The current IBEW Local 141 journeyman rate is $35.20/hour, with a total package of $62.66/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $70,400 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 141 business office before relying on the figure.
The $35.20/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $62.66/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 141 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 $35.20/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.84–$17.60/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 141 is headquartered in Wheeling, WV 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 141 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 141 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 141 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 141 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 10/21/22 schedule; check with the Local 141 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 141 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.