Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 252 in Ann Arbor, MI earn $50.44/hr in base wages, or $87.09/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Aug 2026.
IBEW Local 252 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 252 pay scale for 2026 is $50.44 per hour for journeymen in Ann Arbor, MI, or about $100,880 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $87.09 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/11/26.
| Local 252 journeyman hourly wage | $50.44 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $87.09 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $100,880 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $22.70–$25.22 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/11/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 252 apprentice in Ann Arbor, MI starts at roughly $22.70 an hour — about 45% of the $50.44 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $37.83 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 252 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $22.70 / hour | $45,396 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $27.74 / hour | $55,484 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $32.79 / hour | $65,572 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $37.83 / hour | $75,660 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $42.87 / hour | $85,748 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $50.44 / hour | $100,880 |
IBEW Local 252 represents highly skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan region. Established as a cornerstone of the regional labor force, this local provides the specialized workforce necessary for complex electrical systems in academic, medical, and industrial environments. The jurisdiction is defined by its proximity to major research institutions and manufacturing corridors, requiring a membership that is proficient in advanced power distribution, lighting controls, and integrated communication systems. For contractors, the local provides a predictable, high-skill labor pool that adheres to rigorous National Electrical Code standards and safety protocols.
The Ann Arbor market presents unique demands due to the high density of institutional and healthcare facilities, which often require mission-critical power solutions and sophisticated low-voltage integrations. IBEW Local 252 members are frequently deployed to large-scale infrastructure projects that define the Washtenaw County landscape, as well as essential commercial developments in the surrounding areas. By maintaining a strict apprenticeship program and continuous journeyman upgrade training, the local ensures that its signatory contractors remain competitive against non-union entities through superior productivity and reduced long-term maintenance costs for end-users and property developers alike.
Based on the schedule effective August 11, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate is established at $50.44 per hour. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit package, the total hourly compensation reaches $87.09. This $36.65 fringe differential covers critical protections including healthcare, retirement, and training. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% and increasing in 5% to 10% increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases provide a transparent path to middle-class earnings while ensuring that labor costs remain proportional to the skill level and autonomy of the worker on the job site.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 252 centers on Washtenaw County and extends into portions of Jackson, Livingston, and Ingham counties. This geographic footprint covers the critical corridor between the Detroit metro area and Central Michigan, encompassing major municipalities like Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Saline. Work covered under this agreement includes all inside electrical wiring for commercial, industrial, and residential structures, as well as specialized systems like fire alarms, fiber optics, and renewable energy installations. Members are dispatched through the hiring hall based on a structured out-of-work list, ensuring that local talent is prioritized for projects within their home territory.
The signatory landscape for Local 252 consists of a diverse mix of large-scale mechanical-electrical firms and specialized boutique shops. These contractors range from industrial giants focused on automotive manufacturing and power generation to commercial electrical primes that dominate the university and healthcare sectors. The relationship between the union and its signatory partners is managed through the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) Michigan Chapter, ensuring stable labor relations and standardized bidding environments. Hiring typically scales with major institutional capital improvement cycles and regional industrial expansions, providing consistent opportunities for qualified inside wiremen across the Washtenaw region.
The $50.44 hourly wage is the taxable amount paid directly to the member on their paycheck. The $87.09 total package includes an additional $36.65 in employer-paid benefits like healthcare, pension, and training. These fringes are paid on top of the wage and are not deducted from the $50.44, representing the true cost of labor for signatory contractors.
The inside wireman apprenticeship through the Ann Arbor JATC generally takes five years to complete. During this time, apprentices work full-time for signatory contractors while attending classroom instruction. This model allows individuals to earn a living wage and receive incremental raises while they master the technical skills required for the journeyman wireman certification.
Travelers and those seeking a permanent transfer must follow the procedures outlined in the IBEW Constitution. This typically involves registering on the Book 2 out-of-work list and meeting specific local residency or work-hour requirements before requesting a change in membership status. All transfers are subject to the discretion of the Local 252 Business Manager and the needs of the local labor market.
Due to the presence of the University of Michigan and various major healthcare systems, much of the work in Local 252's jurisdiction involves high-spec institutional projects, research laboratories, and hospital expansions. Additionally, there is a significant industrial presence related to automotive R&D and manufacturing, requiring electricians skilled in motor controls, PLC systems, and heavy industrial power distribution.
IBEW Local 252 is seated in Ann Arbor, Michigan (MI). We hold published wage sheets for 22 locals across Michigan — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Ann Arbor and the rest of Michigan, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 252. 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 252 pay scale for 2026 is $50.44 per hour for journeymen in Ann Arbor, MI, or about $100,880 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $87.09 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/11/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 252 agreement make $50.44 an hour in base wages, or $87.09 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 8/11/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$50.44 per hour base wage and $87.09 per hour total package for a journeyman in Ann Arbor, MI, effective 8/11/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $100,880 before overtime.
A Local 252 apprentice in Ann Arbor, MI starts at roughly $22.70 an hour — about 45% of the $50.44 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $37.83 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 252 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $22.70 an hour, or roughly $45,396 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $50.44 journeyman rate effective 8/11/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $32.79 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $37.83 an hour in the fourth period and $50.44 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 252 training center.
The current IBEW Local 252 journeyman rate is $50.44/hour, with a total package of $87.09/hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/11/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $100,880 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 252 business office before relying on the figure.
The $50.44/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $87.09/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 252 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 $50.44/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $22.70–$25.22/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 252 is headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI 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 252 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 252 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 252 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 252 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 8/11/26 schedule; check with the Local 252 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 252 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.