Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 288 in Waterloo, IA earn $38/hr in base wages, or $57.89/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
View current trade openings and apply
The Local 288 pay scale for 2026 is $38.00 per hour for journeymen in Waterloo, IA, or about $76,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $57.89 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
| Local 288 journeyman hourly wage | $38.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $57.89 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $76,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45 to 50% of scale) | $17.10 to $19.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
Apply now | Gulfstream recruits for commercial electrical contractors. These are direct-hire roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 288 apprentice in Waterloo, IA starts at roughly $17.10 an hour, about 45% of the $38.00 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $28.50 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 288 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $17.10 / hour | $34,200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $20.90 / hour | $41,800 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $24.70 / hour | $49,400 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $28.50 / hour | $57,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $32.30 / hour | $64,600 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $38.00 / hour | $76,000 |
See electrical jobs we're recruiting for near Waterloo, or get an alert when this scale changes.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements is an MEP recruiting firm. We recruit for commercial mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors nationwide from our office in Corona, California. We are an independent firm. We don't speak for IBEW Local 288, set its rates or run its referral list.
Gulfstream recruits for commercial electrical contractors. These are direct-hire roles, not union dispatch.
Gulfstream recruits for commercial electrical contractors nationwide. Searches are confidential. You pay only when you hire, and every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. We place direct hires on your payroll. We don't dispatch crews or replace the hall's referral process.
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with Waterloo listings first when available. Jobs elsewhere in the state are not necessarily near this hall. Union status is not verified for these jobs; confirm with your recruiter.
IBEW Local 288 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list, call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
IBEW Local 288 pay rates and union rules
Official job-call, referral and apprenticeship pages on the hall's own website. Application windows and requirements are set by the hall; check its page for current dates.
Links checked 2026-10-06 on the hall's site.
We'll email you when the IBEW Local 288 rate is updated, plus union-shop electricians openings near Waterloo, IA. Sign up for rate updates. Free alerts from Gulfstream Strategic Placements. We are not affiliated with IBEW Local 288.
Local 288 wages: $38.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $57.89 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/26/26. That is the most recent Waterloo, IA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
IBEW Local 288 has not published a current wage sheet to the public rate sources we track, so the figure above is the reporting-wide electrician average, not this hall's own scale. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial and industrial electrical, building automation and controls wiring, data and low-voltage systems and service and retrofit work for signatory contractors throughout the Waterloo, IA area, and local scale in the Waterloo market is normally set by the hall's current collective bargaining agreement, confirm it with the business office before quoting.
Gulfstream recruits electrician talent for commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Waterloo. We are a private recruiting firm, we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 288 rates. For current Waterloo scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 288 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall, call (319) 233-8050 to confirm dispatch procedure, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 288 serves as the primary labor organization for skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls metropolitan areas. Since 2014, our recruitment team has tracked the impact of this local on the Northeast Iowa construction market, where they maintain rigorous standards for commercial, industrial, and residential electrical installations. The local is headquartered in Waterloo and operates a joint apprenticeship training program that ensures a steady pipeline of qualified labor for signatory contractors across the Cedar Valley region. Their presence is vital for complex infrastructure projects, including healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, and municipal developments that require high-voltage expertise and adherence to the National Electrical Code.
The market served by Local 288 is characterized by a mix of heavy industrial manufacturing and significant institutional expansion. As a charter of the IBEW, this organization provides a structured labor framework that balances the needs of the workforce with the competitive demands of regional signatory contractors. Membership in Local 288 offers electricians access to standardized collective bargaining agreements, which define the floor for wages, safety protocols, and benefit contributions. For contractors, the local serves as a central dispatch point for pre-vetted, drug-tested, and highly trained personnel, reducing the overhead associated with individual hiring and skill verification in a specialized trade environment where technical proficiency and safety are paramount.
["Based on the scale effective June 26, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate is set at $38.00. When factoring in the fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $57.89 per hour. This total package includes employer-paid health insurance, pension contributions, and training funds that are managed via the collective bargaining agreement. Apprentices within Local 288 follow a structured percentage-based progression, typically starting at approximately 40% to 50% of the journeyman rate. As they complete required classroom hours and reach specific on-the-job training milestones, these percentages increase annually until reaching full scale upon graduation. Prospective members and contractors should note that these figures represent the minimum negotiated rates for building trades work, and specialized certifications or foreman roles may command additional premiums as defined by the local's current contract."]
["The signatory contractor landscape for Local 288 includes a diverse array of electrical firms ranging from small service-oriented shops to large-scale industrial electrical primes. These contractors rely on the local for a scalable workforce that can meet the demands of major project cycles without the long-term burden of permanent staffing. The market is particularly strong in industrial food processing and heavy equipment manufacturing, where signatory firms provide specialized maintenance and installation services. Hiring activity generally follows the seasonal trends of the Iowa construction cycle, with peaks in the spring and summer months. Contractors working under the Local 288 agreement benefit from the NECA-IBEW partnership, which emphasizes productivity and high-quality craftsmanship through continuous education and professional development programs."]
An Inside Wireman, like those represented by Local 288, specializes in the electrical systems within a building's structure, starting from the point of service. This differs from Outside Linemen who work on high-voltage utility distribution. Inside Wiremen handle power, lighting, and control systems for commercial and industrial facilities.
