Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 461 in Aurora, IL earn $64.16/hr in base wages, or $112.42/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
IBEW Local 461 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 461 pay scale for 2026 is $64.16 per hour for journeymen in Aurora, IL, or about $128,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $112.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/26/26.
| Local 461 journeyman hourly wage | $64.16 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $112.42 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $128,320 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $28.87–$32.08 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 461 apprentice in Aurora, IL starts at roughly $28.87 an hour — about 45% of the $64.16 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $48.12 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 461 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $28.87 / hour | $57,744 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $35.29 / hour | $70,576 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $41.70 / hour | $83,408 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $48.12 / hour | $96,240 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $54.54 / hour | $109,072 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $64.16 / hour | $128,320 |
IBEW Local 461 represents professional electricians and technicians throughout the Fox Valley region, maintaining a central headquarters in Aurora, Illinois. As a cornerstone of the regional construction industry, this local ensures that electrical installations across commercial, industrial, and residential sectors meet rigorous safety and quality standards. The organization serves as the primary labor source for signatory electrical contractors operating in southern Kane County and surrounding areas. By centralizing skilled manpower, Local 461 supports large-scale infrastructure projects and private developments that drive the local economy. Their commitment to technical excellence is underpinned by a collaborative relationship between labor and management, facilitating a stable workforce for the region's most demanding electrical challenges.
The electrical trade in the Aurora market is defined by high-voltage industrial applications, sophisticated commercial automation, and essential public works. IBEW Local 461 members are tasked with the installation and maintenance of complex power systems, lighting, and telecommunications infrastructure. Because the jurisdiction sits within a high-growth corridor of Illinois, the demand for qualified journey-level wiremen remains consistent across diverse project types. The local emphasizes specialized training through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, ensuring that the workforce stays ahead of evolving technologies like renewable energy and advanced building controls. For contractors, the local provides a scalable pool of vetted talent capable of executing projects under strict deadlines while adhering to the National Electrical Code.
The wage structure for IBEW Local 461 is highly competitive, reflecting the technical expertise required in the Illinois electrical market. As of the July 26, 2026 effective date, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is established at $64.16. When accounting for the full fringe benefit suite, the total compensation package reaches $112.42 per hour. This significant gap between the check wage and the total package represents the employer-paid contributions toward health, retirement, and training. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40% to 45% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete classroom modules and on-the-job training hours. By the fifth year of the program, apprentices earn near-journeyman wages before graduating to full scale upon completion of their certification.
The wage structure for IBEW Local 461 is highly competitive, reflecting the technical expertise required in the Illinois electrical market. As of the July 26, 2026 effective date, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is established at $64.16. When accounting for the full fringe benefit suite, the total compensation package reaches $112.42 per hour. This significant gap between the check wage and the total package represents the employer-paid contributions toward health, retirement, and training. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40% to 45% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete classroom modules and on-the-job training hours. By the fifth year of the program, apprentices earn near-journeyman wages before graduating to full scale upon completion of their certification.
IBEW Local 461 holds jurisdiction over a specific geographic footprint centered in Aurora, Illinois, primarily covering the southern portion of Kane County and parts of Kendall County. This territory includes key industrial hubs and commercial corridors that require consistent electrical maintenance and new construction. The local manages the dispatch of members to various job sites within these boundaries, ensuring that signatory contractors have the appropriate ratio of journeymen to apprentices. Work performed under this agreement encompasses inside wireman tasks, including power distribution, motor controls, and integrated building systems. Members must be prepared to travel to diverse sites ranging from municipal facilities in Aurora to industrial plants located along the Fox River valley.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 461 consists of a mix of large-scale mechanical-electrical primes and specialized local shops. These firms range from national contractors managing massive data center or industrial builds to family-owned businesses focusing on commercial service and retail build-outs. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major project starts in the Aurora and Fox Valley area, with the union hall serving as the clearinghouse for labor requests. Signatory contractors benefit from a predictable cost model and a workforce that has been standardized through the IBEW/NECA training system, reducing the need for individual firm-level basic safety and skill vetting.
The hourly wage of $64.16 is the gross amount paid on the member's weekly paycheck before taxes. The total package of $112.42 includes an additional $48.26 per hour in employer-paid benefits like health insurance, pensions, and training. These fringes are paid directly into trust funds on the worker's behalf and are not deducted from the base wage.
The IBEW Local 461 apprenticeship is a five-year program. It combines 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of journeymen with mandatory classroom instruction. This rigorous schedule ensures that every graduate is fully qualified to work as an Inside Wireman and can handle the complexities of modern electrical systems safely.
Travelers and members from other locals may be eligible to work in Local 461's jurisdiction through the Book 2 signing process at the hall. Permanent transfers, often called 'changing your card,' are subject to the local's current bylaws, the local work outlook, and the approval of the business manager or executive board.
While Illinois does not have a single statewide electrical license, most municipalities in the Local 461 jurisdiction require electricians to be registered or licensed. Working through the IBEW ensures that you meet the highest industry standards, and the JATC often assists members in navigating specific municipal testing and credentialing requirements in the Fox Valley area.
IBEW Local 461 is seated in Aurora, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Aurora and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 461. 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 461 pay scale for 2026 is $64.16 per hour for journeymen in Aurora, IL, or about $128,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $112.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 461 agreement make $64.16 an hour in base wages, or $112.42 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$64.16 per hour base wage and $112.42 per hour total package for a journeyman in Aurora, IL, effective 7/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $128,320 before overtime.
A Local 461 apprentice in Aurora, IL starts at roughly $28.87 an hour — about 45% of the $64.16 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $48.12 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 461 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $28.87 an hour, or roughly $57,744 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $64.16 journeyman rate effective 7/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $41.70 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $48.12 an hour in the fourth period and $64.16 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 461 training center.
The current IBEW Local 461 journeyman rate is $64.16/hour, with a total package of $112.42/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $128,320 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 461 business office before relying on the figure.
The $64.16/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $112.42/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 461 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 $64.16/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $28.87–$32.08/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 461 is headquartered in Aurora, IL 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 461 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 461 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 461 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 461 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 7/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 461 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 461 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.