Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 238 in Asheville, NC earn $32.02/hr in base wages, or $45.91/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
The Local 238 pay scale for 2026 is $32.02 per hour for journeymen in Asheville, NC, or about $64,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.91 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/01/2025.
| Local 238 journeyman hourly wage | $32.02 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $45.91 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $64,040 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $14.41–$16.01 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 06/01/2025 |
| Classification | Electrician |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 238 apprentice in Asheville, NC starts at roughly $14.41 an hour — about 45% of the $32.02 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $24.02 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 238 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $14.41 / hour | $28,818 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $17.61 / hour | $35,222 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $20.81 / hour | $41,626 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $24.02 / hour | $48,030 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $27.22 / hour | $54,434 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $32.02 / hour | $64,040 |
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IBEW Local 238 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 238 wages for 2025: $32.02 an hour on the journeyman scale, $45.91 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/01/2025. That is the most recent Asheville, NC sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 30% of the IBEW Local 238 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 NC20260016, rev. 1
Download the IBEW Local 238 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 1, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $13.89/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 238 scale used across the Asheville, NC 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 Asheville 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 Asheville. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 238 rates. For current Asheville scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 238 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (828) 505-0216 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 238 serves as the primary labor organization for electrical workers throughout Western North Carolina, maintaining its headquarters in Asheville. Since 2014, our recruitment specialists have observed this local's role in supplying skilled manpower for a variety of sectors, ranging from municipal infrastructure to specialized medical facility expansions. The market is characterized by a mix of commercial construction and industrial maintenance, driven by the regional growth of the Blue Ridge corridor. Members of Local 238 are trained to handle complex electrical systems, including high-voltage distribution, motor controls, and integrated building automation systems, ensuring that signatory contractors maintain a competitive edge through superior craftsmanship and safety standards.
The Asheville market presents unique challenges due to its geographic diversity and the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. IBEW Local 238 addresses these needs by providing a standardized workforce that adheres to the National Electrical Code and rigorous safety protocols. As the region attracts more high-tech manufacturing and hospitality development, the reliance on a certified, journey-level workforce becomes critical for project timelines and budget adherence. For the individual electrician, membership provides a structured career path with clear wage benchmarks and portable benefits that are not typically found in the non-union residential sector. This stability is a cornerstone of the labor market in Western North Carolina.
Based on the figures effective October 21, 2022, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 238 is set at $27.43. When accounting for the full fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $38.91 per hour. Apprenticeship wages are calculated as a progressive percentage of the Journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% for first-year students and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth and final year, an apprentice usually earns approximately 80% to 85% of the full scale. This transparent structure allows workers to project their earnings as they advance from entry-level tasks to complex system installations, providing a predictable financial trajectory within the Asheville electrical trade.
The territorial jurisdiction of IBEW Local 238 covers a significant portion of Western North Carolina, anchored by the Asheville metropolitan area. The charter includes numerous counties across the Appalachian highlands, where the local manages the dispatch of labor for inside wireman work. This encompasses all electrical installations within the property lines of commercial, industrial, and institutional sites. While the headquarters is in Asheville, members may be dispatched to job sites across the rural mountain counties, requiring reliable transportation. The jurisdiction ensures that all signatory work within these borders is performed under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, maintaining labor harmony and consistent quality standards for regional developers and general contractors.
["The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 238 is composed of a diverse array of electrical firms, ranging from large regional primes to specialized boutique shops. These contractors focus heavily on institutional projects, such as healthcare facilities and educational campuses, as well as industrial maintenance for the area's manufacturing base. Hiring fluctuates based on major project starts, but the local maintains a steady presence in the commercial tenant improvement and municipal infrastructure sectors. Signatory firms benefit from a pool of pre-screened, drug-tested, and highly trained professionals, which mitigates the risks associated with the current skilled labor shortage in the broader North Carolina construction industry."]
