Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 444 in Ponca City, OK earn $37.75/hr in base wages, or $49.48/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2024.
IBEW Local 444 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 444 pay scale is $37.75 per hour for journeymen in Ponca City, OK, or about $75,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $49.48 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 7/26/24.
| Local 444 journeyman hourly wage | $37.75 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $49.48 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $75,500 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $16.99–$18.88 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/26/24 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 444 apprentice in Ponca City, OK starts at roughly $16.99 an hour — about 45% of the $37.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $28.31 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 444 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $16.99 / hour | $33,975 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $20.76 / hour | $41,525 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $24.54 / hour | $49,075 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $28.31 / hour | $56,625 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $32.09 / hour | $64,175 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $37.75 / hour | $75,500 |
IBEW Local 444, headquartered in Ponca City, represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across a significant portion of Northern Oklahoma. As a charter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, this local manages the labor supply for critical infrastructure, industrial facilities, and commercial developments within its territory. The market is defined by a heavy industrial presence, including energy production and refining operations that require highly skilled electrical expertise. By maintaining rigorous standards for training and safety, Local 444 ensures that its signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of executing complex electrical installations and maintenance projects that meet all National Electrical Code requirements.
The regional economy surrounding Ponca City relies on a mix of agricultural support, manufacturing, and energy sectors, making the electrical trade a vital component of the local workforce. IBEW Local 444 serves as the primary conduit for apprenticeships and journeyman-level placement, fostering a pipeline of talent that supports the state's industrial growth. For tradespeople, the local provides a structured environment for career advancement, while for contractors, it offers a reliable source of pre-screened, drug-tested, and certified labor. This stability is essential for meeting the demands of large-scale capital projects and ongoing facility upgrades throughout the jurisdiction, ensuring that projects remain on schedule and within technical specifications.
As of July 26, 2024, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 444 is established at $37.75 per hour. When accounting for the full fringe benefit suite, the total compensation package reaches $49.48 per hour. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting between 40% and 50%, with scheduled incremental raises as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These steps occur annually or semi-annually until the apprentice reaches 100% scale upon passing their journeyman exam. This structured progression ensures that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors while providing clear financial incentives for apprentices to master the technical aspects of the trade and secure their state licensing.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 444 covers a multi-county region in Northern Oklahoma, centered around the Ponca City market. This territory includes all electrical work performed under the Inside Wireman agreement, ranging from industrial power distribution and motor controls to commercial lighting and low-voltage systems. The local handles dispatch for its members, ensuring that signatory mechanical and electrical contractors are staffed appropriately for projects within these boundaries. Members may be required to travel across the chartered counties to job sites, with the union hall serving as the central point for referrals and administrative oversight. The jurisdiction is characterized by its blend of municipal infrastructure work and private sector industrial maintenance.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 444 is comprised of a diverse group of signatory firms, ranging from small local electrical shops to large-scale industrial service providers. These organizations specialize in various sectors, including refinery maintenance, municipal utility projects, and commercial construction. Because of the region's industrial base, many signatory contractors focus on high-voltage systems and hazardous location wiring. The relationship between the local and these employers is governed by a collective bargaining agreement that standardizes labor costs and safety protocols. Hiring is typically managed through the union referral system, allowing contractors to scale their workforce up or down based on specific project needs and timelines.
The hourly wage of $37.75 is the gross amount paid on a member's paycheck. The total package of $49.48 includes an additional $11.73 per hour in employer-paid benefits, such as health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid by the contractor on top of the wage and are not deducted from the employee's hourly pay.
No prior electrical experience is required to apply for the IBEW Local 444 apprenticeship. The program is designed to train individuals from the ground up through five years of combined classroom instruction and supervised field work. However, showing a strong interest in math and mechanical systems can be advantageous during the interview process.
Yes, IBEW members in good standing from other locals can work in the jurisdiction by signing the 'Book 2' out-of-work list. Referrals are issued based on local labor demand, with Local 444 members receiving priority on 'Book 1'. Traveling wiremen must adhere to all local bylaws and the current wage scale.
Wage scales and fringe benefits are typically updated annually or as dictated by the collective bargaining agreement. These adjustments often reflect changes in the cost of living or the results of contract negotiations between the union and signatory contractors. The current rates for Local 444 were last updated in July 2024.
IBEW Local 444 is seated in Ponca City, Oklahoma (OK). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Oklahoma — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Ponca City and the rest of Oklahoma, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 444. 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 444 pay scale is $37.75 per hour for journeymen in Ponca City, OK, or about $75,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $49.48 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 7/26/24.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 444 agreement make $37.75 an hour in base wages, or $49.48 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/26/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$37.75 per hour base wage and $49.48 per hour total package for a journeyman in Ponca City, OK, effective 7/26/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $75,500 before overtime.
A Local 444 apprentice in Ponca City, OK starts at roughly $16.99 an hour — about 45% of the $37.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $28.31 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 444 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $16.99 an hour, or roughly $33,975 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $37.75 journeyman rate effective 7/26/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $24.54 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $28.31 an hour in the fourth period and $37.75 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 444 training center.
The current IBEW Local 444 journeyman rate is $37.75/hour, with a total package of $49.48/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/26/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $75,500 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 444 business office before relying on the figure.
The $37.75/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $49.48/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 444 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 $37.75/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $16.99–$18.88/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 444 is headquartered in Ponca City, OK 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 444 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 444 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 444 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 444 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 7/26/24 schedule; check with the Local 444 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 444 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.