Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 43 in Syracuse, NY earn $54/hr in base wages, or $89.64/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 43 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 43 pay scale for 2026 is $54.00 per hour for journeymen in Syracuse, NY, or about $108,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $89.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
| Local 43 journeyman hourly wage | $54.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $89.64 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $108,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $24.30–$27.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/4/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 43 apprentice in Syracuse, NY starts at roughly $24.30 an hour — about 45% of the $54.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $40.50 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 43 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $24.30 / hour | $48,600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $29.70 / hour | $59,400 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $35.10 / hour | $70,200 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $40.50 / hour | $81,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $45.90 / hour | $91,800 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $54.00 / hour | $108,000 |
IBEW Local 43 represents skilled electrical workers across the Central New York region, maintaining a central hub in Syracuse. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional labor market, noting that Local 43 is a critical provider of technical talent for large-scale industrial projects and commercial developments. The local handles a diverse range of electrical installations, from high-voltage power distribution to complex control systems and telecommunications infrastructure. Because Central New York is currently experiencing a period of significant industrial expansion, particularly within the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors, the demand for highly trained IBEW electricians continues to remain at historically high levels for both new construction and facility maintenance.
The market covered by Local 43 is unique due to its mix of dense urban centers, university campuses, and expansive rural infrastructure. Electrical contractors operating in this jurisdiction must adhere to the rigorous safety and quality standards set forth in the collective bargaining agreement. For the tradesperson, membership provides access to industry-leading training through the Syracuse Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). This partnership between the union and the a mechanical contractor Association ensures that the local workforce is prepared for the rapid technological shifts in green energy and automated building systems. The stability of this labor market is reinforced by the presence of major healthcare facilities and institutional projects that provide a consistent pipeline of long-term work.
Effective June 4, 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 43 is established at $54.00, contributing to a total compensation package of $89.64 per hour. This total package includes all fringe benefits and employer contributions to retirement and healthcare funds. Apprentices in the Local 43 program enter a five-year progression where they earn a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate. Typically, first-year apprentices start at approximately 40-45% of the base wage, with annual increases as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, apprentices often reach 80% or more of the journeyman scale before sitting for their final exams. These scheduled increases provide a clear financial roadmap for new entrants while ensuring that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 43 spans across several counties in Central and Northern New York, centered around the Syracuse metropolitan area. This territory covers all electrical work performed within these boundaries, including residential, commercial, and industrial classifications. The local maintains dispatch procedures that prioritize members based on their classification and seniority on the out-of-work list. Traveling members from other IBEW locals may be utilized during peak demand periods through the reciprocal agreements maintained by the international office. The work encompasses everything from traditional wiring and lighting to specialized systems like fire alarms, fiber optics, and industrial motor controls, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all signatory electrical contractors operating in the region.
The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 43 is composed of a diverse mix of local family-owned shops and large national electrical firms. These contractors range from small service-oriented teams focusing on residential and light commercial repair to massive industrial primes capable of managing multi-million dollar infrastructure projects. Hiring typically occurs through the union referral system, allowing contractors to scale their workforce rapidly in response to project awards. This model provides signatory employers with a flexible, highly skilled labor pool that has undergone standardized training, reducing the overhead costs associated with independent recruitment and safety certification. The presence of major semiconductor initiatives in the region has further solidified the need for these large-scale signatory partnerships.
The base wage is the hourly amount reflected on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package includes this base wage plus employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. For Local 43, the $35.64 difference between the $54.00 wage and the $89.64 package covers these critical fringes, ensuring members have full benefits without out-of-pocket premiums.
Yes, Local 43 provides ongoing training for certifications such as OSHA 30, EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), and specialized fire alarm signaling. These certifications are often required by signatory contractors for specific high-tech projects and help members maintain their employability as the regional market shifts toward more advanced electrical systems and green energy infrastructure.
Local 43 operates a referral system where members sign an out-of-work book when their current project ends. Signatory contractors submit 'manpower requests' to the union hall, and jobs are offered to members in the order they signed the book, provided they meet the specific qualifications for the call. This ensures a fair and transparent distribution of work opportunities across the membership.
Opportunities for travelers depend entirely on the current local volume and the availability of Local 43 members. During large-scale industrial builds, the local may open 'Book 2' to members from other jurisdictions. Travelers must provide a current dues receipt and a travel letter from their home local's business manager before being eligible for dispatch in the Syracuse area.
IBEW Local 43 is seated in Syracuse, New York (NY). We hold published wage sheets for 27 locals across New York — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Syracuse and the rest of New York, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 43. 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 43 pay scale for 2026 is $54.00 per hour for journeymen in Syracuse, NY, or about $108,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $89.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 43 agreement make $54.00 an hour in base wages, or $89.64 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.
$54.00 per hour base wage and $89.64 per hour total package for a journeyman in Syracuse, NY, effective 6/4/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $108,000 before overtime.
A Local 43 apprentice in Syracuse, NY starts at roughly $24.30 an hour — about 45% of the $54.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $40.50 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 43 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $24.30 an hour, or roughly $48,600 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $54.00 journeyman rate effective 6/4/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $35.10 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $40.50 an hour in the fourth period and $54.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 43 training center.
The current IBEW Local 43 journeyman rate is $54.00/hour, with a total package of $89.64/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/4/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $108,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 43 business office before relying on the figure.
The $54.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $89.64/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 43 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 $54.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $24.30–$27.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 43 is headquartered in Syracuse, NY 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 43 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 43 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 43 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 43 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 43 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 43 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.