The hourly rate of $27.43 is the gross pay an electrician sees on their paycheck before taxes. The total package of $38.91 includes the hourly wage plus the value of all employer-paid fringes like health insurance and retirement funds. This means the contractor pays an additional $11.48 per hour in benefits that are not deducted from the worker's base pay.
While the apprenticeship provides the necessary training to meet state standards, specific licensing requirements depend on the job role. Generally, the local encourages all journeymen to obtain their North Carolina electrical contractor or journeyman license to maximize their employability. The JATC training program is specifically designed to prepare students for these state examinations while they gain practical experience.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the IBEW and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These adjustments typically occur annually or bi-annually. Apprentices receive more frequent raises as they progress through the five-year program, provided they meet the requisite work hours and maintain passing grades in their classroom modules.
Yes, through the IBEW's reciprocity system, members from other locals can work in Local 238's jurisdiction as 'travelers.' They must report to the Asheville hall, sign the appropriate Book 2 out-of-work list, and be dispatched to a signatory contractor. Their home local's benefits are usually maintained through the ERTS (Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System) to ensure continuity of health and pension credits.
IBEW Local 238 is seated in Asheville, North Carolina (NC). We hold published wage sheets for 5 locals across North Carolina — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Asheville and the rest of North Carolina, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 238. 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 238 pay scale for 2026 is $32.02 per hour for journeymen in Asheville, NC, or about $64,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.91 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 06/01/2025.
IBEW Local 238 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $32.02 per hour in Asheville, NC, with a total package of $45.91 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 238 business office.
The IBEW Local 238 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $32.02 per hour ($45.91 per hour total package), effective 06/01/2025, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 238 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 06/01/2025 with the hall.
Local 238 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $32.02 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($14.41–$16.01 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 238 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 238 agreement make $32.02 an hour in base wages, or $45.91 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.
$32.02 per hour base wage and $45.91 per hour total package for a journeyman in Asheville, NC, effective 06/01/2025. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $64,040 before overtime.
A Local 238 apprentice in Asheville, NC starts at roughly $14.41 an hour — about 45% of the $32.02 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $24.02 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 238 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $14.41 an hour, or roughly $28,818 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $32.02 journeyman rate effective 06/01/2025. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $20.81 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $24.02 an hour in the fourth period and $32.02 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 238 training center.
Local 238 wages for 2025: $32.02 an hour on the journeyman scale, $45.91 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 06/01/2025. That is the most recent Asheville, NC sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 238 journeyman rate is $32.02 an hour ($45.91 total package), effective 06/01/2025 — roughly $64,040 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 238 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-238-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $32.02 hourly scale, the $45.91 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 238 journeyman rate is $32.02/hour, with a total package of $45.91/hour including fringe benefits, effective 06/01/2025. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $64,040 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 238 business office before relying on the figure.
The $32.02/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $45.91/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 238 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 $32.02/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $14.41–$16.01/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 238 is headquartered in Asheville, NC 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 238 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 238 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 238 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 238 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 238 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 238 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Asheville, NC, 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 238 business office.
The IBEW Local 238 hall is at 46 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC 28806, serving Asheville, NC and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (828) 505-0216.
IBEW Local 238 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (828) 505-0216 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 238 can be reached at (828) 505-0216. 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 238's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (828) 505-0216.
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 (828) 505-0216.
IBEW Local 238's published sources state: Journeyman local working dues of $1.43 per hour; Initial sign-in for work must be in person; Apprentices must be 18+ with high school algebra credit. Source: IBEW Local 238's published materials; figures can change, so confirm with the hall.
IBEW Local 238's published sources list: Contractor-paid health care; Pension plan and NEBF; Vacation fund; Asheville Electrical JATC training. Source: IBEW Local 238's published materials; figures can change, so confirm with the hall.
IBEW Local 238's sourced electrician union rate is $32.02/hr in base wages and $45.91/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.
$32.02/hr in base wages for electrician, or $45.91/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 1, 2025 per the U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination NC20260016, rev. 1 wage determination.
June 1, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determination NC20260016, rev. 1) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $32.02/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $13.89/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $45.91/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.