Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 163 in Wilkes-Barre, PA earn $45.08/hr in base wages, or $70.43/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
The Local 163 pay scale for 2026 is $45.08 per hour for journeymen in Wilkes-Barre, PA, or about $90,160 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $70.43 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/01/2025.
| Local 163 journeyman hourly wage | $45.08 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $70.43 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $90,160 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.29–$22.54 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 06/01/2025 |
| Classification | Electrician (includes sound/communication, temperature controls and low-voltage wiring) |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 163 apprentice in Wilkes-Barre, PA starts at roughly $20.29 an hour — about 45% of the $45.08 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.81 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 163 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.29 / hour | $40,572 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.79 / hour | $49,588 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.30 / hour | $58,604 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $33.81 / hour | $67,620 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $38.32 / hour | $76,636 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $45.08 / hour | $90,160 |
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IBEW Local 163 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.
Official job-call, referral and apprenticeship pages on the hall's own website. Application windows and requirements are set by the hall; check its page for current dates.
Links checked 2026-10-06 on the hall's site.
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Local 163 wages for 2025: $45.08 an hour on the journeyman scale, $70.43 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/01/2025. That is the most recent Wilkes-Barre, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 36% of the IBEW Local 163 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 PA20260095, rev. 3
Download the IBEW Local 163 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 1, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $25.35/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 163 scale used across the Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 163 rates. For current Wilkes-Barre scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 163 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (570) 823-4028 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 163 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across the Wyoming Valley and surrounding Northeastern Pennsylvania territories. Based in Wilkes-Barre, this local serves as a critical labor source for the region's diverse industrial, commercial, and institutional infrastructure. The membership is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing complex electrical systems that power everything from healthcare facilities to large-scale distribution centers. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor dynamics in this market, where the transition toward renewable energy and modernized logistics hubs continues to drive consistent demand for NECA-affiliated signatory contractors and their union workforces.
The market served by Local 163 is defined by a mix of historic industrial revitalization and new commercial development along the I-81 corridor. As a member of the building trades, the local ensures that electrical installations meet rigorous safety standards through the National Electrical Code and specialized certifications. For contractors, the local provides a scalable, highly trained workforce capable of handling projects ranging from high-voltage industrial substations to intricate building automation systems. For the tradesperson, Local 163 offers a structured career path backed by collective bargaining, ensuring that wages and benefits remain competitive within the regional Pennsylvania construction economy while maintaining high productivity levels.
As of the May 23, 2025, adjustment, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 163 is set at $42.51. When accounting for the full fringe benefit suite, the total compensation package reaches $66.85 per hour. Apprentices follow a strictly regulated progression scale, typically starting at approximately 40% to 50% of the journeyman rate. These percentages increase incrementally as the apprentice completes their required classroom hours through the JATC and hits specific on-the-job training milestones. By the final year of the five-year program, apprentices earn near-journeyman wages. This tiered structure allows signatory mechanical and electrical primes to manage labor costs effectively while ensuring that workers are compensated fairly as their technical proficiency and autonomy on the job site grow.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 163 centers on Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, extending into portions of surrounding counties to cover the greater Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. This territory includes a high density of commercial retail, healthcare institutions, and the significant industrial zones characterizing the Wyoming Valley. Work performed under this agreement encompasses all inside wiring, including power distribution, lighting, fire alarms, and motor controls. Members are dispatched through the Wilkes-Barre hiring hall to various project sites within these geographic boundaries. Contractors operating in this region must adhere to the local's work rules regarding crew ratios and safety protocols, ensuring consistent labor quality across all signatory job sites in Northeastern PA.
The signatory contractor landscape in the Wilkes-Barre region is comprised of a diverse mix of NECA-affiliated firms. These include large-scale industrial electrical contractors specializing in heavy manufacturing and power generation, as well as mid-sized commercial firms focused on tenant fit-outs, schools, and medical office buildings. There is also a dedicated segment of contractors specializing in data communications and integrated building systems. Because Local 163 provides a centralized pool of vetted talent, these firms can quickly scale their manpower to meet the demands of large regional projects without the overhead of traditional recruiting. This stability makes the local a primary partner for prime contractors and developers throughout the Luzerne County area.
