Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 347 in Des Moines, IA earn $46.70/hr in base wages, or $78.75/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 347 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 347 pay scale for 2026 is $46.70 per hour for journeymen in Des Moines, IA, or about $93,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $78.75 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
| Local 347 journeyman hourly wage | $46.70 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $78.75 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $93,400 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $21.02–$23.35 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 347 apprentice in Des Moines, IA starts at roughly $21.02 an hour — about 45% of the $46.70 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $35.03 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 347 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $21.02 / hour | $42,030 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $25.69 / hour | $51,370 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $30.36 / hour | $60,710 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $35.03 / hour | $70,050 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $39.70 / hour | $79,390 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $46.70 / hour | $93,400 |
IBEW Local 347 represents skilled electrical workers across central Iowa, serving as the primary labor source for commercial, industrial, and residential electrical installations. Based in Des Moines, this local provides a highly trained workforce for the region's expanding infrastructure, ranging from complex data center builds to essential municipal services. The organization emphasizes safety and technical proficiency, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to electricians who meet rigorous industry standards. As the capital region continues to see significant investment in healthcare facilities and industrial hubs, Local 347 plays a critical role in maintaining the electrical integrity of the local economy through its commitment to the IBEW's Code of Excellence.
The market served by Local 347 is characterized by steady growth in both the private and public sectors. By coordinating with the a mechanical contractor Association, the local maintains a stable labor environment that benefits both the member and the contractor. This relationship fosters a pipeline of skilled labor that can handle large-scale electrical projects, including renewable energy initiatives and advanced manufacturing facilities. For the tradesperson, joining this local offers a structured career path with clear expectations, while contractors gain the advantage of a scalable workforce that has undergone standardized training and certification processes. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this specific Iowa labor market since 2014 to track these evolving workforce trends.
As of June 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 347 is set at $46.70, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $78.75 per hour. This package includes the base wage plus employer-funded fringes such as health insurance and retirement benefits. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting between 40% and 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These progressions are strictly regulated by the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to ensure pay matches technical skill. By the final year of the five-year program, an apprentice typically earns approximately 80% to 90% of the full scale before reaching journeyman status upon successful completion of the licensing exam.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 347 covers a significant portion of central Iowa, centered around Polk County and extending into the surrounding rural and suburban districts. This territory includes major metropolitan hubs, industrial corridors, and agricultural areas, requiring members to be flexible regarding job site locations within the chartered region. The local manages dispatch for all covered work, which encompasses commercial wiring, industrial motor controls, telecommunications data systems, and residential service. Members must adhere to the referral rules established by the business office, which govern how labor is assigned to signatory contractors based on project demand and worker seniority on the out-of-work list. This geographic reach ensures consistent work opportunities across diverse sectors.
The signatory landscape for Local 347 consists of a diverse mix of electrical firms, ranging from large-scale industrial specialists to boutique commercial contractors. These employers operate under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, ensuring uniform labor costs and safety protocols across the market. Many of these contractors focus on long-term institutional projects, such as hospitals and university facilities, while others specialize in the rapid deployment of electrical systems for the region's growing logistics and data center sectors. Hiring is typically managed through the union's referral hall, though contractors maintain the ability to request specific foremen or specialized workers according to the local's governing rules, providing a balance of flexibility and standardized hiring practices.
A Journeyman Wireman is qualified for all types of electrical work, including large-scale industrial and commercial projects, and receives the highest scale. Residential Electricians focus specifically on housing projects and may have a different wage scale and scope of work defined by a separate residential addendum or agreement within the local's jurisdiction.
Yes, Iowa requires electrical licensing through the Iowa Electrical Examining Board. To work at the journeyman level within Local 347, members must hold a valid state license. The JATC often provides resources and training to help apprentices prepare for the state exam upon completion of their fifth year.
Wage increases are negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement between Local 347 and the local NECA chapter. These increases are typically scheduled annually or semi-annually. The specific allocation between take-home pay and fringe benefits is usually determined by a vote of the membership.
Travelers may work in Local 347's jurisdiction by signing the 'Book 2' referral list. Permanent transfers, often called 'getting your ticket in,' require following specific procedures in the IBEW Constitution, which typically involves a period of working in the jurisdiction and approval from the local's executive board.
IBEW Local 347 is seated in Des Moines, Iowa (IA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Iowa — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Des Moines and the rest of Iowa, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 347. 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 347 pay scale for 2026 is $46.70 per hour for journeymen in Des Moines, IA, or about $93,400 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $78.75 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 347 agreement make $46.70 an hour in base wages, or $78.75 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.
$46.70 per hour base wage and $78.75 per hour total package for a journeyman in Des Moines, IA, effective 6/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $93,400 before overtime.
A Local 347 apprentice in Des Moines, IA starts at roughly $21.02 an hour — about 45% of the $46.70 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $35.03 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 347 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $21.02 an hour, or roughly $42,030 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $46.70 journeyman rate effective 6/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $30.36 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $35.03 an hour in the fourth period and $46.70 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 347 training center.
The current IBEW Local 347 journeyman rate is $46.70/hour, with a total package of $78.75/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $93,400 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 347 business office before relying on the figure.
The $46.70/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $78.75/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 347 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 $46.70/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $21.02–$23.35/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 347 is headquartered in Des Moines, 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 347 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 347 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 347 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 347 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 6/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 347 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 347 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.