Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 313 in New Castle, DE earn $51/hr in base wages, or $88.78/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
IBEW Local 313 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 313 pay scale for 2026 is $51.00 per hour for journeymen in New Castle, DE, or about $102,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $88.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/26/26.
| Local 313 journeyman hourly wage | $51.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $88.78 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $102,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $22.95–$25.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 313 apprentice in New Castle, DE starts at roughly $22.95 an hour — about 45% of the $51.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.25 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 313 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $22.95 / hour | $45,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $28.05 / hour | $56,100 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $33.15 / hour | $66,300 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $38.25 / hour | $76,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $43.35 / hour | $86,700 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $51.00 / hour | $102,000 |
IBEW Local 313 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the state of Delaware and parts of the surrounding Delmarva Peninsula. Based in New Castle, this local serves as the primary labor source for complex commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical projects in the region. The market is defined by a heavy concentration of pharmaceutical facilities, financial data centers, and chemical processing plants that require stringent adherence to the National Electrical Code and specialized safety protocols. As part of the building trades, Local 313 maintains a rigorous standard for craftmanship, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of handling high-voltage systems and integrated building controls.
The Delaware electrical market is unique due to its dense industrial corridors and the presence of major corporate headquarters that demand reliable electrical infrastructure. Local 313 members play a critical role in the state's economic development by providing the technical expertise necessary for large-scale construction and long-term facility maintenance. For electricians, the local offers a structured career path backed by the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) partnership. This collaboration ensures that labor costs remain predictable for developers while providing workers with a middle-class wage and comprehensive benefits. The regional demand for sustainable energy and infrastructure modernization continues to drive the need for certified journeymen wiremen in this jurisdiction.
As of July 2026, the journeyman hourly rate for IBEW Local 313 is established at $51.00, contributing to a total compensation package of $88.78 per hour when including fringe benefits. This package reflects the high level of technical skill required for Delaware's industrial and commercial electrical sectors. Apprentices enter a five-year progression where their wages are a set percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 45% and increasing annually as they complete classroom modules and on-the-job training hours. The substantial gap between the hourly take-home pay and the total package covers essential employer-paid benefits, including multiple retirement tiers and healthcare. These rates are subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and should be verified with the New Castle business office for specific project classifications.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 313 encompasses all of New Castle County and Kent County in Delaware, as well as Cecil County in Maryland. This territory includes major economic hubs like Wilmington, Newark, and Dover, where the majority of industrial and commercial activity is centered. The local governs work ranging from heavy industrial motor controls and substations to commercial lighting and branch circuiting. Members are dispatched from the New Castle hall to job sites across the region, following the referral procedures outlined in the inside wireman agreement. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the local's work rules regarding crew ratios and safety standards for all electrical installations.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 313 is comprised of a diverse mix of large regional electrical primes and specialized boutique firms. Many of these contractors focus on the 'Diamond State' industrial sector, servicing the numerous chemical and manufacturing plants along the Delaware River. There is also a significant presence of contractors dedicated to commercial interior fit-outs and institutional work for healthcare providers and higher education facilities. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this region, noting that hiring often spikes during major outages at industrial sites or during large-scale data center expansions. Signatory firms rely on the hall to provide manpower that meets the strict security and technical requirements of these sensitive job sites.
The hourly wage of $51.00 is the gross amount paid directly to the electrician before taxes. The total package of $88.78 includes an additional $37.78 in employer-paid fringes such as health insurance, multiple retirement funds, and training. These benefits are not deducted from the hourly wage but are paid by the contractor in addition to the base pay.
Local 313 covers the northern and central portions of the state, specifically New Castle and Kent Counties, as well as Cecil County in Maryland. While it is the dominant local for the Wilmington and Dover markets, electricians working in Sussex County may fall under a different jurisdiction or regional agreement depending on the specific scope of work.
Yes, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate proficiency in algebra. The process is competitive and requires passing an aptitude test and an interview. The JATC ensures all apprentices receive both classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training to reach journeyman status.
Contractors interested in signing an agreement should contact the Local 313 Business Manager or the Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter of NECA. Becoming signatory allows a firm to access the local's referral hall for manpower, ensuring they can scale their workforce quickly with qualified electricians for projects within the Delaware and Cecil County jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 313 is seated in New Castle, Delaware (DE). We hold published wage sheets for 2 locals across Delaware — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving New Castle and the rest of Delaware, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 313. 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 313 pay scale for 2026 is $51.00 per hour for journeymen in New Castle, DE, or about $102,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $88.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 313 agreement make $51.00 an hour in base wages, or $88.78 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$51.00 per hour base wage and $88.78 per hour total package for a journeyman in New Castle, DE, effective 7/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $102,000 before overtime.
A Local 313 apprentice in New Castle, DE starts at roughly $22.95 an hour — about 45% of the $51.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.25 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 313 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $22.95 an hour, or roughly $45,900 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $51.00 journeyman rate effective 7/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $33.15 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $38.25 an hour in the fourth period and $51.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 313 training center.
The current IBEW Local 313 journeyman rate is $51.00/hour, with a total package of $88.78/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $102,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 313 business office before relying on the figure.
The $51.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $88.78/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 313 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 $51.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $22.95–$25.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 313 is headquartered in New Castle, DE 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 313 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 313 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 313 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 313 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 7/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 313 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 313 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.