Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 32 in Lima, OH earn $39.17/hr in base wages, or $61.20/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Aug 2025.
IBEW Local 32 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 32 pay scale for 2026 is $39.17 per hour for journeymen in Lima, OH, or about $78,340 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $61.20 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/22/25.
| Local 32 journeyman hourly wage | $39.17 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $61.20 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $78,340 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $17.63–$19.59 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/22/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 32 apprentice in Lima, OH starts at roughly $17.63 an hour — about 45% of the $39.17 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.38 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 32 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $17.63 / hour | $35,253 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $21.54 / hour | $43,087 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $25.46 / hour | $50,921 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $29.38 / hour | $58,755 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $33.29 / hour | $66,589 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $39.17 / hour | $78,340 |
IBEW Local 32 serves as the primary labor organization for electrical workers in the Lima, Ohio metropolitan area and its surrounding rural corridors. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional labor market, noting that Local 32 provides the skilled workforce necessary for both high-density industrial projects and essential commercial infrastructure. The local represents wiremen, technicians, and apprentices who maintain the power systems for the region's manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, and public works. Because Lima acts as a logistics and industrial hub for West Central Ohio, the demand for highly trained IBEW electricians remains a constant factor in regional project feasibility and safety standards.
The jurisdiction of Local 32 is characterized by a mix of heavy industrial maintenance and new commercial construction. Members are dispatched to work on complex systems including high-voltage distribution, motor controls, and integrated building automation. By operating under a structured collective bargaining agreement, the local ensures that signatory contractors have access to a predictable labor pipeline while workers receive standardized compensation and benefits. This stability is critical for the local economy, as it prevents the labor shortages often seen in non-union markets. The apprenticeship program associated with this local is a key driver for workforce development, ensuring the next generation of electricians meets rigorous National Electrical Code requirements.
Effective August 22, 2025, the journeyman wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 32 is established at $39.17. When including fringe benefits such as healthcare and retirement contributions, the total compensation package reaches $61.20 per hour. Apprentices within the Local 32 JATC program earn a percentage of this journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% for first-year students and scaling upward as they complete classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases occur annually or semi-annually until the apprentice reaches 100% of the scale upon passing their journeyman exam. This transparent pay structure allows both contractors and employees to forecast labor costs and earnings accurately without the volatility found in unorganized sectors of the electrical trade.
The chartered territory for IBEW Local 32 covers several counties in West Central Ohio, centered around the city of Lima. This jurisdiction includes work performed in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, and Van Wert counties. Members are dispatched from the Lima headquarters to job sites throughout this region, covering everything from municipal building renovations to large-scale refinery and manufacturing maintenance. The local's authority extends to all inside electrical wiring, ensuring that any signatory project within these county lines adheres to the specific labor rates and work rules outlined in the standing agreement. Travel requirements are generally confined to this multi-county area, providing a stable geographic footprint for the local membership.
The signatory landscape for IBEW Local 32 is comprised of a diverse group of electrical contractors ranging from small service-oriented shops to large-scale industrial primes. These firms participate in the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) to negotiate fair labor standards. The market is heavily influenced by the presence of industrial facilities in Allen County, where signatory contractors provide ongoing maintenance and capital improvement services. Additionally, regional commercial projects—such as schools, hospitals, and retail developments—rely on these contractors for dependable, code-compliant installations. Hiring cycles often fluctuate based on major industrial outages and regional infrastructure grants, but the local maintains a steady bench to meet these varying demands.
The Journeyman rate of $39.17 is the gross hourly pay reflected on a member's paycheck before taxes. The Total Package of $61.20 includes that base wage plus an additional $22.03 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid by the contractor on top of the wage, meaning they are not deducted from the $39.17 hourly rate.
While Local 32 primarily focuses on inside wireman work for commercial and industrial sectors, some signatory contractors may perform residential work. However, the $39.17 rate typically applies to the 'Inside' agreement. Residential work often falls under a separate classification with different scales. Applicants interested specifically in residential wiring should ask the local about the availability of residential-specific tracks or agreements.
Wage increases are determined by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated between the union and NECA. These are usually scheduled annually, as seen with the August 22, 2025 effective date. Future increases depend on the outcome of contract negotiations, which take into account the cost of living, regional economic health, and the competitive landscape of the Lima electrical market.
Yes, IBEW members from other locals can work in Local 32's jurisdiction as 'Travelers.' They must first report to their home local and then contact the Local 32 dispatcher to sign the 'Book 2' referral list. Travelers work under the Local 32 terms and receive the Lima scale and benefits while assigned to a project within this jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 32 is seated in Lima, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Lima and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 32. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 32 pay scale for 2026 is $39.17 per hour for journeymen in Lima, OH, or about $78,340 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $61.20 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/22/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 32 agreement make $39.17 an hour in base wages, or $61.20 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 8/22/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$39.17 per hour base wage and $61.20 per hour total package for a journeyman in Lima, OH, effective 8/22/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $78,340 before overtime.
A Local 32 apprentice in Lima, OH starts at roughly $17.63 an hour — about 45% of the $39.17 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.38 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 32 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $17.63 an hour, or roughly $35,253 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $39.17 journeyman rate effective 8/22/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $25.46 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $29.38 an hour in the fourth period and $39.17 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 32 training center.
The current IBEW Local 32 journeyman rate is $39.17/hour, with a total package of $61.20/hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/22/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $78,340 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 32 business office before relying on the figure.
The $39.17/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $61.20/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 32 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 $39.17/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $17.63–$19.59/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 32 is headquartered in Lima, OH 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 32 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 32 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 32 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 32 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 8/22/25 schedule; check with the Local 32 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 32 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.