Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 426 in Sioux Falls, SD earn $34.02/hr in base wages, or $49.60/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2024.
IBEW Local 426 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 426 pay scale is $34.02 per hour for journeymen in Sioux Falls, SD, or about $68,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $49.60 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/12/24.
| Local 426 journeyman hourly wage | $34.02 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $49.60 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $68,040 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.31–$17.01 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/12/24 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 426 apprentice in Sioux Falls, SD starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.02 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 426 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.31 / hour | $30,618 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $18.71 / hour | $37,422 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.11 / hour | $44,226 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.52 / hour | $51,030 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $28.92 / hour | $57,834 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.02 / hour | $68,040 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 426 serves as the primary labor organization for skilled inside wiremen and electrical workers across the eastern half of South Dakota and portions of southwestern Minnesota. Based in Sioux Falls, this local provides the specialized workforce necessary for the region's expanding industrial footprint, commercial developments, and critical infrastructure projects. Since 2014, the market has seen significant growth in data centers and healthcare facilities, requiring a high volume of licensed electricians who can meet stringent safety and technical standards under the National Electrical Code. Local 426 remains central to maintaining these labor standards through its joint training programs and collective bargaining efforts.
The Sioux Falls market acts as a hub for regional trade activity, making Local 426 a critical partner for signatory contractors pursuing large-scale federal, state, and private work. Members are trained in a variety of disciplines including power distribution, motor controls, lighting systems, and renewable energy installations. For the traveling wireman or the local apprentice, the union offers a structured path to a career that includes comprehensive benefits and a stable wage floor. As the regional economy continues to diversify into high-tech manufacturing and food processing, the demand for IBEW-certified electricians remains consistent, providing a reliable pipeline for both established journeymen and those entering the electrical apprenticeship program.
As of June 12, 2024, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 426 is set at $34.02 per hour, with a total compensation package reaching $49.60 per hour when fringe benefits are included. Apprentices follow a strictly defined wage progression based on a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% for first-year students and increasing annually or by work-hour milestones until reaching 100% upon graduation and licensure. This structured ladder ensures that as skills and responsibilities increase, so does the hourly take-home pay. The difference between the hourly wage and the total package reflects employer contributions toward retirement and healthcare, which are paid on top of the gross hourly rate. Members should verify current step-up percentages with the Sioux Falls Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 426 is extensive, covering approximately the eastern two-thirds of South Dakota and several counties in southwestern Minnesota. This territory includes major population centers like Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, extending to the borders of North Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. The charter governs all inside electrical work, which encompasses commercial building wiring, industrial plant maintenance, and institutional electrical systems. Members may be dispatched to various jobsites across this wide geographic area depending on contractor needs and project locations. The Local ensures that labor standards remain uniform across this territory, providing contractors with a predictable cost model and workers with consistent protection regardless of which county the specific project is located in.
The contractor landscape within Local 426's jurisdiction is comprised of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from large multi-state mechanical-electrical primes to specialized local shops. These contractors handle the bulk of the region's complex industrial installations, particularly in the agricultural processing and healthcare sectors. Hiring is typically managed through the union referral system, where contractors request manpower based on project backlogs. This system allows for a flexible workforce that can scale quickly for major shutdowns or large-scale new construction. The relationship between the union and its signatory partners is governed by the Labor-Management Cooperation Committee, ensuring that local labor remains competitive while maintaining high safety and quality standards.
The $34.02 is the gross hourly rate paid on the worker's paycheck, before taxes. The $49.60 total package includes the hourly wage plus the additional $15.58 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and retirement. These benefits are paid by the contractor directly into the funds and are not deducted from the worker's hourly pay.
Yes, Local 426 accepts travelers when the local work list is exhausted. Traveling journeymen must report to the hall with a valid dues receipt and a travel letter from their home local. Dispatch is handled according to the standard IBEW Book system, prioritizing local members first before reaching out to Book 2 applicants.
The jurisdiction sees a heavy concentration of commercial work in the Sioux Falls metro, including hospitals and retail developments. Additionally, industrial projects involving food processing plants and manufacturing facilities are common in the outlying counties. The local also handles significant infrastructure work, including municipal water treatment and substation electrical upgrades.
Yes, the state of South Dakota requires electricians to be licensed through the State Electrical Commission. IBEW Local 426 ensures that all members are properly trained to meet these state requirements. Apprentices are registered with the state, and the JATC curriculum is designed to prepare students for the Journeyman Electrician examination upon completion of their hours.
IBEW Local 426 is seated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (SD). We hold published wage sheets for 2 locals across South Dakota — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Sioux Falls and the rest of South Dakota, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 426. 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 426 pay scale is $34.02 per hour for journeymen in Sioux Falls, SD, or about $68,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $49.60 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/12/24.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 426 agreement make $34.02 an hour in base wages, or $49.60 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/12/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.02 per hour base wage and $49.60 per hour total package for a journeyman in Sioux Falls, SD, effective 6/12/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $68,040 before overtime.
A Local 426 apprentice in Sioux Falls, SD starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.02 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 426 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.31 an hour, or roughly $30,618 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.02 journeyman rate effective 6/12/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.11 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.52 an hour in the fourth period and $34.02 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 426 training center.
The current IBEW Local 426 journeyman rate is $34.02/hour, with a total package of $49.60/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/12/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $68,040 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 426 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.02/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $49.60/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 426 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 $34.02/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.31–$17.01/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 426 is headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD 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 426 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 426 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 426 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 426 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 6/12/24 schedule; check with the Local 426 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 426 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.