Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 246 in Steubenville, OH earn $45.50/hr in base wages, or $81.64/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Mar 2026.
IBEW Local 246 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 246 pay scale for 2026 is $45.50 per hour for journeymen in Steubenville, OH, or about $91,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $81.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
| Local 246 journeyman hourly wage | $45.50 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $81.64 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $91,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.48–$22.75 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 3/1/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 246 apprentice in Steubenville, OH starts at roughly $20.48 an hour — about 45% of the $45.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.13 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 246 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.48 / hour | $40,950 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $25.03 / hour | $50,050 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.58 / hour | $59,150 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $34.13 / hour | $68,250 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $38.68 / hour | $77,350 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $45.50 / hour | $91,000 |
IBEW Local 246 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, centering its operations in Steubenville, Ohio. The local is a critical labor partner for the region's industrial and commercial infrastructure, providing a pipeline of certified electricians who adhere to the National Electrical Code. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market as a hub for heavy industrial power requirements and commercial development. Members of Local 246 are trained to handle complex electrical systems, including high-voltage installations, motor controls, and integrated building automation systems that define the modern landscape of Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia.
The market served by Local 246 is defined by its proximity to the Ohio River, which drives a significant demand for industrial electrical maintenance and capital improvement projects. Signatory contractors in this jurisdiction rely on the union to provide a workforce that meets rigorous safety standards, particularly in hazardous environments common to the region's manufacturing and energy sectors. By maintaining a centralized dispatch and training facility, Local 246 ensures that both small-scale commercial build-outs and massive industrial retrofits have access to the necessary manpower. This stability allows contractors to bid on long-term projects with confidence in labor costs and technical proficiency.
Based on the schedule effective March 1, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 246 is $45.50. When accounting for the full fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $81.64 per hour. Apprentices entering the program start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically ranging from 40% to 50% in the first year and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases are strictly governed by the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) guidelines, ensuring that pay remains commensurate with the apprentice's growing skill set. The $36.14 difference between the check rate and the total package covers essential benefits like retirement, health insurance, and ongoing journeyman training.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 246 covers several counties across Eastern Ohio and parts of West Virginia, centered around the Steubenville-Weirton metropolitan area. Work performed under this agreement includes all inside wiring for commercial, industrial, and residential structures, as well as specialized systems like fire alarms and telecommunications. Members are dispatched through the Steubenville hiring hall, which manages the out-of-work list to ensure fair labor distribution. Contractors operating within this territory must adhere to the local's work rules regarding crew ratios and safety protocols. The proximity to the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders often results in regional collaboration on large-scale infrastructure projects requiring significant electrical manpower.
The contractor landscape in the Steubenville market is a mix of long-standing local shops and large-scale regional electrical primes. Many of these firms specialize in industrial service for the remaining steel and manufacturing facilities along the Ohio River, while others focus on the growing healthcare and education sectors. Signatory contractors benefit from a flexible labor pool that can scale quickly for shutdowns or emergency repairs. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major capital projects at nearby industrial sites or regional utility upgrades. Because Local 246 maintains a high standard of training, these contractors are often the preferred choice for projects requiring complex electrical integration and high-level safety compliance.
The Journeyman rate of $45.50 is the gross hourly amount paid directly on the member's paycheck. The Total Package of $81.64 includes the additional $36.14 in employer-paid benefits, such as health insurance, pensions, and training funds. These fringes are paid by the contractor in addition to the wage and are not deducted from the hourly check rate.
Yes, Local 246 has a multi-state jurisdiction that includes counties in both Eastern Ohio and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, such as Brooke and Hancock counties. This allows members to work across state lines within the Steubenville-Weirton market under the same collective bargaining agreement, providing consistency in wages and benefits for the regional workforce.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the IBEW and the local NECA chapter. These increases are usually scheduled annually or bi-annually. The current data reflects a scheduled adjustment effective March 2026. Members and contractors should refer to the specific CBA anniversary dates to plan for labor cost adjustments.
Travelers and members seeking a permanent transfer must follow the IBEW Constitution's procedures. This typically involves signing the Book II out-of-work list for temporary assignments. Permanent transfers, or 'moving your card,' require the approval of the Local 246 Business Manager and Executive Board, usually after a member has worked a specific number of hours in the jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 246 is seated in Steubenville, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Steubenville and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 246. 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 246 pay scale for 2026 is $45.50 per hour for journeymen in Steubenville, OH, or about $91,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $81.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 246 agreement make $45.50 an hour in base wages, or $81.64 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 3/1/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$45.50 per hour base wage and $81.64 per hour total package for a journeyman in Steubenville, OH, effective 3/1/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $91,000 before overtime.
A Local 246 apprentice in Steubenville, OH starts at roughly $20.48 an hour — about 45% of the $45.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.13 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 246 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.48 an hour, or roughly $40,950 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $45.50 journeyman rate effective 3/1/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.58 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $34.13 an hour in the fourth period and $45.50 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 246 training center.
The current IBEW Local 246 journeyman rate is $45.50/hour, with a total package of $81.64/hour including fringe benefits, effective 3/1/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $91,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 246 business office before relying on the figure.
The $45.50/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $81.64/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 246 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 $45.50/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.48–$22.75/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 246 is headquartered in Steubenville, OH 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 246 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 246 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 246 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 246 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 3/1/26 schedule; check with the Local 246 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 246 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.