Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 275 in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI earn $42/hr in base wages, or $65.88/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2025.
IBEW Local 275 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 275 pay scale for 2026 is $42.00 per hour for journeymen in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI, or about $84,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $65.88 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/6/25.
| Local 275 journeyman hourly wage | $42.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $65.88 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $84,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.90–$21.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/6/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 275 apprentice in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI starts at roughly $18.90 an hour — about 45% of the $42.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.50 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 275 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.90 / hour | $37,800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.10 / hour | $46,200 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $27.30 / hour | $54,600 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $31.50 / hour | $63,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $35.70 / hour | $71,400 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $42.00 / hour | $84,000 |
IBEW Local 275 represents skilled inside wiremen, telecommunications technicians, and electrical workers across the West Michigan region. Headquartered in Coopersville, this local provides a centralized labor pool for a diverse economic landscape that includes major manufacturing hubs, healthcare systems, and educational institutions. The market is defined by a consistent demand for high-voltage power distribution, industrial automation, and commercial electrical infrastructure. By maintaining a highly trained workforce, Local 275 ensures that regional developers and signatory contractors have access to electricians who can meet stringent safety codes and technical specifications required for modern construction and renovation projects in this growing Michigan corridor.
The significance of the West Michigan electrical market lies in its mix of industrial stability and urban expansion. Local 275 members are essential to the operations of large-scale production facilities and the continuous development of commercial centers. As technology integrates more deeply into the built environment, the demand for Union-certified expertise in structured cabling and smart building systems has increased. For contractors, partnering with this local provides a scalable workforce capable of handling projects ranging from quick-turn service calls to multi-year capital expansions. For the worker, the union offers a structured career path with standardized protections and professional development that are not typically found in the non-union residential sector.
As of July 6, 2025, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 275 is established at $42.00 per hour, contributing to a total compensation package of $65.88. The $23.88 fringe benefit delta covers critical employer-paid contributions including health insurance and retirement funds. Apprentices in the West Michigan JATC program follow a structured wage progression typically starting at 40% to 50% of the Journeyman rate. These percentages increase incrementally as the apprentice completes required classroom hours and hits on-the-job training milestones. By the final year of the five-year apprenticeship, workers often earn 80% to 90% of the full scale. This transparent ladder allows for predictable labor cost forecasting for contractors and clear financial planning for members as they advance toward full licensure.
The chartered territory for IBEW Local 275 encompasses a significant portion of West Michigan, stretching from the lakeshore through the central agricultural and industrial heartlands. This jurisdiction covers work in major hubs like Muskegon and Holland, as well as the surrounding rural counties where industrial processing and renewable energy projects are common. The agreement governs all inside electrical work, including lighting, power systems, and specialized control wiring within these geographic boundaries. Members are dispatched through the Coopersville hall, and contractors operating within this zone must adhere to the local's work rules regarding crew ratios, overtime premiums, and safety standards. Travel pay and subsistence may apply depending on the distance from the jurisdictional center to the specific job site.
The signatory contractor landscape in West Michigan is comprised of a robust mix of large-scale mechanical-electrical firms and specialized boutique shops. These contractors frequently bid on major public works, including municipal utilities and state-funded educational facilities, where prevailing wage requirements and high technical standards are the norm. The hiring environment is characterized by a need for long-term project crews for industrial maintenance and new commercial builds. While some firms focus exclusively on heavy industrial automation and plant relocations, others specialize in the high-volume service and tenant improvement market. This diversity ensures that members have exposure to various electrical disciplines, while contractors benefit from a flexible labor pool that can be adjusted based on project volume.
As of the July 2025 update, the journeyman hourly rate is $42.00. This is the base taxable wage and does not include the additional fringe benefits that bring the total compensation package to $65.88 per hour. Members should verify their specific classification and any shift differentials with the business manager.
Yes, through the West Michigan Electrical JATC, members have access to advanced certifications in PLC programming, motor controls, and industrial safety. This training is funded by the fringe benefit package, allowing members to keep their skills current with the evolving needs of West Michigan's manufacturing and processing sectors without out-of-pocket costs.
Journeymen in good standing with another IBEW local must follow the procedures outlined in the IBEW Constitution. This typically involves obtaining a travel letter from your home local and reporting to the Local 275 business office in Coopersville to sign the out-of-work books or discuss a permanent transfer of membership.
Yes, IBEW Local 275 covers voice, data, and video (VDV) work under specific telecommunications classifications. While the inside wireman agreement covers high-voltage power, the VDV agreement addresses structured cabling and low-voltage systems. The wage rates for these classifications differ from the inside wireman scale and are based on separate negotiated agreements.
IBEW Local 275 is seated in Coopersville/West Michigan, 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 Coopersville/West Michigan and the rest of Michigan, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 275. 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 275 pay scale for 2026 is $42.00 per hour for journeymen in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI, or about $84,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $65.88 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/6/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 275 agreement make $42.00 an hour in base wages, or $65.88 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/6/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$42.00 per hour base wage and $65.88 per hour total package for a journeyman in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI, effective 7/6/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $84,000 before overtime.
A Local 275 apprentice in Coopersville/West Michigan, MI starts at roughly $18.90 an hour — about 45% of the $42.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.50 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 275 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.90 an hour, or roughly $37,800 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $42.00 journeyman rate effective 7/6/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $27.30 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $31.50 an hour in the fourth period and $42.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 275 training center.
The current IBEW Local 275 journeyman rate is $42.00/hour, with a total package of $65.88/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/6/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $84,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 275 business office before relying on the figure.
The $42.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $65.88/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 275 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 $42.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.90–$21.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 275 is headquartered in Coopersville/West Michigan, 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 275 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 275 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 275 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 275 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 7/6/25 schedule; check with the Local 275 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 275 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.