Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 150 in Waukengan, IL earn $51.87/hr in base wages, or $102.78/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2025.
IBEW Local 150 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 150 pay scale for 2026 is $51.87 per hour for journeymen in Waukengan, IL, or about $103,740 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $102.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/25.
| Local 150 journeyman hourly wage | $51.87 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $102.78 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $103,740 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $23.34–$25.94 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/31/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 150 apprentice in Waukengan, IL starts at roughly $23.34 an hour — about 45% of the $51.87 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.90 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 150 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $23.34 / hour | $46,683 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $28.53 / hour | $57,057 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $33.72 / hour | $67,431 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $38.90 / hour | $77,805 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $44.09 / hour | $88,179 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $51.87 / hour | $103,740 |
IBEW Local 150 represents the organized electrical workforce throughout Lake County, Illinois, maintaining a central headquarters in Waukegan. This jurisdiction serves as a critical corridor between the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan markets, covering a dense mix of pharmaceutical facilities, corporate headquarters, and residential development. The local ensures that signatory contractors have access to a pool of highly skilled wiremen who are trained to meet the rigorous demands of North Shore commercial construction and the industrial requirements of the region's manufacturing base. As a cornerstone of the Lake County Building Trades, the local manages labor relations and safety standards for all inside electrical work in the area.
Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends within the IBEW network to assist contractors and tradespeople in navigating the regional economy. Local 150 operates a robust Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) program, which provides the foundation for their skilled labor force. The market is defined by a high concentration of sophisticated electrical infrastructure, including data centers and specialized medical research environments. By maintaining a strict focus on Lake County, the local provides a stabilized labor environment where prevailing wage standards and collective bargaining agreements ensure a consistent supply of qualified electricians for large-scale public and private projects.
Effective May 31, 2025, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for Local 150 is $51.87, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $102.78 per hour. This total package includes mandatory employer contributions to health and welfare, pension funds, and apprenticeship training. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 45% and advancing in scheduled increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These annual step-ups continue until the fifth year, at which point the apprentice reaches full journeyman scale upon successful completion of the JATC curriculum and relevant certification exams. Because nearly 50% of the total compensation is allocated to fringe benefits, the long-term value of the contract remains highly competitive for career electricians in the Illinois market.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 150 is exclusively centered on Lake County, Illinois. This territory includes major hubs such as Waukegan, Libertyville, Mundelein, and Zion, as well as the affluent residential and commercial districts of the North Shore. Electrical workers dispatched through the Local 150 hall are responsible for all inside wireman tasks, including power distribution, lighting, control systems, and integrated communication technology within the county lines. The local maintains a clear boundary with Local 134 to the south and Local 364 to the west, ensuring that signatory contractors have a defined geographic scope for bidding and labor sourcing. Travel within the jurisdiction is standard for the trade, though the compact nature of the county allows for relatively consistent commute patterns compared to larger regional locals.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 150 is comprised of a diverse mix of large-scale mechanical-electrical primes and specialized local shops. These firms range from national entities that handle massive industrial build-outs and infrastructure projects to mid-sized contractors focusing on the North Shore's high-end commercial and institutional sectors. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of the regional construction cycle, with significant demand often driven by healthcare facility expansions and the maintenance of pharmaceutical campuses. Because the local provides a standardized training curriculum, signatory contractors can scale their workforces rapidly by calling for labor through the referral hall, ensuring that every wireman on site meets the same high proficiency standards regardless of the specific employer.
A Journeyman Wireman is trained for all aspects of electrical work, including complex industrial and commercial systems, while a Residential Wireman focuses specifically on wood-frame housing and smaller multi-family units. The training for an Inside Wireman is longer and the wage scale is higher due to the broader scope of work and technical complexity involved in industrial power distribution.
Yes, IBEW members in good standing from other locals may work in Local 150's jurisdiction through the Book 2 referral system, provided there is work available after Local 150 members have been dispatched. Traveling wiremen must follow all local signing procedures and provide a current dues receipt and travel letter from their home local's business manager.
Wage increases are typically determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the local and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases usually occur annually on a set date, such as May 31st, and may be split between the hourly check and the fringe benefit funds based on a membership vote.
The JATC provides opportunities for journeymen to obtain certifications in high-demand areas such as EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), fire alarm systems, instrumentation, and OSHA safety standards. These certifications allow members to qualify for specialized calls and help signatory contractors compete for technical projects in the pharmaceutical and renewable energy sectors.
IBEW Local 150 is seated in Waukengan, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Waukengan and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 150. 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 150 pay scale for 2026 is $51.87 per hour for journeymen in Waukengan, IL, or about $103,740 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $102.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 150 agreement make $51.87 an hour in base wages, or $102.78 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/31/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$51.87 per hour base wage and $102.78 per hour total package for a journeyman in Waukengan, IL, effective 5/31/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $103,740 before overtime.
A Local 150 apprentice in Waukengan, IL starts at roughly $23.34 an hour — about 45% of the $51.87 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.90 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 150 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $23.34 an hour, or roughly $46,683 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $51.87 journeyman rate effective 5/31/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $33.72 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $38.90 an hour in the fourth period and $51.87 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 150 training center.
The current IBEW Local 150 journeyman rate is $51.87/hour, with a total package of $102.78/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/31/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $103,740 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 150 business office before relying on the figure.
The $51.87/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $102.78/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 150 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 $51.87/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $23.34–$25.94/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 150 is headquartered in Waukengan, 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 150 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 150 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 150 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 150 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 5/31/25 schedule; check with the Local 150 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 150 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.