Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 1516 in Jonesboro, AR earn $31.01/hr in base wages, or $46.04/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2024.
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IBEW Local 1516 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 1516 pay scale is $31.01 per hour for journeymen in Jonesboro, AR, or about $62,020 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $46.04 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 10/10/24.
| Local 1516 journeyman hourly wage | $31.01 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $46.04 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $62,020 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.95–$15.51 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/10/24 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 1516 apprentice in Jonesboro, AR starts at roughly $13.95 an hour — about 45% of the $31.01 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $23.26 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 1516 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.95 / hour | $27,909 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $17.06 / hour | $34,111 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $20.16 / hour | $40,313 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $23.26 / hour | $46,515 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $26.36 / hour | $52,717 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $31.01 / hour | $62,020 |
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Local 1516 wages: $31.01 an hour on the journeyman scale, $46.04 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 10/10/24. That is the most recent Jonesboro, AR sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 33% of the IBEW Local 1516 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 1516 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective October 10, 2024.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $15.03/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 1516 scale used across the Jonesboro, AR 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 Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 1516 rates. For current Jonesboro scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 1516 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.
IBEW Local 1516 represents the skilled electrical workforce across Jonesboro and the surrounding counties of Northeast Arkansas. Based in Jonesboro, this local provides the specialized labor necessary for the region’s expanding industrial base, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Since 2014, we have monitored the labor landscape in this territory, where electricians are responsible for the installation and maintenance of complex power systems, lighting, and communication infrastructures. The presence of a structured union workforce ensures that large-scale commercial developments and manufacturing plants in the Delta region have access to a consistent pipeline of safety-trained professionals who adhere to National Electrical Code standards.
The Northeast Arkansas market is characterized by a mix of agricultural processing, higher education construction, and modern manufacturing facilities. Local 1516 serves as the primary labor source for signatory contractors bidding on major public works and private industrial expansions. For the individual tradesperson, the local provides a framework for career stability through collective bargaining, which establishes clear rules for overtime, site safety, and travel pay. For contractors, the local offers a scalable manpower solution that eliminates the risks associated with the fragmented open-market labor pool, ensuring that projects remain on schedule and within technical specifications required by local building departments and state inspectors.
As of October 10, 2024, the Inside Wireman Journeyman hourly rate for Local 1516 is established at $31.01. When factoring in the fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $46.04 per hour. Apprentices in the program start at a percentage of the Journeyman rate, typically beginning around 40-50% and increasing in scheduled increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These steps occur annually or semi-annually, rewarding the acquisition of skills in motor controls, circuitry, and blueprint reading. Upon reaching Journeyman status, the member receives the full scale plus the comprehensive benefits package, which covers the member and their family without deductions from the base hourly wage, representing a significant advantage over non-signatory electrical roles in the Jonesboro market.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 1516 spans several counties in the Northeast corner of Arkansas, anchored by the Jonesboro metropolitan area. This territory covers a diverse geographic range from the Mississippi River delta to the Ozark foothills, encompassing work sites in major municipalities and rural industrial zones. The local's charter governs all inside electrical work, including commercial build-outs, industrial automation, and institutional maintenance. Members dispatched within this territory are subject to the specific travel and subsistence rules outlined in the Inside Wireman Agreement, which defines where the 'free zone' ends and where additional compensation for travel time or mileage begins for remote job sites.
The signatory contractor landscape in Northeast Arkansas consists of a specialized group of electrical firms capable of handling high-voltage industrial installs and large-scale commercial projects. These range from regional mechanical-electrical primes to local shops focusing on municipal maintenance and healthcare infrastructure. Hiring via the hall allows these contractors to fluctuate their workforce based on project cycles, pulling from a pool of pre-vetted wiremen. Because the Jonesboro market attracts significant industrial investment, signatory contractors often collaborate on large-scale food processing or steel-related projects, where the demand for a highly skilled, drug-free workforce is a non-negotiable requirement for the project owners and general contractors.
The $31.01 hourly wage is the gross amount appearing on your paycheck before taxes. The $46.04 total package includes that wage plus $15.03 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. Unlike non-union roles where benefits are deducted from your pay, these fringes are paid by the contractor in addition to your hourly rate.
Yes, members in good standing from other IBEW locals can work in Jonesboro through the 'Traveler' system (Book 2). To permanently transfer your ticket (Book 1), you must follow the specific residency and work-hour requirements outlined in the Local 1516 bylaws and receive approval from the executive board.
While the primary focus is on the Inside Wireman program for commercial and industrial work, the JATC provides the foundational skills applicable to all electrical sectors. Most members work under the Inside agreement, but there may be specific classifications for residential or telecommunications work depending on current market demand and signatory contractor needs.
Pay increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Journeyman rates are typically adjusted annually based on the negotiated contract terms. Apprentices receive incremental raises as they progress through their five-year program, provided they meet the required classroom hours and maintain satisfactory performance on the job.
IBEW Local 1516 is seated in Jonesboro, Arkansas (AR). We hold published wage sheets for 5 locals across Arkansas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Jonesboro and the rest of Arkansas, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 1516. 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 1516 pay scale is $31.01 per hour for journeymen in Jonesboro, AR, or about $62,020 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $46.04 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 10/10/24.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 1516 agreement make $31.01 an hour in base wages, or $46.04 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/10/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$31.01 per hour base wage and $46.04 per hour total package for a journeyman in Jonesboro, AR, effective 10/10/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $62,020 before overtime.
A Local 1516 apprentice in Jonesboro, AR starts at roughly $13.95 an hour — about 45% of the $31.01 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $23.26 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 1516 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.95 an hour, or roughly $27,909 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $31.01 journeyman rate effective 10/10/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $20.16 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $23.26 an hour in the fourth period and $31.01 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 1516 training center.
Local 1516 wages: $31.01 an hour on the journeyman scale, $46.04 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 10/10/24. That is the most recent Jonesboro, AR sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 1516 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-1516-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $31.01 hourly scale, the $46.04 total package and the 10/10/24 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 1516 journeyman rate is $31.01/hour, with a total package of $46.04/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/10/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $62,020 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 1516 business office before relying on the figure.
The $31.01/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $46.04/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 1516 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 $31.01/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.95–$15.51/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 1516 is headquartered in Jonesboro, AR 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 1516 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 1516 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 1516 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 1516 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 10/10/24 schedule; check with the Local 1516 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 1516 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 1516 hall is at 9400 E Highland Dr, Jonesboro, AR 72401, serving Jonesboro, AR and the surrounding jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 1516 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 1516 does not publish a phone number in the directory data we import; check the local's official site for current contact details.
$31.01/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $46.04/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective October 10, 2024 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
October 10, 2024. The source wage sheet is more than 18 months old, so a mid-term raise may already be in effect. Confirm the current step with the local's business office before extending an offer.
No — the $31.01/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $15.03/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $46.04/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.
Moderate 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.