The IBEW Local 163 apprenticeship is a five-year program. It combines rigorous classroom instruction at the JATC facility in Wilkes-Barre with 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. This comprehensive approach ensures that every graduate is fully qualified to work as a Journeyman Inside Wireman, capable of handling complex electrical systems without direct supervision.
Transfers, or 'traveling,' are governed by the IBEW Constitution and the specific referral procedures of Local 163. Generally, a member in good standing from another local must sign the Book II out-of-work list. Permanent transfers usually require a period of working in the jurisdiction and approval by the local's executive board.
The $66.85 total package includes the hourly wage and mandatory fringe benefits such as health insurance and retirement funds. While some IBEW agreements include a separate vacation fund deducted from the gross wage or added as a fringe, you should verify the specific withholding structure with the Local 163 dues department.
The region sees a significant volume of commercial work, particularly in the distribution and logistics sector due to the proximity to major highways. Additionally, the local handles substantial work in the healthcare sector and industrial maintenance for the various manufacturing facilities located throughout Luzerne and Wyoming counties.
IBEW Local 163 is seated in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Wilkes-Barre and the rest of Pennsylvania, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 163. 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 163 pay scale for 2026 is $45.08 per hour for journeymen in Wilkes-Barre, PA, or about $90,160 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $70.43 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/01/2025.
IBEW Local 163 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $45.08 per hour in Wilkes-Barre, PA, with a total package of $70.43 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 06/01/2025. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 06/01/2025 with the IBEW Local 163 business office.
The IBEW Local 163 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $45.08 per hour ($70.43 per hour total package), effective 06/01/2025, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 163 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 06/01/2025 with the hall.
Local 163 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $45.08 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($20.29–$22.54 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 163 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 163 agreement make $45.08 an hour in base wages, or $70.43 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 06/01/2025. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$45.08 per hour base wage and $70.43 per hour total package for a journeyman in Wilkes-Barre, PA, effective 06/01/2025. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $90,160 before overtime.
A Local 163 apprentice in Wilkes-Barre, PA starts at roughly $20.29 an hour — about 45% of the $45.08 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.81 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 163 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.29 an hour, or roughly $40,572 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $45.08 journeyman rate effective 06/01/2025. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.30 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $33.81 an hour in the fourth period and $45.08 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 163 training center.
Local 163 wages for 2025: $45.08 an hour on the journeyman scale, $70.43 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/01/2025. That is the most recent Wilkes-Barre, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 163 journeyman rate is $45.08 an hour ($70.43 total package), effective 06/01/2025 — roughly $90,160 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 163 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-163-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $45.08 hourly scale, the $70.43 total package and the 06/01/2025 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 163 journeyman rate is $45.08/hour, with a total package of $70.43/hour including fringe benefits, effective 06/01/2025. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $90,160 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 163 business office before relying on the figure.
The $45.08/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $70.43/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 163 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 $45.08/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.29–$22.54/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 163 is headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 163 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 163 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 163 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 163 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 06/01/2025 schedule; check with the Local 163 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 163 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Wilkes-Barre, PA, 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 163 business office.
The IBEW Local 163 hall is at 1269 Sans Souci Pkwy, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706, serving Wilkes-Barre, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (570) 823-4028.
IBEW Local 163 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (570) 823-4028 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 163 can be reached at (570) 823-4028. 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 163's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (570) 823-4028.
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 (570) 823-4028.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 163's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (570) 823-4028.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 163's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (570) 823-4028.
IBEW Local 163's sourced electrician (includes sound/communication, temperature controls and low-voltage wiring) union rate is $45.08/hr in base wages and $70.43/hr for the total package, effective June 1, 2025. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$45.08/hr in base wages for electrician (includes sound/communication, temperature controls and low-voltage wiring), or $70.43/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 1, 2025 per the U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination PA20260095, rev. 3 wage determination.
June 1, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination PA20260095, rev. 3) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $45.08/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $25.35/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $70.43/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.