Yes, as part of the IBEW, Local 288 participates in the reciprocal system. Traveling journeymen must check in with the hall and provide their current dues receipt and a travel letter from their home local. Employment is subject to the availability of work after all local members have been offered dispatch.
All electricians working in the jurisdiction must comply with the Iowa Electrical Examining Board's licensing requirements. Local 288 members are expected to maintain their state licenses, and the JATC often provides the necessary continuing education units (CEUs) required for license renewal as part of their membership benefits.
Wage rates are determined through collective bargaining between Local 288 and the regional NECA chapter. These updates usually occur annually or every few years according to the schedule set in the Inside Agreement. The June 2026 date represents a scheduled increase within the current or upcoming contract cycle.
IBEW Local 288 is seated in Waterloo, Iowa (IA). We hold published wage sheets for 11 locals across Iowa, compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical, electrical and plumbing staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Inland Empire mechanical recruiter · Portland mechanical recruiter · Dallas-Fort Worth mechanical recruiter · Los Angeles mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial MEP recruiting firm serving Waterloo and the rest of Iowa, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 288. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place 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 to Friday, 7:00 AM to 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.
We'll email you when this rate is updated, plus electrical jobs near Waterloo. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Send us your resume. A recruiter will read it and talk with you before any employer sees your name. You never pay a fee.
The Local 288 pay scale for 2026 is $38.00 per hour for journeymen in Waterloo, IA, or about $76,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $57.89 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
IBEW Local 288 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $38.00 per hour in Waterloo, IA, with a total package of $57.89 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 6/26/26 with the IBEW Local 288 business office.
The IBEW Local 288 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $38.00 per hour ($57.89 per hour total package), effective 6/26/26, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 288 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 6/26/26 with the hall.
Local 288 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $38.00 per hour journeyman rate, typically starting near 40 to 50% ($17.10 to $19.00 per hour) in the first period and stepping up each period to 100% at turnout. The exact percentage schedule is set by the IBEW Local 288 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 288 agreement make $38.00 an hour in base wages, or $57.89 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$38.00 per hour base wage and $57.89 per hour total package for a journeyman in Waterloo, IA, effective 6/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $76,000 before overtime.
A Local 288 apprentice in Waterloo, IA starts at roughly $17.10 an hour, about 45% of the $38.00 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $28.50 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 288 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $17.10 an hour, or roughly $34,200 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $38.00 journeyman rate effective 6/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $24.70 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $28.50 an hour in the fourth period and $38.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 288 training center.
Local 288 wages: $38.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $57.89 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/26/26. That is the most recent Waterloo, IA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 288 journeyman rate is $38.00 an hour ($57.89 total package), effective 6/26/26, roughly $76,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes, a one-page printable IBEW Local 288 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-288-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $38.00 hourly scale, the $57.89 total package and the 6/26/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download, no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 288 journeyman rate is $38.00/hour, with a total package of $57.89/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $76,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle, confirm with the Local 288 business office before relying on the figure.
The $38.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $57.89/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 288 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40 to 50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $38.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $17.10 to $19.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 288 is headquartered in Waterloo, IA 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 288 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 288 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 288 training center directly.
Electricians apprenticeships generally run four to five years, roughly 8,000 to 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 288 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 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 6/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 288 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 288 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes, the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Waterloo, IA, and you can apply directly through the apply form on this page. These are direct-hire positions with electrical contractors that Gulfstream recruits for, not union dispatch or hall referrals. For the hall's out-of-work list, contact the Local 288 business office.
The IBEW Local 288 hall is at 1695 Burton Ave #5, Waterloo, IA 50703, serving Waterloo, IA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (319) 233-8050.
IBEW Local 288 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (319) 233-8050 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in | Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 288 can be reached at (319) 233-8050. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing, confirm hours with the hall.
Apply through the local's joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC). Most programs open applications on a set schedule and require an aptitude test and interview. For IBEW Local 288's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (319) 233-8050.
Each Electricians local sets its own intake process, and it varies. The common paths: apprenticeship through the JATC; organizing in as an experienced worker, since journeymen and technicians already working in the trade can usually apply directly to the hall for membership; or transferring from another local of the same international with a transfer card from your current hall. For fees and requirements, contact the hall at (319) 233-8050.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 288's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (319) 233-8050.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 288's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (319) 233-8050.
Coverage unverified, contact the hall. No reviewed published boundary is held for this local; office location does not establish jurisdiction.
Coverage map and city lookup · Hall contact
No comparable official rate held. No trade average or another hall’s rate is substituted.
Confirm the current agreement, classification, zone and effective schedule with the hall; a package is not take-home pay.
Membership fees, dues and admission rules are not verified in our held official records. Confirm directly with the hall.
Rates and sources · Membership and apprenticeship · Official hall contact · Send a recruiting inquiry to Gulfstream · Compare Rates
Recruiting inquiries go to Gulfstream, not IBEW Local 288. Membership, dispatch and apprenticeship applications must go directly to the hall. Gulfstream is union-independent and recruits for commercial mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors.
Gulfstream recruits for commercial electrical contractors. These are direct-hire roles, not union dispatch.