Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 446 in Monroe, LA earn $31/hr in base wages, or $44.58/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
IBEW Local 446 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 446 pay scale for 2026 is $31.00 per hour for journeymen in Monroe, LA, or about $62,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $44.58 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/26/26.
| Local 446 journeyman hourly wage | $31.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $44.58 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $62,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.95–$15.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 446 apprentice in Monroe, LA starts at roughly $13.95 an hour — about 45% of the $31.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $23.25 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 446 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.95 / hour | $27,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $17.05 / hour | $34,100 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $20.15 / hour | $40,300 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $23.25 / hour | $46,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $26.35 / hour | $52,700 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $31.00 / hour | $62,000 |
IBEW Local 446 represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across the Northeast Louisiana region, centered in the Monroe market. As a chartered affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, this local provides the skilled labor force necessary for large-scale commercial, industrial, and institutional projects throughout the Ouachita River Valley. The presence of Local 446 ensures that signatory contractors have access to a pool of electricians trained to the highest safety standards, which is critical for the region's manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, and public infrastructure developments. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this territory since 2014 to assist tradespeople and contractors in navigating the regional employment landscape.
The electrical market in Monroe and its surrounding parishes relies heavily on the technical proficiency provided by Local 446 members. Beyond standard commercial wiring, the jurisdiction includes significant industrial process work and maintenance for the area's diverse economic sectors. By maintaining a Collective Bargaining Agreement that sets clear standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, the local stabilizes the regional labor market against fluctuations. This structured environment allows for predictable project costs for developers and consistent career trajectories for electricians. For contractors, the Monroe apprenticeship program serves as the primary pipeline for developing the next generation of journey-level talent capable of handling complex integrated systems and power distribution requirements.
Based on the figures effective May 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate for Local 446 is set at $31.00, contributing to a total compensation package of $44.58 when including fringe benefits. Apprentices in the Monroe JATC program progress through a multi-year schedule, typically starting at approximately 40% to 50% of the Journeyman scale and receiving incremental raises every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training coupled with successful classroom completion. By the final year of the five-year program, an apprentice typically earns 80% to 85% of the base rate. This structured progression ensures that labor costs remain proportionate to the skill level provided, while offering a clear financial incentive for apprentices to reach full licensure and journey-level status in the Northeast Louisiana market.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 446 covers the northeastern corner of Louisiana, primarily centered around the Monroe-West Monroe metropolitan area. This chartered territory extends into several surrounding parishes, where the local holds exclusive rights to provide labor for signatory electrical work. The dispatch office in Monroe manages the referral system, directing members to job sites ranging from municipal upgrades to private industrial expansions. Members must be prepared for travel throughout the northern parishes, as the territory encompasses a mixture of urban centers and rural industrial sites. The work covered under this jurisdiction include all inside wiring, telecommunications, and electrical maintenance defined within the scope of the regional Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The signatory contractor landscape in the Monroe region consists of a mix of established local electrical firms and larger regional mechanical primes that operate electrical divisions. These contractors typically specialize in complex industrial installations, long-term commercial developments, and specialized service contracts for the area's institutional clients. While smaller residential-focused shops exist, the bulk of Local 446 labor is concentrated on projects requiring significant bonding capacity and high-voltage expertise. Hiring activity is generally dictated by the pipeline of public works and industrial maintenance shutdowns, with the union acting as a central clearinghouse for manpower during peak demand periods to ensure project schedules are met without compromising technical standards.
The $31.00 hourly wage is the gross amount appearing on an electrician's paycheck before taxes. The $44.58 total package includes an additional $13.58 per hour paid by the contractor into benefits like health insurance and pensions. These fringes do not come out of the base wage, representing the total cost of labor for the signatory contractor.
Yes, through the JATC training fund, members have access to advanced certifications in areas such as PLC programming, instrumentation, and EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program). These courses ensure that Monroe-based electricians remain competitive as technology evolves, particularly in the industrial and green energy sectors common to North Louisiana.
Electricians from other IBEW locals, known as 'travelers,' may work in the Monroe jurisdiction if there is a labor shortage that local members cannot fill. They must sign 'Book 2' at the hiring hall. Local 446 members always have priority for jobs on 'Book 1' before travelers are dispatched to signatory sites.
Licensed electricians can join through a process called 'organizing.' You will meet with a union representative to verify your credentials and experience. Depending on your skill set, you may be brought in as a Journeyman Wireman or placed in a classification that allows you to work while bridge-training into the full union scale.
IBEW Local 446 is seated in Monroe, Louisiana (LA). We hold published wage sheets for 8 locals across Louisiana — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Monroe and the rest of Louisiana, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 446. 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 446 pay scale for 2026 is $31.00 per hour for journeymen in Monroe, LA, or about $62,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $44.58 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 446 agreement make $31.00 an hour in base wages, or $44.58 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$31.00 per hour base wage and $44.58 per hour total package for a journeyman in Monroe, LA, effective 5/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $62,000 before overtime.
A Local 446 apprentice in Monroe, LA starts at roughly $13.95 an hour — about 45% of the $31.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $23.25 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 446 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.95 an hour, or roughly $27,900 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $31.00 journeyman rate effective 5/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $20.15 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $23.25 an hour in the fourth period and $31.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 446 training center.
The current IBEW Local 446 journeyman rate is $31.00/hour, with a total package of $44.58/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $62,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 446 business office before relying on the figure.
The $31.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $44.58/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 446 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 $31.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.95–$15.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 446 is headquartered in Monroe, LA 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 446 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 446 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 446 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 446 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 5/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 446 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 446 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.