Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 280 in Tangent, OR earn $59.34/hr in base wages, or $82.22/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2026.
IBEW Local 280 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 280 pay scale for 2026 is $59.34 per hour for journeymen in Tangent, OR, or about $118,680 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $82.22 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/26.
| Local 280 journeyman hourly wage | $59.34 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $82.22 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $118,680 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $26.70–$29.67 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/10/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 280 apprentice in Tangent, OR starts at roughly $26.70 an hour — about 45% of the $59.34 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $44.51 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 280 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $26.70 / hour | $53,406 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $32.64 / hour | $65,274 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $38.57 / hour | $77,142 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $44.51 / hour | $89,010 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $50.44 / hour | $100,878 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $59.34 / hour | $118,680 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 280 serves as the primary labor organization for inside wiremen, residential electricians, and sound and communication technicians across Central Oregon and the Willamette Valley. Headquartered in Tangent, Oregon, this local represents a critical workforce within a geographically diverse corridor that includes major industrial hubs and rapidly expanding residential sectors. The jurisdiction is defined by its role in supporting the region's agricultural infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and the significant growth of data centers and manufacturing plants. Local 280 ensures that electrical installations meet stringent Oregon specialty codes while maintaining a pipeline of skilled labor through its joint apprenticeship training center.
The market for electrical work in this region is driven by a mix of public works projects, institutional expansions, and large-scale industrial developments. Local 280 maintains a strong presence by providing signatory contractors with a highly trained workforce capable of handling complex power systems and integrated controls. As the electrical industry evolves toward renewable energy and smart building technologies, the local focuses on continuous education for its journey-level members. For contractors, the stability of the collective bargaining agreement provides predictable labor costs, while for tradespeople, it offers a path to middle-class earnings and comprehensive benefits that are often unavailable in the non-union electrical sector.
The economic framework for IBEW Local 280 is anchored by a Journeyman hourly rate of $59.34 effective January 1, 2026. When considering the full compensation package, which includes health, welfare, and retirement contributions, the total hourly value reaches $82.22. This transparent wage structure provides a clear roadmap for career advancement. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the Journeyman rate, typically starting between 40% and 50%, with scheduled pay increases every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. These step-ups are contingent upon successful completion of classroom modules at the JATC. By the fifth year of the program, apprentices often earn 80% to 85% of the full scale, ensuring their compensation keeps pace with their increasing technical proficiency and job site responsibilities.
The territorial jurisdiction for Local 280 is extensive, covering several counties in the heart of Oregon. The charter includes the Willamette Valley cities of Albany and Corvallis, stretching east through the Cascade Mountains into the high desert regions of Bend and Redmond. This geographic span requires a mobile workforce capable of traveling to diverse job sites, from rural agricultural pump stations to urban commercial developments. The jurisdiction is governed by the Inside Wireman agreement, which covers all aspects of electrical construction, maintenance, and repair within these boundaries. Members are dispatched through the Tangent hall, which coordinates with regional contractors to staff projects efficiently while adhering to strict residency and dispatch rules defined in the local bylaws.
The signatory landscape for Local 280 is comprised of diverse firms ranging from local family-owned shops to large multi-state mechanical and electrical primes. These contractors specialize in different market segments, including industrial process plants, commercial high-rise construction, and specialized healthcare systems. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is managed through the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) framework, ensuring fair competition and adherence to safety standards. Hiring typically peaks during large-scale industrial outages or major institutional build-outs, with the union hall serving as the central clearinghouse for manpower. This system allows contractors to scale their workforce rapidly in response to project demands without compromising on skill levels.
An Inside Wireman is a generalist qualified to perform electrical work in all commercial and industrial settings, handling larger conduit, high-voltage systems, and complex motor controls. A Residential Electrician focuses specifically on one and two-family dwellings. The Inside Wireman license (General Journeyman) is the most versatile and carries the highest wage scale within the local's jurisdiction.
Local 280 operates a referral system where members sign an 'Out of Work' list. When signatory contractors need labor, the hall calls members in the order they signed, provided they meet the specific project qualifications. Because the jurisdiction covers both the valley and Central Oregon, there are often separate zones or calls to minimize excessive travel for the membership.
Yes, Oregon Journeyman Electricians must complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license. Local 280 provides these credits through the JATC, covering changes to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and Oregon Specialty Code. This ensures all members remain compliant with state law without incurring out-of-pocket tuition costs.
Travelers from other locals can work in Local 280's territory by signing the 'Book 2' referral list. They are dispatched only after all qualified Local 280 members (Book 1) have been offered the work. Travelers must possess a valid Oregon electrical license and adhere to the specific terms and conditions of the Local 280 collective bargaining agreement.
IBEW Local 280 is seated in Tangent, Oregon (OR). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Oregon — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Tangent and the rest of Oregon, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 280. 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 280 pay scale for 2026 is $59.34 per hour for journeymen in Tangent, OR, or about $118,680 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $82.22 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 280 agreement make $59.34 an hour in base wages, or $82.22 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/10/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$59.34 per hour base wage and $82.22 per hour total package for a journeyman in Tangent, OR, effective 1/10/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $118,680 before overtime.
A Local 280 apprentice in Tangent, OR starts at roughly $26.70 an hour — about 45% of the $59.34 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $44.51 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 280 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $26.70 an hour, or roughly $53,406 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $59.34 journeyman rate effective 1/10/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $38.57 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $44.51 an hour in the fourth period and $59.34 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 280 training center.
The current IBEW Local 280 journeyman rate is $59.34/hour, with a total package of $82.22/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/10/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $118,680 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 280 business office before relying on the figure.
The $59.34/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $82.22/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 280 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 $59.34/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $26.70–$29.67/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 280 is headquartered in Tangent, OR 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 280 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 280 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 280 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 280 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 1/10/26 schedule; check with the Local 280 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 280 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.