Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 518 in Globe, AZ earn $34.50/hr in base wages, or $48.05/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Feb 2025.
IBEW Local 518 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 518 pay scale for 2026 is $34.50 per hour for journeymen in Globe, AZ, or about $69,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $48.05 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/28/25.
| Local 518 journeyman hourly wage | $34.50 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $48.05 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $69,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.53–$17.25 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 2/28/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 518 apprentice in Globe, AZ starts at roughly $15.53 an hour — about 45% of the $34.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.88 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 518 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.53 / hour | $31,050 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $18.98 / hour | $37,950 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.43 / hour | $44,850 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.88 / hour | $51,750 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $29.33 / hour | $58,650 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.50 / hour | $69,000 |
IBEW Local 518 represents skilled electrical workers across Gila County and the surrounding mining corridors of Arizona. Headquartered in Globe, this local is essential to the state's industrial infrastructure, providing the specialized labor required for massive copper mining operations and the supporting utility grid. The market is distinct from the high-density residential developments in Phoenix, focusing instead on rugged industrial environments, power generation, and essential municipal services. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region for its unique intersection of industrial maintenance and critical commercial projects that demand highly qualified inside wiremen and technicians capable of working in remote or hazardous settings.
The labor landscape in the Globe and Miami area is heavily influenced by the presence of global mining leaders and their specialized signatory partners. Local 518 members are trained to handle heavy industrial electrical installations, instrumentation, and complex motor controls that keep these facilities operational. Because the jurisdiction covers vast, sparsely populated areas, the local plays a vital role in maintaining the reliability of the electrical grid and ensuring that new capital projects are built to code. For contractors, the local provides a centralized dispatch for a workforce that is already safety-certified for the specific rigors of this employer's industrial sector, reducing the overhead associated with site-specific training and recruitment.
["As of the February 28, 2025 update, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 518 is established at $34.50 per hour. When factoring in the fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $48.05 per hour. This reflects the standard collective bargaining structure where the base wage is supplemented by significant employer-paid benefits. Apprentices in the Globe JATC program begin at a defined percentage of this Journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the final year of the five-year program, apprentices often earn 80-85% of the full scale. Members should verify the exact percentage steps and current health and welfare deductions directly with the Local 518 business office."]
["The territorial jurisdiction of IBEW Local 518 is centered in Globe, Arizona, primarily covering the entirety of Gila County and portions of Pinal and Graham counties. The work scope encompasses all inside electrical wiring, including commercial construction, industrial plant maintenance, and telecommunications infrastructure. Because much of the work occurs in the copper mines and related processing facilities, members may be dispatched to remote sites requiring adherence to MSHA safety standards. The jurisdiction is characterized by its stability in the industrial sector, though travel within the eastern Arizona region is common for members assigned to major regional utility or mining projects under the prevailing wage and collective bargaining agreements."]
["The signatory contractor landscape for Local 518 is dominated by firms specializing in heavy industrial applications and utility-scale projects. These include large-scale mechanical-electrical primes that support the mining industry, as well as mid-sized commercial contractors based in the Globe-Miami area. Hiring in this market is often cyclical, tied to major plant outages, shutdowns, or capital expansion projects at regional processing facilities. Signatory partners benefit from a pool of workers who hold current state certifications and have undergone rigorous safety training specifically tailored for high-voltage environments and industrial hazards. This creates a stable environment for contractors who require a scalable, expert workforce for complex infrastructure bids in the Arizona interior."]
The Journeyman rate of $34.50 is the gross hourly pay reflected on a member's paycheck before taxes. The Total Package of $48.05 includes an additional $13.55 per hour paid by the employer into fringe benefits like health insurance, pensions, and training funds. These benefits are not deducted from the base wage but are provided in addition to it.
While not every commercial job requires it, a significant portion of work within Local 518's jurisdiction occurs on mining property. Consequently, many members must maintain current MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) certification. The JATC and signatory contractors typically coordinate this specialized safety training to ensure members remain eligible for dispatch to industrial sites.
Yes, IBEW members in good standing can typically work in the Globe jurisdiction as 'Travelers' by signing the Book II at the Local 518 hall. A permanent transfer of membership, known as 'depositing a travel card,' is subject to the local’s bylaws, current work volume, and the approval of the local executive board.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Union and the local chapter of the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These adjustments usually occur annually or semi-annually. The current scale effective February 2025 represents the most recent adjustment negotiated for the membership.
IBEW Local 518 is seated in Globe, Arizona (AZ). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Arizona — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Globe and the rest of Arizona, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 518. 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 518 pay scale for 2026 is $34.50 per hour for journeymen in Globe, AZ, or about $69,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $48.05 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/28/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 518 agreement make $34.50 an hour in base wages, or $48.05 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 2/28/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.50 per hour base wage and $48.05 per hour total package for a journeyman in Globe, AZ, effective 2/28/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $69,000 before overtime.
A Local 518 apprentice in Globe, AZ starts at roughly $15.53 an hour — about 45% of the $34.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.88 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 518 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.53 an hour, or roughly $31,050 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.50 journeyman rate effective 2/28/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.43 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.88 an hour in the fourth period and $34.50 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 518 training center.
The current IBEW Local 518 journeyman rate is $34.50/hour, with a total package of $48.05/hour including fringe benefits, effective 2/28/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $69,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 518 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.50/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $48.05/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 518 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 $34.50/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.53–$17.25/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 518 is headquartered in Globe, AZ 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 518 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 518 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 518 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 518 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 2/28/25 schedule; check with the Local 518 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 518 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.