Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 265 in Lincoln, NE earn $35/hr in base wages, or $60.50/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Feb 2026.
IBEW Local 265 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 265 pay scale for 2026 is $35.00 per hour for journeymen in Lincoln, NE, or about $70,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $60.50 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/18/26.
| Local 265 journeyman hourly wage | $35.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $60.50 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $70,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.75–$17.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 2/18/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 265 apprentice in Lincoln, NE starts at roughly $15.75 an hour — about 45% of the $35.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.25 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 265 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.75 / hour | $31,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.25 / hour | $38,500 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.75 / hour | $45,500 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $26.25 / hour | $52,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $29.75 / hour | $59,500 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $35.00 / hour | $70,000 |
IBEW Local 265 represents professional electricians across Lincoln, Nebraska, and the surrounding southeast region of the state. As the primary labor organization for the electrical trade in this market, the local provides a skilled workforce for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. The jurisdiction is characterized by a mix of institutional work, including university facilities and state government buildings, alongside a growing industrial sector. By maintaining high standards for safety and technical proficiency, Local 265 ensures that signatory contractors have access to the most productive wiremen in the region, supporting the essential infrastructure of Nebraska’s capital city and its neighboring communities.
The local electrical market in Lincoln relies on the partnership between IBEW Local 265 and its signatory contractors to deliver complex power, lighting, and data systems. This relationship is governed by a collective bargaining agreement that establishes standardized wages, benefits, and working conditions. For the tradesperson, this provides a clear career path with structured advancement; for the contractor, it offers a scalable pool of pre-qualified labor. As the region continues to expand its manufacturing and tech footprint, the demand for licensed journeymen who are trained in the latest National Electrical Code requirements remains high, making this local a critical hub for the regional construction economy.
Based on the figures effective February 18, 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 265 is $35.00. When including the comprehensive fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $60.50 per hour. This reflects the value of the highly skilled labor provided to signatory partners. Apprentices in the Lincoln JATC program earn a progressive percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases ensure that as an apprentice's technical competency grows, their compensation reflects their contribution to the job site. All members should verify their specific classification and current deduction rates with the Local 265 business office to account for any recent adjustments to the collective bargaining agreement.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 265 covers a significant portion of Southeastern Nebraska, centered around the Lincoln metropolitan area. This chartered territory includes the responsibility for all electrical construction, maintenance, and repair work performed under the Inside Wireman agreement. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from high-density urban developments in downtown Lincoln to industrial facilities in the outlying counties. The local manages a referral system that ensures qualified workers are placed on projects based on their skills and seniority. Traveling members or those seeking to transfer must adhere to the specific dispatch rules and residency requirements established by the local's bylaws and the international office, ensuring a stable labor supply across the entire chartered region.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 265 consists of a diverse group of signatory employers ranging from small specialty shops to large-scale regional mechanical and electrical primes. These contractors operate across several sectors, including public works, healthcare facilities, and private commercial developments. The hiring environment is driven by the local's referral hall, which matches member skill sets with contractor needs for specific project phases. While Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the market since 2014, we do not name specific firms; however, the signatory list includes established local businesses that prioritize safety and quality, ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects in the Lincoln area are completed by a workforce trained to the highest industry standards.
The $35.00 hourly wage is the gross pay before taxes, while the $60.50 total package includes employer-paid benefits. These benefits, such as health insurance and pension contributions, are paid by the signatory contractor on top of the hourly rate. This ensures members have high-quality insurance and retirement security without these costs being deducted from their take-home hourly pay.
Yes, through the Lincoln JATC, Local 265 provides ongoing training for journeymen to stay current with evolving technology. This includes certifications in EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), instrumentation, fire alarm systems, and advanced motor controls. Keeping these certifications current allows members to remain competitive and eligible for specialized calls in the referral hall.
Wage increases are typically negotiated as part of the multi-year collective bargaining agreement between the IBEW and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases are often scheduled annually or semi-annually. The specific allocation between the base wage and fringe benefits is usually determined by a vote of the membership before the effective date.
Travelers, or 'Book II' hands, are frequently utilized when local projects exceed the capacity of the Local 265 membership. Large-scale industrial or institutional projects often create these opportunities. Interested travelers must sign the out-of-work list at the Lincoln hall and provide a current travel letter from their home local, adhering to all IBEW international referral procedures.
IBEW Local 265 is seated in Lincoln, Nebraska (NE). We hold published wage sheets for 4 locals across Nebraska — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Lincoln and the rest of Nebraska, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 265. 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 265 pay scale for 2026 is $35.00 per hour for journeymen in Lincoln, NE, or about $70,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $60.50 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/18/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 265 agreement make $35.00 an hour in base wages, or $60.50 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 2/18/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$35.00 per hour base wage and $60.50 per hour total package for a journeyman in Lincoln, NE, effective 2/18/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $70,000 before overtime.
A Local 265 apprentice in Lincoln, NE starts at roughly $15.75 an hour — about 45% of the $35.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.25 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 265 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.75 an hour, or roughly $31,500 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $35.00 journeyman rate effective 2/18/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.75 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $26.25 an hour in the fourth period and $35.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 265 training center.
The current IBEW Local 265 journeyman rate is $35.00/hour, with a total package of $60.50/hour including fringe benefits, effective 2/18/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $70,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 265 business office before relying on the figure.
The $35.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $60.50/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 265 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 $35.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.75–$17.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 265 is headquartered in Lincoln, NE 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 265 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 265 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 265 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 265 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 2/18/26 schedule; check with the Local 265 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 265 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.