Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 175 in Chattanooga, TN earn $37.92/hr in base wages, or $53.49/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
IBEW Local 175 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 175 pay scale for 2026 is $37.92 per hour for journeymen in Chattanooga, TN, or about $75,840 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $53.49 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/25/26.
| Local 175 journeyman hourly wage | $37.92 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $53.49 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $75,840 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $17.06–$18.96 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/25/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 175 apprentice in Chattanooga, TN starts at roughly $17.06 an hour — about 45% of the $37.92 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $28.44 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 175 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $17.06 / hour | $34,128 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $20.86 / hour | $41,712 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $24.65 / hour | $49,296 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $28.44 / hour | $56,880 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $32.23 / hour | $64,464 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $37.92 / hour | $75,840 |
IBEW Local 175 serves as the primary labor organization for electrical workers across Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and parts of Alabama. Headquartered in Chattanooga, this local represents a diverse membership involved in inside wireman work, outside line construction, and telecommunications. The market is defined by a heavy industrial presence, significant utility infrastructure projects, and a growing commercial sector driven by regional economic development. Local 175 ensures that its members are trained to the highest industry standards, providing signatory contractors with a skilled workforce capable of handling complex electrical installations in high-voltage environments, manufacturing facilities, and modern commercial developments.
The Chattanooga market has become a focal point for large-scale capital projects, ranging from automotive manufacturing expansions to data center construction. For electricians, this means Local 175 provides a stable pipeline of work governed by collective bargaining agreements that prioritize safety and fair compensation. The local's influence extends beyond just labor supply; it maintains a robust Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) facility that serves as the hub for career development. By organizing the electrical trade in this tri-state region, Local 175 maintains market share and wage standards that reflect the high level of technical expertise required for modern electrical systems and grid maintenance.
Based on the figures effective July 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 175 is set at $37.92. When factoring in the fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $53.49 per hour. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40-50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the final year of the five-year program, an apprentice's wage closely mirrors the full journeyman scale. These scheduled increases are strictly governed by the JATC and the collective bargaining agreement, providing a transparent and predictable path toward the full $37.92 hourly rate and the associated $15.57 in benefit contributions.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 175 is geographically expansive, covering twenty-eight counties across three states. In Tennessee, the territory centers on Hamilton County and extends into the surrounding Southeast Tennessee region. It also includes several counties in North Georgia and Northeast Alabama. The work covered under this charter includes all inside electrical wiring, industrial motor controls, renewable energy installations, and maintenance of existing electrical infrastructure. Members are dispatched from the Chattanooga hall to various job sites within this footprint. Contractors operating in this region must adhere to the specific work rules and manning requirements outlined in the Local 175 agreement, ensuring consistency across diverse projects from rural substations to urban high-rises.
The contractor landscape within Local 175's jurisdiction is a mix of long-standing regional electrical firms and major national industrial contractors. These signatory employers range from specialized residential and commercial shops to massive industrial electrical entities that manage multi-year contracts for manufacturing plants and utility providers. The hiring environment is driven largely by the capital expenditure cycles of the region's major industrial tenants and public works projects. Signatory contractors benefit from the referral system, which allows them to scale their workforce rapidly in response to project demands while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship and safety compliance across the Chattanooga metro area.
As of the July 2026 update, the journeyman hourly wage is $37.92. This is the base rate paid on the check and does not include the additional fringe benefits that bring the total compensation package to $53.49. These rates are subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between Local 175 and the Southeastern Line Constructors or NECA chapters.
Yes, Local 175 provides advanced journeyman wireman classes through its JATC. Given the heavy industrial nature of the Chattanooga market, training often includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motor controls, instrumentation, and hazardous location wiring. These certifications allow members to maintain a competitive edge and fulfill the specific requirements of large-scale manufacturing and utility signatory contractors.
Local 175 covers a large tri-state area. When work is dispatched, the hall provides details on the project location and expected duration. While many projects are located within the immediate Chattanooga area, members may be required to travel to job sites in North Georgia or Alabama. The agreement outlines specific travel pay or subsistence rules if a project falls outside a certain radius of the city center.
Members of other IBEW locals can work in Local 175's jurisdiction as 'travelers' by signing the Book II at the hall. For a permanent transfer of membership (becoming a 'Book I' member), one must typically reside in the jurisdiction for a specific period and receive approval from the Local 175 executive board, following the procedures in the IBEW Constitution.
IBEW Local 175 is seated in Chattanooga, Tennessee (TN). We hold published wage sheets for 14 locals across Tennessee — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Chattanooga and the rest of Tennessee, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 175. 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 175 pay scale for 2026 is $37.92 per hour for journeymen in Chattanooga, TN, or about $75,840 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $53.49 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/25/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 175 agreement make $37.92 an hour in base wages, or $53.49 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/25/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$37.92 per hour base wage and $53.49 per hour total package for a journeyman in Chattanooga, TN, effective 7/25/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $75,840 before overtime.
A Local 175 apprentice in Chattanooga, TN starts at roughly $17.06 an hour — about 45% of the $37.92 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $28.44 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 175 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $17.06 an hour, or roughly $34,128 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $37.92 journeyman rate effective 7/25/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $24.65 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $28.44 an hour in the fourth period and $37.92 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 175 training center.
The current IBEW Local 175 journeyman rate is $37.92/hour, with a total package of $53.49/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/25/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $75,840 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 175 business office before relying on the figure.
The $37.92/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $53.49/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 175 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 $37.92/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $17.06–$18.96/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 175 is headquartered in Chattanooga, TN 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 175 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 175 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 175 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 175 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 7/25/26 schedule; check with the Local 175 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 175 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.