Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 481 in Indianapolis, IN earn $45.45/hr in base wages, or $73.64/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2025.
The Local 481 pay scale for 2026 is $45.45 per hour for journeymen in Indianapolis, IN, or about $90,900 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2025-05-31.
| Local 481 journeyman hourly wage | $45.45 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $73.64 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $90,900 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.45–$22.73 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 2025-05-31 |
| Classification | Electrician (Bartholomew, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan and Shelby Counties) |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 481 apprentice in Indianapolis, IN starts at roughly $20.45 an hour — about 45% of the $45.45 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.09 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 481 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.45 / hour | $40,905 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $25.00 / hour | $49,995 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.54 / hour | $59,085 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $34.09 / hour | $68,175 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $38.63 / hour | $77,265 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $45.45 / hour | $90,900 |
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IBEW Local 481 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
Official job-call, referral and apprenticeship pages on the hall's own website. Application windows and requirements are set by the hall; check its page for current dates.
Links checked 2026-10-06 on the hall's site.
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Local 481 wages for 2025: $45.45 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.64 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 2025-05-31. That is the most recent Indianapolis, IN sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 38% of the IBEW Local 481 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Verified from official source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon Wage Determination IN20260002
Download the IBEW Local 481 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective May 31, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $28.19/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the IBEW Local 481 scale used across the Indianapolis, IN area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial and industrial electrical, building automation and controls wiring, data and low-voltage systems and service and retrofit work for signatory contractors throughout the Indianapolis metro, so a electrician wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits electrician talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Indianapolis. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 481 rates. For current Indianapolis scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 481 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (317) 923-2596 to confirm dispatch procedure, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 481 serves as the primary labor organization for inside wiremen and electrical professionals across the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the Central Indiana labor market, identifying this local as a critical hub for industrial manufacturing and commercial high-rise development. The union represents thousands of skilled electricians who provide essential power, lighting, and control systems for the region's diverse economic sectors. By maintaining strict training standards through their Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Local 481 ensures that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of handling complex electrical infrastructure, from medical campuses to automotive production facilities.
The market importance of Local 481 is underscored by its role in stabilizing labor costs for major capital projects in Marion County and surrounding jurisdictions. As the electrical trade evolves with renewable energy and building automation, this local provides the specialized technical expertise required for modern energy management systems. For contractors, partnering with this local offers a predictable pricing model and a deep pool of pre-screened, safety-trained talent. For the tradesperson, the local acts as a career anchor, offering portable benefits and a structured advancement path that remains competitive against non-union benchmarks in the Midwest construction landscape.
The economic framework for IBEW Local 481 establishes a robust total compensation package, which is set to reach $72.96 per hour effective June 12, 2025. Of this total, the Journeyman Wireman hourly base rate is $45.45, with the remaining $27.51 allocated to employer-funded fringe benefits including health insurance and multiple retirement vehicles. Apprentices within the five-year program see their earnings increase as a percentage of the journeyman rate. Typically, first-year apprentices start at approximately 40-45% of the base scale, progressing through annual increments until they reach 100% upon passing their licensing exams and completing required classroom hours. These standardized step-ups ensure that as a worker's technical proficiency and site responsibilities grow, their compensation reflects their increasing value to the signatory contractor.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 481 covers a broad geographic area centered in Indianapolis, extending across several key Central Indiana counties. This territory includes all electrical work related to commercial, industrial, and residential sectors within its boundaries. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from suburban logistics centers to downtown urban revitalization projects. The local's authority covers the installation, maintenance, and repair of all electrical systems, including high-voltage distribution, fire alarm systems, and telecommunications cabling. Travel and subsistence rules are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, ensuring that members are fairly compensated when working at the furthest reaches of the local's geographic footprint.
The signatory landscape for Local 481 is characterized by a mix of large-scale mechanical-electrical primes and specialized boutique shops. These firms range from national electrical contractors who handle massive industrial shutdowns and stadium projects to local family-owned businesses focused on tenant improvements and commercial service work. The stability of this contractor base is supported by the Indianapolis Chapter of NECA, which collaborates with the local to maintain industry standards. For workers, this diversity means opportunities across various niches, including renewable energy installations, healthcare facilities, and heavy industrial automation, providing a buffer against downturns in any single construction sector.
The base rate of $45.45 is the gross hourly pay reflected on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $72.96 includes the base rate plus $27.51 in fringe benefits paid by the employer. These benefits include health insurance and retirement contributions, which are not deducted from the base wage but are paid in addition to it.
