Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 231 in Sioux City, IA earn $40.68/hr in base wages, or $59.77/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Dec 2025.
IBEW Local 231 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 231 pay scale for 2026 is $40.68 per hour for journeymen in Sioux City, IA, or about $81,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $59.77 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/22/25.
| Local 231 journeyman hourly wage | $40.68 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $59.77 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $81,360 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.31–$20.34 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 12/22/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 231 apprentice in Sioux City, IA starts at roughly $18.31 an hour — about 45% of the $40.68 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.51 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 231 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.31 / hour | $36,612 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.37 / hour | $44,748 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $26.44 / hour | $52,884 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $30.51 / hour | $61,020 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $34.58 / hour | $69,156 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $40.68 / hour | $81,360 |
IBEW Local 231 represents skilled electrical workers across the tri-state region surrounding Sioux City, Iowa, extending its reach into parts of Nebraska and South Dakota. As a cornerstone of the regional construction industry since 2014 and earlier, this local provides the specialized labor force necessary for large-scale commercial developments, food processing facilities, and essential infrastructure projects. The union focuses on maintaining rigorous safety standards and technical proficiency, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to electricians capable of handling complex integrated systems, high-voltage installations, and sophisticated building automation common in the modern industrial landscape of the Great Plains.
The Sioux City market serves as a vital hub for agricultural processing and manufacturing, which creates a consistent demand for high-tier electrical talent. Local 231 members work under a collective bargaining agreement that stabilizes labor costs for contractors while providing workers with sustainable middle-class earnings. By centralizing training through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, the local ensures that the next generation of wiremen is prepared for the transition toward renewable energy and advanced industrial controls. This regional footprint makes Local 231 a critical partner for any developer or mechanical contractor operating within the Woodbury County corridor and its surrounding jurisdictions.
The wage structure for IBEW Local 231 is defined by a clear hierarchy that rewards skill acquisition and time in grade. As of the December 2025 schedule, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is set at $40.68, contributing to a total compensation package of $59.77 when including all fringe benefits. Apprentices typically begin their careers earning a percentage of this journeyman rate, often starting between 40% and 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This progression ensures that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors while providing a transparent path for workers to reach full scale. Members should verify the exact percentage steps with the Sioux City JATC to account for current year adjustments.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 231 encompasses a significant tri-state territory centered in Sioux City, Iowa. It covers several counties in Northwest Iowa, Northeast Nebraska, and Southeast South Dakota, providing a wide geographic range for dispatch and project placement. Work performed under this agreement includes all inside electrical wiring for commercial, industrial, and residential structures, as well as maintenance and repair of existing electrical systems. Traveling members or those transferring from other locals must report to the Sioux City business office to confirm their standing on the out-of-work list. The jurisdiction is characterized by a mix of urban development in the metro area and significant industrial sites in the outlying rural sectors.
The signatory landscape for Local 231 is comprised of a diverse group of electrical contractors ranging from small service-oriented shops to large-scale industrial primes. These firms frequently partner with regional mechanical contractors to deliver turnkey solutions for the area's massive food production and distribution centers. Hiring through the union hall allows these contractors to scale their workforce rapidly in response to large project bids without maintaining permanent overhead. For the electrician, this landscape offers variety across different sectors, including healthcare, education, and heavy industrial work, providing a buffer against localized economic shifts in any single building segment.
As of the December 2025 update, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is $40.68. The total package, which includes all fringes such as health insurance and pension contributions, is $59.77. These rates are negotiated through the collective bargaining process and apply to all signatory work performed within the local's jurisdiction.
Yes, through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) in Sioux City, members have access to advanced training modules. This includes instruction on PLC programming, industrial motor controls, and automation systems, which are highly relevant given the high concentration of manufacturing and processing plants in the Northwest Iowa region.
Members typically participate in multiple retirement vehicles, including a local pension fund and the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF). Contributions are paid by the signatory employer for every hour worked, ensuring that retirement security is built throughout the member's career without deducting from the base hourly take-home pay.
Work availability for travelers depends on the local's current Book 1 numbers and the volume of large-scale projects in the area. When local manpower is exhausted, the business manager will call for Book 2 hands. Travelers must have a current travel letter from their home local and a valid dues receipt to sign the out-of-work list.
IBEW Local 231 is seated in Sioux City, Iowa (IA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Iowa — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Sioux City and the rest of Iowa, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 231. 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 231 pay scale for 2026 is $40.68 per hour for journeymen in Sioux City, IA, or about $81,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $59.77 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/22/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 231 agreement make $40.68 an hour in base wages, or $59.77 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 12/22/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$40.68 per hour base wage and $59.77 per hour total package for a journeyman in Sioux City, IA, effective 12/22/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $81,360 before overtime.
A Local 231 apprentice in Sioux City, IA starts at roughly $18.31 an hour — about 45% of the $40.68 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.51 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 231 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.31 an hour, or roughly $36,612 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $40.68 journeyman rate effective 12/22/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $26.44 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $30.51 an hour in the fourth period and $40.68 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 231 training center.
The current IBEW Local 231 journeyman rate is $40.68/hour, with a total package of $59.77/hour including fringe benefits, effective 12/22/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $81,360 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 231 business office before relying on the figure.
The $40.68/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $59.77/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 231 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 $40.68/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.31–$20.34/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 231 is headquartered in Sioux City, IA 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 231 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 231 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 231 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 231 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 12/22/25 schedule; check with the Local 231 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 231 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.