Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 449 in Pocatello, ID earn $42.55/hr in base wages, or $58.08/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
IBEW Local 449 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 449 pay scale for 2026 is $42.55 per hour for journeymen in Pocatello, ID, or about $85,100 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $58.08 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
| Local 449 journeyman hourly wage | $42.55 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $58.08 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $85,100 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.15–$21.28 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/31/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 449 apprentice in Pocatello, ID starts at roughly $19.15 an hour — about 45% of the $42.55 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.91 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 449 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.15 / hour | $38,295 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.40 / hour | $46,805 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $27.66 / hour | $55,315 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $31.91 / hour | $63,825 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $36.17 / hour | $72,335 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $42.55 / hour | $85,100 |
IBEW Local 449 represents the skilled electrical workforce throughout the Pocatello market and the surrounding Southeastern Idaho region. As a charter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, this local manages the labor supply for commercial, industrial, and residential projects that require high-voltage expertise and rigorous safety standards. The membership is comprised of inside wiremen, telecommunications technicians, and apprentices who maintain the critical infrastructure of the Intermountain West. By centralizing the referral process, Local 449 ensures that signatory electrical contractors have access to a verified talent pool capable of meeting complex National Electrical Code requirements on large-scale builds and industrial maintenance contracts.
The electrical market in Idaho has seen significant demand driven by industrial expansion, data center development, and infrastructure modernization. Local 449 plays a vital role in this ecosystem by operating a joint training program that standardizes skills across the trade. For contractors, partnering with the local provides a scalable workforce that reduces the overhead of independent recruitment while ensuring work is performed by licensed professionals. For the tradesperson, the local provides a structured career path with collectively bargained protections and benefits that are often superior to the non-union sector. This stability is essential for the regional economy, supporting both the workforce and the major developers investing in Idaho's future.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement effective through May 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate is established at $42.55 per hour. When accounting for the full fringe benefit load, the total package reaches $58.08 per hour. Apprentices in the IBEW Local 449 program follow a strict percentage-based wage progression that increases as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. Typically starting at approximately 40% to 50% of the journeyman rate, apprentices receive scheduled raises every six to twelve months. This structured escalation ensures that as a worker's proficiency and responsibility grow, their compensation remains aligned with their value to the signatory contractor. These figures represent the baseline for the building trades agreement and should be verified for specific project types like residential or maintenance work.
IBEW Local 449 holds jurisdiction over a vast geographic area in Southeastern Idaho, centered in Pocatello and extending to the borders of Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. The territory covers major hubs and rural municipalities where industrial processing, agricultural technology, and commercial development are prevalent. Members are dispatched from the Pocatello hall to job sites across various counties, requiring a commitment to travel within the chartered region. The jurisdiction includes all inside electrical work, from lighting and power distribution to complex motor controls and instrumentation. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the local's referral procedures, ensuring that labor is sourced through the union's dispatch system to maintain compliance with the standing labor agreement.
The signatory landscape for Local 449 is characterized by a mix of regional electrical primes and specialized industrial contractors. These firms range from shops focused on commercial tenant improvements and healthcare facilities to heavy industrial partners serving the mining and energy sectors. Hiring is typically cyclical, following the start of major capital projects in the region. Because the local serves as a central clearinghouse for labor, contractors can scale their crews up or down based on project needs without the long-term risk of permanent hires. This flexibility attracts both established Idaho firms and out-of-state contractors who have secured work within the jurisdiction and require a reliable, pre-vetted workforce.
The hourly wage of $42.55 is the gross amount paid on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $58.08 includes that wage plus the dollar value of fringe benefits such as pension contributions and health insurance. These benefits are paid by the employer on top of the hourly rate and do not come out of the worker's take-home pay.
Yes, licensed electricians currently working for non-signatory contractors can contact the Local 449 organizer to discuss membership. Depending on documented hours and passing an evaluation, experienced wiremen may be able to join as journeymen or be placed into the apprenticeship at an advanced level, immediately qualifying for the negotiated wage and benefit standards.
Members of other IBEW locals looking to work in Southeast Idaho must sign the 'Book 2' out-of-work list at the Pocatello hall. Dispatch is handled according to the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, where local members on 'Book 1' receive priority, followed by travelers once local labor is fully utilized on active regional projects.
All journeymen working in the jurisdiction must hold a valid Idaho State Electrical Journeyman License. The Local 449 JATC provides resources and continuing education units (CEUs) to help members maintain their licensure and stay current with the latest adoptions of the National Electrical Code as mandated by the state.
IBEW Local 449 is seated in Pocatello, Idaho (ID). We hold published wage sheets for 4 locals across Idaho — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Pocatello and the rest of Idaho, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 449. 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 449 pay scale for 2026 is $42.55 per hour for journeymen in Pocatello, ID, or about $85,100 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $58.08 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 449 agreement make $42.55 an hour in base wages, or $58.08 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/31/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$42.55 per hour base wage and $58.08 per hour total package for a journeyman in Pocatello, ID, effective 5/31/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $85,100 before overtime.
A Local 449 apprentice in Pocatello, ID starts at roughly $19.15 an hour — about 45% of the $42.55 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.91 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 449 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.15 an hour, or roughly $38,295 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $42.55 journeyman rate effective 5/31/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $27.66 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $31.91 an hour in the fourth period and $42.55 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 449 training center.
The current IBEW Local 449 journeyman rate is $42.55/hour, with a total package of $58.08/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/31/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $85,100 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 449 business office before relying on the figure.
The $42.55/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $58.08/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 449 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 $42.55/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.15–$21.28/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 449 is headquartered in Pocatello, ID 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 449 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 449 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 449 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 449 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 5/31/26 schedule; check with the Local 449 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 449 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.