Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 35 in Hartford, CT earn $43.75/hr in base wages, or $76.66/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2024.
IBEW Local 35 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 35 pay scale is $43.75 per hour for journeymen in Hartford, CT, or about $87,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $76.66 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 5/6/24.
| Local 35 journeyman hourly wage | $43.75 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $76.66 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $87,500 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.69–$21.88 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/6/24 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 35 apprentice in Hartford, CT starts at roughly $19.69 an hour — about 45% of the $43.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.81 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 35 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.69 / hour | $39,375 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.06 / hour | $48,125 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.44 / hour | $56,875 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.81 / hour | $65,625 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $37.19 / hour | $74,375 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $43.75 / hour | $87,500 |
IBEW Local 35 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the greater Hartford, Connecticut region. Established to maintain high standards of safety and technical proficiency, this local serves as a primary labor source for the state's commercial, industrial, and institutional infrastructure projects. The membership is responsible for installing complex power systems, lighting, and integrated controls that drive the regional economy. Because Hartford is a hub for insurance, healthcare, and aerospace manufacturing, the demand for highly regulated electrical work remains consistent, requiring a workforce that is both licensed by the state and certified through rigorous union standards. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored these labor dynamics since 2014 to assist contractors in navigating the Connecticut market.
The market served by Local 35 is characterized by high-density urban development and sophisticated industrial facilities. Members operate under a collective bargaining agreement that ensures uniform quality across all signatory job sites, providing contractors with a predictable cost structure and a reliable pipeline of journey-level talent. Beyond traditional electrical installations, the local focuses on emerging technologies including renewable energy systems and advanced building automation. This technical versatility makes the local essential for large-scale renovations of historic Hartford landmarks as well as the construction of modern medical facilities. By centralizing training and dispatch, the union helps maintain the rigorous electrical codes mandated by Connecticut state law while supporting the growth of the regional construction industry.
As of the May 6, 2024 update, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 35 is established at $43.75 per hour. When factoring in the comprehensive benefits suite, the total compensation package reaches $76.66 per hour. Apprentices in the program follow a structured wage progression based on a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 45% and increasing in steps as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases incentivize skill acquisition and ensure that as an apprentice's value to the contractor grows, their compensation reflects their level of expertise. All wage and fringe benefit allocations are determined by the membership and the signatory contractors through the collective bargaining process, ensuring that the package remains competitive within the New England electrical industry.
The chartered jurisdiction of IBEW Local 35 covers a significant portion of central and northern Connecticut, centered around the capital city of Hartford. The territory encompasses all of Hartford County and extends into parts of Tolland, Middlesex, and Windham counties. Members are dispatched to a variety of job sites ranging from high-rise commercial office space in the city center to industrial manufacturing plants in the surrounding suburbs. The jurisdiction is defined by strict adherence to the Inside Wireman agreement, covering all electrical work from the point of service to the final utilization equipment. Contractors operating within this zone must comply with the local's dispatch rules, which ensure that qualified labor is distributed efficiently across all active project sites in the region.
The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 35 is composed of a diverse mix of electrical firms ranging from large-scale national primes to specialized local shops. These contractors handle the bulk of the region's major capital projects, including university expansions, hospital upgrades, and state infrastructure initiatives. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is managed through the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA), ensuring that labor-management relations remain stable. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major project cycles in the Hartford metro area, with significant demand often driven by the healthcare and insurance sectors. This environment provides members with opportunities for steady work across different types of electrical construction and maintenance.
All electrical work in Connecticut requires a license issued by the Department of Consumer Protection. Journeymen typically hold an E-2 license, while contractors hold an E-1. Local 35 members must maintain these state credentials in addition to their union standing. The apprenticeship program is specifically designed to meet the state's four-year related instruction requirement and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Travelers from other IBEW locals must report to the business office with a current dues receipt and a travel letter from their home local. Work availability for travelers depends on the current 'Book 2' status and the volume of large-scale projects exceeding the capacity of the local membership. All travelers must comply with Connecticut state licensing reciprocity rules where applicable.
Yes, the collective bargaining agreement specifies overtime rates, usually time-and-a-half for work exceeding eight hours per day or on Saturdays, and double-time for Sundays and holidays. Shift differentials are also applied to second and third shift work to compensate members for non-standard working hours, ensuring fair pay for the rigorous demands of 24-hour facility maintenance and accelerated construction schedules.
Beyond basic electrical theory, the local offers certifications in EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), NFPA 70E arc flash safety, and advanced PLC programming. As the Hartford market evolves toward greener infrastructure, the JATC provides updated coursework on solar photovoltaic systems and energy-efficient lighting controls to ensure signatory contractors have the most skilled workforce available for LEED-certified projects.
IBEW Local 35 is seated in Hartford, Connecticut (CT). We hold published wage sheets for 4 locals across Connecticut — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Hartford and the rest of Connecticut, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 35. 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 35 pay scale is $43.75 per hour for journeymen in Hartford, CT, or about $87,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $76.66 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 5/6/24.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 35 agreement make $43.75 an hour in base wages, or $76.66 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/6/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$43.75 per hour base wage and $76.66 per hour total package for a journeyman in Hartford, CT, effective 5/6/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $87,500 before overtime.
A Local 35 apprentice in Hartford, CT starts at roughly $19.69 an hour — about 45% of the $43.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.81 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 35 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.69 an hour, or roughly $39,375 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $43.75 journeyman rate effective 5/6/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.44 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.81 an hour in the fourth period and $43.75 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 35 training center.
The current IBEW Local 35 journeyman rate is $43.75/hour, with a total package of $76.66/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/6/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $87,500 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 35 business office before relying on the figure.
The $43.75/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $76.66/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 35 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 $43.75/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.69–$21.88/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 35 is headquartered in Hartford, CT 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 35 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 35 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 35 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 35 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 5/6/24 schedule; check with the Local 35 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 35 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.