Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 226 in Topeka, KS earn $36.20/hr in base wages, or $54.44/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Nov 2023. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
IBEW Local 226 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 226 pay scale is $36.20 per hour for journeymen in Topeka, KS, or about $72,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $54.44 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 226 journeyman hourly wage | $36.20 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $54.44 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $72,400 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $16.29–$18.10 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 11/25/23 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 226 apprentice in Topeka, KS starts at roughly $16.29 an hour — about 45% of the $36.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $27.15 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 226 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $16.29 / hour | $32,580 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.91 / hour | $39,820 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $23.53 / hour | $47,060 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $27.15 / hour | $54,300 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $30.77 / hour | $61,540 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $36.20 / hour | $72,400 |
IBEW Local 226 represents professional electricians across Topeka and North Central Kansas, serving as a critical hub for electrical labor in the region. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has observed how this local supports the state capital's infrastructure, ranging from government facility maintenance to large-scale industrial projects. The membership consists of highly skilled wiremen who adhere to National Electrical Code standards, ensuring that signatory contractors maintain a competitive edge through superior workmanship and safety protocols. This local is instrumental in maintaining the power systems of major educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and manufacturing plants throughout its chartered territory.
The market in Topeka and its surrounding counties relies on the structured labor supply provided by Local 226 to handle complex electrical distributions and renewable energy integrations. As the construction landscape evolves toward smart building technologies and specialized industrial automation, the local's commitment to continuous training ensures its workforce remains relevant. For contractors, partnering with this local provides access to a scalable pool of journey-level talent, while members benefit from collective bargaining that secures middle-class wages and comprehensive benefits. The regional economy's stability is bolstered by these high-standard installations that power the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of Kansas.
Based on the figures effective November 25, 2023, the journeyman hourly rate for IBEW Local 226 is set at $36.20, contributing to a total package of $54.44 per hour when including fringe benefits. Apprentices entering the program typically begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting between 40% and 50%, with incremental raises every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and successful classroom completion. This structured progression ensures that as a worker's skill set increases, their compensation reflects their value to the signatory mechanical and electrical primes. The $18.24 difference between the base wage and the total package covers essential employer-paid contributions to health, retirement, and training funds, providing a level of security not typically found in the non-union electrical sector.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 226 encompasses a significant portion of North Central and Northeast Kansas, centered around the Topeka metropolitan area. Its territory covers diverse environments, from the dense commercial corridors of the capital city to the industrial zones in outlying counties. Members are dispatched to a variety of job sites including state government buildings, food processing facilities, and regional hospitals. The local maintains strict jurisdiction over all inside electrical work, including power distribution, lighting, and low-voltage systems. Travel requirements are dictated by the dispatch office, with clear guidelines in the collective bargaining agreement regarding zone pay or mileage for projects located at a distance from the Topeka headquarters.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 226 is defined by a mix of long-standing regional electrical firms and specialized industrial contractors. These signatory entities range from small shops focusing on commercial service and tenant improvements to large primes capable of managing multi-million dollar capital projects. We track the hiring trends of these firms to understand labor demand for institutional upgrades and infrastructure expansions. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is governed by the Labor-Management Cooperation Committee, ensuring that bidding remains competitive while maintaining the high safety standards required for high-voltage and complex industrial electrical work.
The hourly wage of $36.20 is the gross amount appearing on a member's paycheck. The total package of $54.44 includes an additional $18.24 per hour paid by the employer into fringe benefits like health insurance, pensions, and training funds. These benefits are not deducted from the hourly wage but are paid in addition to it, creating a significantly higher total compensation value than the base rate suggests.
Yes, through the JATC, members can access training for specialized certifications such as EVITP for electric vehicle infrastructure, instrumentation, and fire alarm systems. These certifications allow journeymen to work on a broader range of complex projects, making them more valuable to signatory contractors and ensuring the local can man projects requiring highly specific technical expertise in the Topeka market.
Travel opportunities depend entirely on the current Book 1 work demand. When local projects exceed the capacity of the resident membership, the hall may open calls to Book 2 travelers. Prospective travelers should check the Local 226 job line or contact the dispatcher to confirm current work volume and any specific requirements for out-of-state electricians entering the Kansas jurisdiction.
Members work on a diverse array of projects including state legislative buildings, university campus expansions, large-scale data centers, and manufacturing facilities. The jurisdiction also sees significant work in healthcare, providing electrical systems for hospitals and clinics. This variety ensures that members gain experience in both rigid conduit industrial environments and high-efficiency commercial building systems common in the Topeka region.
IBEW Local 226 is seated in Topeka, Kansas (KS). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Kansas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Topeka and the rest of Kansas, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 226. 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 226 pay scale is $36.20 per hour for journeymen in Topeka, KS, or about $72,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $54.44 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 226 agreement make $36.20 an hour in base wages, or $54.44 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 11/25/23. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$36.20 per hour base wage and $54.44 per hour total package for a journeyman in Topeka, KS, effective 11/25/23. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $72,400 before overtime.
A Local 226 apprentice in Topeka, KS starts at roughly $16.29 an hour — about 45% of the $36.20 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $27.15 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 226 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $16.29 an hour, or roughly $32,580 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $36.20 journeyman rate effective 11/25/23. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $23.53 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $27.15 an hour in the fourth period and $36.20 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 226 training center.
The current IBEW Local 226 journeyman rate is $36.20/hour, with a total package of $54.44/hour including fringe benefits, effective 11/25/23. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $72,400 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 226 business office before relying on the figure.
The $36.20/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $54.44/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 226 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 $36.20/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $16.29–$18.10/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 226 is headquartered in Topeka, KS 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 226 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 226 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 226 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 226 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 11/25/23 schedule; check with the Local 226 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 226 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.