Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 197 in Bloomington, IL earn $48/hr in base wages, or $72.87/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
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IBEW Local 197 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 197 pay scale for 2026 is $48.00 per hour for journeymen in Bloomington, IL, or about $96,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $72.87 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
| Local 197 journeyman hourly wage | $48.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $72.87 / 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 | 6/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 197 apprentice in Bloomington, 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 197 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 197 wages: $48.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $72.87 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/26/26. That is the most recent Bloomington, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 34% of the IBEW Local 197 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 197 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 26, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $24.87/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 197 scale used across the Bloomington, 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 Bloomington 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 Bloomington. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 197 rates. For current Bloomington scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 197 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 197 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area and surrounding Central Illinois counties. Since 2014, our recruitment focus in this region has highlighted the local's role in supporting commercial, industrial, and residential infrastructure. The membership provides high-voltage power distribution, lighting systems, and integrated control work for a variety of critical facilities. As a chartered affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the local maintains rigorous standards for craftsmanship and safety, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a highly trained workforce capable of executing complex electrical installations in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
The Bloomington market serves as a vital hub for insurance, higher education, and manufacturing, all of which require sophisticated electrical support. Local 197 members are essential to the maintenance and expansion of these sectors, providing the technical expertise needed for data centers, campus facilities, and industrial plants. The local's commitment to the Council on Industrial Relations process ensures labor stability, which attracts large-scale capital investments to the region. By fostering a collaborative relationship between labor and management, Local 197 secures competitive compensation for its members while delivering reliable, code-compliant results for developers and institutional owners across the Central Illinois territory.
Based on the June 2026 schedule, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate is set at $48.00, contributing to a total compensation package of $72.87 per hour. This total package includes employer-paid benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions that are not deducted from the base check. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically 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. These scheduled increases reward the accumulation of technical skill and field experience. By the final year of the five-year apprenticeship, workers earn significantly closer to the full scale before reaching journeyman status upon successful completion of the JATC program and state-recognized certification.
The chartered jurisdiction of IBEW Local 197 covers a significant portion of Central Illinois, centered in McLean County. The territory extends to serve parts of Woodford, Livingston, and DeWitt counties, ensuring a consistent labor pool for projects within the Bloomington-Normal corridor. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from municipal infrastructure projects to private industrial expansions. The local maintains jurisdiction over all inside electrical work, including power wiring, instrumentation, and telecommunications cabling. This defined geographical footprint allows for efficient dispatching and localized training tailored to the specific code requirements and industrial standards prevalent in the Illinois heartland, providing contractors with logistical certainty regarding labor availability and specialized skill sets.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 197 is comprised of a diverse mix of regional electrical firms and specialized industrial contractors. These entities range from large-scope mechanical-electrical primes that handle multi-million dollar institutional projects to smaller, service-oriented shops focusing on residential and light commercial maintenance. Signatory partners benefit from a centralized dispatch system and the ability to scale their workforce rapidly based on project demands. The presence of large manufacturing and institutional entities in the McLean County area drives steady demand for contractors who can provide 24/7 service and sophisticated electrical system troubleshooting, maintaining a high standard of living for the local's membership through consistent man-hours.
The $48.00 hourly wage is the gross amount appearing on your paycheck before taxes. The $72.87 total package includes an additional $24.87 per hour paid by the contractor into your benefits. These fringes cover your health insurance, pension contributions, and training, meaning you do not pay for these out of your base hourly rate, providing a significantly higher true value than non-union roles.
Transfers, or 'traveling,' are governed by the IBEW Constitution. If you are a member in good standing from another local, you may work in Local 197's jurisdiction via a Book 2 signing. Permanent transfers, known as 'changing your ticket,' usually require a period of working in the jurisdiction and approval by the Local 197 executive board and membership.
The Inside Wireman apprenticeship is a five-year program. It combines 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of journeymen with mandatory classroom instruction. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are fully competent in all aspects of the trade, from basic circuitry to advanced industrial motor controls and green energy systems.
Under the standard IBEW collective bargaining agreement, members are required to provide a specific list of hand tools. The contractor is responsible for providing all power tools, ladders, specialized testing equipment, and consumable materials like drill bits and hacksaw blades. This 'tool list' ensures that members are mobile and prepared while limiting their personal overhead costs.
IBEW Local 197 is seated in Bloomington, 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 197 pay scale for 2026 is $48.00 per hour for journeymen in Bloomington, IL, or about $96,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $72.87 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 197 agreement make $48.00 an hour in base wages, or $72.87 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$48.00 per hour base wage and $72.87 per hour total package for a journeyman in Bloomington, IL, effective 6/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $96,000 before overtime.
A Local 197 apprentice in Bloomington, 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 197 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 6/26/26. 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 197 training center.
Local 197 wages: $48.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $72.87 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/26/26. That is the most recent Bloomington, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 197 journeyman rate is $48.00 an hour ($72.87 total package), effective 6/26/26 — 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 197 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-197-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $48.00 hourly scale, the $72.87 total package and the 6/26/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 197 journeyman rate is $48.00/hour, with a total package of $72.87/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. 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 197 business office before relying on the figure.
The $48.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $72.87/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 197 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 197 is headquartered in Bloomington, 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 197 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 197 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 197 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 197 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 6/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 197 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 197 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 197 hall is at 2407 Beich Rd A, Bloomington, IL 61705, serving Bloomington, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 197 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 197 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 $72.87/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 26, 2026 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
June 26, 2026. 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 $24.87/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $72.87/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.