Yes, while the Inside Wireman agreement is the primary contract, Local 481 also supports classifications for Voice-Data-Video (VDV) and residential work. These classifications often have different wage scales and apprenticeship durations tailored to the specific technical requirements of low-voltage systems and residential construction environments.
Wage adjustments are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the IBEW and NECA. These typically occur on an annual or semi-annual basis. The June 2025 increase is part of a scheduled progression that helps members and contractors plan for labor costs well in advance.
Travelers and members seeking a permanent transfer (changing their 'Home Local') must follow the procedures outlined in the IBEW Constitution. This generally involves working in the jurisdiction on a Travel Letter, establishing residency, and receiving approval from the Local 481 Business Manager and Executive Board.
IBEW Local 481 is seated in Indianapolis, Indiana (IN). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Indiana — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 481 pay scale for 2026 is $45.45 per hour for journeymen in Indianapolis, IN, or about $90,900 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.64 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2025-05-31.
IBEW Local 481 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $45.45 per hour in Indianapolis, IN, with a total package of $73.64 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 2025-05-31. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 2025-05-31 with the IBEW Local 481 business office.
The IBEW Local 481 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $45.45 per hour ($73.64 per hour total package), effective 2025-05-31, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 481 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 2025-05-31 with the hall.
Local 481 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $45.45 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($20.45–$22.73 per hour) in the first period and stepping up each period to 100% at turnout. The exact percentage schedule is set by the IBEW Local 481 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 481 agreement make $45.45 an hour in base wages, or $73.64 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 2025-05-31. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$45.45 per hour base wage and $73.64 per hour total package for a journeyman in Indianapolis, IN, effective 2025-05-31. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $90,900 before overtime.
A Local 481 apprentice in Indianapolis, IN starts at roughly $20.45 an hour — about 45% of the $45.45 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.09 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 481 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.45 an hour, or roughly $40,905 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $45.45 journeyman rate effective 2025-05-31. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.54 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $34.09 an hour in the fourth period and $45.45 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 481 training center.
Local 481 wages for 2025: $45.45 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.64 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 2025-05-31. That is the most recent Indianapolis, IN sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 481 journeyman rate is $45.45 an hour ($73.64 total package), effective 2025-05-31 — roughly $90,900 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. It is the rate in force for 2025 unless the local has since ratified a new agreement.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 481 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-481-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $45.45 hourly scale, the $73.64 total package and the 2025-05-31 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 481 journeyman rate is $45.45/hour, with a total package of $73.64/hour including fringe benefits, effective 2025-05-31. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $90,900 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 481 business office before relying on the figure.
The $45.45/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $73.64/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 481 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 $45.45/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.45–$22.73/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 481 is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN 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 481 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 481 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 481 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 481 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 2025-05-31 schedule; check with the Local 481 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 481 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Indianapolis, IN, and you can apply directly through the apply form on this page. These are direct-hire positions with mechanical contractors that Gulfstream recruits for, not union dispatch or hall referrals. For the hall's out-of-work list, contact the Local 481 business office.
The IBEW Local 481 hall is at 1828 N Meridian St #205, Indianapolis, IN 46202, serving Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (317) 923-2596.
IBEW Local 481 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (317) 923-2596 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 481 can be reached at (317) 923-2596. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
Apply through the local's joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC). Most programs open applications on a set schedule and require an aptitude test and interview. For IBEW Local 481's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (317) 923-2596.
Each Electricians local sets its own intake process, and it varies. The common paths: apprenticeship through the JATC; organizing in as an experienced worker, since journeymen and technicians already working in the trade can usually apply directly to the hall for membership; or transferring from another local of the same international with a transfer card from your current hall. For fees and requirements, contact the hall at (317) 923-2596.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 481's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (317) 923-2596.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 481's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (317) 923-2596.
IBEW Local 481's sourced electrician (bartholomew, boone, hamilton, hancock, hendricks, johnson, madison, marion, montgomery, morgan and shelby counties) union rate is $45.45/hr in base wages and $73.64/hr for the total package, effective May 31, 2025. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$45.45/hr in base wages for electrician (bartholomew, boone, hamilton, hancock, hendricks, johnson, madison, marion, montgomery, morgan and shelby counties), or $73.64/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective May 31, 2025 per the SAM.gov Davis-Bacon Wage Determination IN20260002 wage determination.
May 31, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (SAM.gov Davis-Bacon Wage Determination IN20260002) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $45.45/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $28.19/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $73.64/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Oct 5, 2026 (14 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.