Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 490 in Concord, NH earn $34.55/hr in base wages, or $55.72/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Nov 2025.
IBEW Local 490 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 490 pay scale for 2026 is $34.55 per hour for journeymen in Concord, NH, or about $69,100 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $55.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 11/3/25.
| Local 490 journeyman hourly wage | $34.55 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $55.72 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $69,100 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.55–$17.28 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 11/3/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 490 apprentice in Concord, NH starts at roughly $15.55 an hour — about 45% of the $34.55 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.91 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 490 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.55 / hour | $31,095 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.00 / hour | $38,005 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.46 / hour | $44,915 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.91 / hour | $51,825 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $29.37 / hour | $58,735 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.55 / hour | $69,100 |
IBEW Local 490 represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across the state of New Hampshire, operating out of their headquarters in Concord. As the primary labor organization for the electrical trade in the Granite State, Local 490 provides a skilled workforce for commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. The local is responsible for ensuring that complex electrical systems—ranging from high-voltage power distribution to low-voltage telecommunications—are installed according to the National Electrical Code. By maintaining a centralized pool of highly trained labor, the local serves as a critical partner for signatory contractors bidding on large-scale infrastructure and private development throughout the region.
The New Hampshire electrical market is characterized by a mix of specialized industrial facilities, healthcare expansions, and regional commercial hubs. Local 490 members are essential to the state's energy infrastructure, including work within the renewable sector and traditional power generation plants. Because New Hampshire lacks the high-density urban sprawl of southern New England, the local's ability to dispatch mobile, qualified crews across diverse terrain is a significant advantage for prime contractors. This market requires electricians who are proficient in multifaceted installations, ensuring that the state's growing tech and manufacturing corridors remain powered by a safe and reliable electrical grid.
Effective November 3, 2025, the journeyman inside wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 490 is set at $34.55, contributing to a total compensation package of $55.72 per hour when fringe benefits are included. This package represents a comprehensive investment in the worker's long-term stability and health. Apprentices within the Local 490 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) earn a progressive percentage of this journeyman rate as they advance through the five-year program. Typically, a first-year apprentice starts at roughly 40-50% of the journeyman scale, receiving incremental raises every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and successful completion of classroom modules. These structured escalations ensure that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors while providing a clear path to middle-class earnings for the electrical workforce.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 490 encompasses the entire state of New Hampshire, covering a broad geographical area from the Seacoast to the Great North Woods. Members are dispatched from the Concord hall to project sites in various municipalities, including Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth. The work covered under this charter includes all inside electrical wiring, maintenance, and repair of electrical equipment in commercial and industrial buildings. Due to the statewide nature of this local, travel requirements are a standard component of the dispatch process, and the agreement includes specific provisions regarding travel time or zone pay depending on the distance from the jurisdiction's designated dispatch points.
The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 490 consists of a diverse array of employers ranging from local family-owned electrical shops to large regional mechanical-electrical primes. These contractors rely on the local's referral system to man projects that fluctuate in scale, such as public school renovations, hospital wings, and industrial plant shutdowns. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has observed that the demand for union electrical labor in this market is driven by the need for rigorous safety standards and technical expertise in hazardous environments. Signatory firms benefit from the JATC’s continuous training, which ensures that the workforce is current on the latest building automation systems and energy-efficient lighting controls.
The $34.55 hourly wage is the gross amount paid on the member's weekly paycheck before taxes. The $55.72 total package includes that wage plus an additional $21.17 per hour in employer-paid fringes, such as health insurance and pension contributions. These benefits are paid by the contractor in addition to the wage and do not come out of the worker's base hourly pay.
Wage adjustments are dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Union and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases usually occur annually or semi-annually on specific dates defined in the contract. The current rate provided is effective as of November 2025; future increases will be determined by the terms of the next multi-year agreement.
Yes, the Local 490 JATC ensures that all apprentices receive the required classroom hours and documented field experience necessary to sit for the New Hampshire Journeyman Electrician exam. Because the state requires specific continuing education units (CEUs) for license renewal, the union also offers the necessary courses to keep its members compliant with state regulations.
Qualified IBEW members from other locals can work in Local 490's jurisdiction as 'Travelers' under the IBEW's Reciprocity Agreement, provided there is a manning shortage and a call for labor. Travelers must sign the 'Book 2' referral list at the Concord hall. Work is always offered to local members on 'Book 1' before being opened to out-of-jurisdiction workers.
IBEW Local 490 is seated in Concord, New Hampshire (NH). We hold published wage sheets for 1 local across New Hampshire — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Concord and the rest of New Hampshire, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 490. 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 490 pay scale for 2026 is $34.55 per hour for journeymen in Concord, NH, or about $69,100 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $55.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 11/3/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 490 agreement make $34.55 an hour in base wages, or $55.72 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 11/3/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.55 per hour base wage and $55.72 per hour total package for a journeyman in Concord, NH, effective 11/3/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $69,100 before overtime.
A Local 490 apprentice in Concord, NH starts at roughly $15.55 an hour — about 45% of the $34.55 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.91 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 490 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.55 an hour, or roughly $31,095 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.55 journeyman rate effective 11/3/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.46 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.91 an hour in the fourth period and $34.55 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 490 training center.
The current IBEW Local 490 journeyman rate is $34.55/hour, with a total package of $55.72/hour including fringe benefits, effective 11/3/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $69,100 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 490 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.55/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $55.72/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 490 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 $34.55/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.55–$17.28/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 490 is headquartered in Concord, NH 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 490 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 490 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 490 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 490 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 11/3/25 schedule; check with the Local 490 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 490 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.