Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 146 in Decatur, IL earn $48/hr in base wages, or $70.96/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
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IBEW Local 146 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 146 pay scale for 2026 is $48.00 per hour for journeymen in Decatur, IL, or about $96,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $70.96 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/8/25.
| Local 146 journeyman hourly wage | $48.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $70.96 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $96,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $21.60–$24.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/8/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 146 apprentice in Decatur, IL starts at roughly $21.60 an hour — about 45% of the $48.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.00 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 146 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $21.60 / hour | $43,200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $26.40 / hour | $52,800 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $31.20 / hour | $62,400 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $36.00 / hour | $72,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $40.80 / hour | $81,600 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $48.00 / hour | $96,000 |
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Local 146 wages: $48.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $70.96 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/8/25. That is the most recent Decatur, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 32% of the IBEW Local 146 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.
Unverified: crowd-sourced figure (unionpayscales.com), not confirmed against the local's own wage sheet
Download the IBEW Local 146 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 8, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $22.96/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 146 scale used across the Decatur, 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 Decatur 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 Decatur. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 146 rates. For current Decatur scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 146 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — contact the hall to confirm dispatch procedure and what to bring 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.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 146 represents the skilled electrical workforce serving Decatur and the surrounding Central Illinois region. Founded as a charter for Inside Wiremen and other electrical classifications, this local provides the technical labor force necessary for large-scale industrial plants, commercial developments, and public infrastructure projects. The Decatur market is historically anchored by heavy industrial processing and manufacturing facilities, which require a high density of journeymen proficient in motor controls, complex conduit runs, and power distribution systems. Membership in Local 146 ensures access to standardized safety protocols and rigorous training through the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) partnership.
The regional market for Local 146 is defined by a blend of agricultural processing infrastructure and institutional construction, including healthcare and educational facilities. Because Central Illinois serves as a logistics and manufacturing hub, the local maintains a strong presence in the maintenance and expansion of sophisticated industrial environments. Signatory contractors rely on this labor pool to meet demanding project schedules while adhering to the National Electrical Code and local amendments. For the tradesperson, this jurisdiction offers a stable environment for career growth, supported by a collective bargaining agreement that mandates fair compensation and comprehensive benefits for both new apprentices and seasoned journeymen electricians.
Effective June 8, 2025, the journeyman hourly rate for IBEW Local 146 is set at $48.00, contributing to a total compensation package of $70.96 per hour. This package includes the base check, health and welfare contributions, and retirement fund allocations. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-50% for first-year students and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, senior apprentices often earn 80-90% of the scale before taking their licensing exam. These incremental raises are strictly regulated by the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) to ensure that pay increases align with the acquisition of complex technical skills in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work.
The chartered jurisdiction of IBEW Local 146 covers a multi-county territory in Central Illinois centered around the Decatur metropolitan area. This territory includes Macon County and extends into portions of several neighboring counties, ensuring consistent labor standards across the region. The local manages the dispatch of electricians for a variety of work types, including inside wiring, telecommunications, and industrial automation. Members may be required to travel within this footprint to job sites ranging from rural utility projects to urban commercial build-outs. The agreement covers all electrical installations from the point of service to the final device, including renewable energy systems and emergency backup power solutions for signatory employers throughout the district.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 146 is comprised of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from small local shops to large national mechanical-electrical primes. These contractors specialize in different sectors of the industry, including heavy industrial processing plants, commercial retail developments, and municipal utility work. Hiring is typically managed through the local's referral hall, where members are dispatched based on the 'out-of-work' list and specific project requirements. The relationship between the local and the Central Illinois Chapter of NECA ensures that labor costs remain predictable for contractors while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship across the diverse project portfolio found in the Decatur market.
The $48.00 hourly wage is the gross amount paid directly on your paycheck before taxes. The $70.96 total package includes that wage plus an additional $22.96 per hour in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid by the contractor in addition to your salary and are not deducted from your base hourly rate.
No prior experience is required to apply for the IBEW Local 146 apprenticeship. The program is designed to take individuals with no background in the trade and provide them with both the classroom theory and the hands-on field experience needed to become a licensed journeyman. However, a strong foundation in mathematics and a consistent work history are highly valued during the selection process.
Travel opportunities within Local 146 depend entirely on the current volume of large-scale industrial or commercial projects. When local membership is fully employed, the hall may open calls to Book 2 travelers from other IBEW locals. Interested travelers should check the local's job line or contact the dispatcher to inquire about the current 'man-on-the-wall' status and specific project requirements.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, IBEW members are responsible for providing a specific list of hand tools, often referred to as a 'tool list.' This typically includes items like pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, and a tape measure. The signatory contractor is responsible for providing all power tools, specialized testing equipment, and consumable materials such as drill bits and saw blades.
IBEW Local 146 is seated in Decatur, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 32 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 146 pay scale for 2026 is $48.00 per hour for journeymen in Decatur, IL, or about $96,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $70.96 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/8/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 146 agreement make $48.00 an hour in base wages, or $70.96 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/8/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$48.00 per hour base wage and $70.96 per hour total package for a journeyman in Decatur, IL, effective 6/8/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $96,000 before overtime.
A Local 146 apprentice in Decatur, IL starts at roughly $21.60 an hour — about 45% of the $48.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.00 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 146 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $21.60 an hour, or roughly $43,200 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $48.00 journeyman rate effective 6/8/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $31.20 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $36.00 an hour in the fourth period and $48.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 146 training center.
Local 146 wages: $48.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $70.96 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/8/25. That is the most recent Decatur, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 146 journeyman rate is $48.00 an hour ($70.96 total package), effective 6/8/25 — roughly $96,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 146 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-146-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $48.00 hourly scale, the $70.96 total package and the 6/8/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 146 journeyman rate is $48.00/hour, with a total package of $70.96/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/8/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $96,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 146 business office before relying on the figure.
The $48.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $70.96/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 146 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 $48.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $21.60–$24.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 146 is headquartered in Decatur, 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 146 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 146 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 146 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 146 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 6/8/25 schedule; check with the Local 146 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 146 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 146 hall is at 3390 N Woodford St, Decatur, IL 62526, serving Decatur, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 146 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Contact the hall 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 146 does not publish a phone number in the directory data we import; check the local's official site for current contact details.
$48.00/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $70.96/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 8, 2025 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
June 8, 2025. Pulled from the local's current published CBA wage sheet on unionpayscales.com and cross-checked at build time. High confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $48.00/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $22.96/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $70.96/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 Sep 23, 2026 (7 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.