Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 388 in Stevens Point, WI earn $43.31/hr in base wages, or $67.69/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 388 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 388 pay scale for 2026 is $43.31 per hour for journeymen in Stevens Point, WI, or about $86,620 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $67.69 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
| Local 388 journeyman hourly wage | $43.31 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $67.69 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $86,620 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.49–$21.66 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/4/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 388 apprentice in Stevens Point, WI starts at roughly $19.49 an hour — about 45% of the $43.31 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.48 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 388 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.49 / hour | $38,979 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.82 / hour | $47,641 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.15 / hour | $56,303 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.48 / hour | $64,965 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $36.81 / hour | $73,627 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $43.31 / hour | $86,620 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 388 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across Central Wisconsin, headquartered in Stevens Point. The local provides the essential workforce for industrial paper mills, food processing facilities, and large-scale commercial developments that drive the regional economy. By maintaining a highly trained labor pool, Local 388 ensures that signatory contractors can meet the rigorous technical demands of modern electrical infrastructure, from high-voltage industrial installations to complex building automation systems. The market is defined by a mix of heavy manufacturing and municipal growth, requiring a versatile workforce capable of transitioning between new construction and long-term facility maintenance.
Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends within the Wisconsin electrical trades to help professionals and contractors navigate the regional landscape. Local 388 operates a robust Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) program to sustain the local talent pipeline. This infrastructure is critical for the Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids corridor, where electrical reliability is paramount for industrial output. For the journey-level electrician, this jurisdiction offers a stable work environment backed by a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement that standardizes safety protocols, hourly compensation, and multi-employer benefit structures, providing a clear career path for those entering the trade through the structured apprenticeship system.
["The financial structure for IBEW Local 388 is built on a defined journeyman rate of $43.31 per hour, effective June 4, 2026. When accounting for the full fringe benefit suite, the total compensation package reaches $67.69 per hour. Apprentices in the inside wireman program earn a percentage of this journeyman scale, typically starting around 40-45% and increasing in scheduled increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These steps occur annually or semi-annually, ensuring that as a member's technical proficiency grows, their compensation reflects their value to the signatory contractor. This transparent progression allows workers to forecast their earnings accurately throughout their five-year training period while maintaining the integrity of the regional labor market's pricing."]
["IBEW Local 388 holds jurisdiction over a significant portion of Central Wisconsin, centered around the Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids metro areas. The chartered territory includes several surrounding counties where members are dispatched to perform commercial, industrial, and residential electrical work. The jurisdiction is characterized by its diversity of job sites, ranging from large industrial plants along the Wisconsin River to commercial retail and healthcare facilities. Members are dispatched through a centralized referral system, ensuring that labor is allocated efficiently to signatory contractors based on project needs and worker seniority or classification. Traveling wiremen entering the jurisdiction must report to the business office to verify credentials and understand the specific working rules outlined in the local agreement."]
["The signatory contractor landscape in Local 388 consists of a blend of regional mechanical-electrical primes and specialized local shops. These firms handle everything from municipal infrastructure projects to complex industrial controls in the region's prominent manufacturing sector. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of large-scale industrial shutdowns and new commercial developments. Because the local maintains a specialized workforce, signatory contractors are often preferred for projects requiring high-level certifications in instrumentation or hazardous location wiring. This synergy between the local and its partner contractors ensures that large-scale employers in the region have access to a scalable, safety-conscious workforce that can meet tight project deadlines and strict code compliance."]
The hourly wage of $43.31 is the gross amount paid on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $67.69 includes this wage plus the employer's contributions to health insurance, pension funds, and training programs. These benefits are paid by the contractor in addition to the wage, meaning they are not deducted from the $43.31 hourly rate.
Yes, applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver's license, and have a high school diploma or GED. A critical requirement is the successful completion of one year of algebra. All candidates must pass an aptitude test and an interview before being placed in the pool of eligible workers for signatory contractors.
Electricians from other IBEW locals looking to work in the Stevens Point jurisdiction must sign the 'Book 2' at the union hall. Work is dispatched according to the rules of the local agreement, with preference given to local members on 'Book 1.' Travelers are expected to maintain their dues and certifications as required by the international office.
While Local 388 is heavily focused on commercial and industrial projects due to the regional economic drivers, the agreement does include provisions for residential work. Some signatory contractors specialize in multi-family housing or large-scale residential developments. Those interested in residential-only tracks should inquire about specific residential wireman classifications and the corresponding wage scales.
IBEW Local 388 is seated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin (WI). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Wisconsin — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Stevens Point and the rest of Wisconsin, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 388. 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 388 pay scale for 2026 is $43.31 per hour for journeymen in Stevens Point, WI, or about $86,620 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $67.69 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 388 agreement make $43.31 an hour in base wages, or $67.69 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/4/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$43.31 per hour base wage and $67.69 per hour total package for a journeyman in Stevens Point, WI, effective 6/4/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $86,620 before overtime.
A Local 388 apprentice in Stevens Point, WI starts at roughly $19.49 an hour — about 45% of the $43.31 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.48 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 388 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.49 an hour, or roughly $38,979 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $43.31 journeyman rate effective 6/4/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.15 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.48 an hour in the fourth period and $43.31 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 388 training center.
The current IBEW Local 388 journeyman rate is $43.31/hour, with a total package of $67.69/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/4/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $86,620 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 388 business office before relying on the figure.
The $43.31/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $67.69/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 388 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 $43.31/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.49–$21.66/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 388 is headquartered in Stevens Point, WI 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 388 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 388 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 388 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 388 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 6/4/26 schedule; check with the Local 388 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 388 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.