Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 527 in Galveston County, TX earn $30.18/hr in base wages, or $42.14/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
IBEW Local 527 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 527 pay scale is $30.18 per hour for journeymen in Galveston County, TX, or about $60,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $42.14 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 527 journeyman hourly wage | $30.18 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $42.14 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $60,360 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.58–$15.09 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 527 apprentice in Galveston County, TX starts at roughly $13.58 an hour — about 45% of the $30.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.63 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 527 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.58 / hour | $27,162 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $16.60 / hour | $33,198 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $19.62 / hour | $39,234 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $22.63 / hour | $45,270 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $25.65 / hour | $51,306 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $30.18 / hour | $60,360 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 527 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical workers across the Galveston and Texas City corridor. As a critical hub for the energy and maritime sectors, this local maintains the labor standards for industrial, commercial, and residential electrical installations. The membership provides essential technical expertise for the region's massive industrial infrastructure, including petroleum refineries and chemical processing facilities that dominate the local economic landscape. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored these labor markets to assist contractors and tradespeople in navigating the specific requirements of the Gulf Coast electrical trade.
The market served by Local 527 is distinct from the broader Houston metropolitan area due to its heavy concentration of maritime and heavy industrial assets. The local manages a rigorous Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) program to ensure that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of handling complex hazardous location wiring and high-voltage industrial systems. For the journeyman electrician, this jurisdiction offers a unique blend of stable industrial maintenance contracts and large-scale capital projects. Understanding the interplay between the local's collective bargaining agreement and the region's industrial cycles is vital for any professional operating in the Southeast Texas electrical sector.
Based on the figures effective October 21, 2022, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate is established at $30.18 per hour. When accounting for the full fringe benefit load, the total package reaches $42.14 per hour. Apprentices in the Local 527 JATC program typically begin at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, often ranging from 40% to 50% for first-year students. As apprentices complete required classroom hours and reach on-the-job training milestones—usually divided into six to ten pay periods—their wages increase incrementally until reaching full scale upon passing the journeyman exam. It is important to note that these figures represent the minimum negotiated rates, and members should verify current scales with the business office to account for any recent cost-of-living adjustments or contract renewals.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 527 is centered in Galveston County, Texas, extending to encompass specific maritime and industrial zones along the Gulf Coast. The local's authority covers all inside electrical work, including power distribution, lighting, and control systems within its geographic boundaries. Work performed under this agreement includes major refinery shutdowns, port facility upgrades, and commercial developments in Galveston and Texas City. Members are dispatched through a structured referral system that prioritizes local residents and maintains high standards for safety and craftsmanship across all job sites. Travel requirements vary depending on the proximity of the industrial complex or construction site to the Texas City area.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 527 is dominated by major industrial electrical firms and heavy commercial contractors. These entities frequently operate within the region's refineries and chemical plants, requiring a workforce that maintains high-level safety certifications. While large industrial primes handle the bulk of the man-hours, the local also supports a network of smaller specialty contractors focused on municipal infrastructure and maritime electrical systems. Hiring typically follows the project lifecycle of the local industrial base, with significant spikes in demand during planned maintenance turnarounds and new facility expansions. This mix provides members with diverse experience across different sectors of the electrical industry.
While neighboring locals may cover larger urban centers like Houston, Local 527 is deeply integrated into the specific industrial and maritime culture of Galveston County. The work here is heavily weighted toward the petrochemical industry and port operations, requiring specialized knowledge of industrial codes and safety standards unique to hazardous environments and coastal conditions.
Yes, beyond the standard Texas wireman or journeyman license, most signatory contractors in this area require a valid TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) due to the proximity of port facilities. Additionally, specific safety orientations for regional refineries and chemical plants are often mandatory before being dispatched to industrial job sites.
Wage increases are determined through collective bargaining between the IBEW and the local NECA chapter. These adjustments are typically scheduled annually or semi-annually throughout the duration of the multi-year contract. These raises may be applied to the base hourly rate or allocated to fringe benefits like health insurance or pension funds.
Applicants generally must reside within the geographical jurisdiction of Local 527 to be eligible for the apprenticeship program. This ensures that the local workforce is readily available for the needs of area contractors. Prospective members from outside the county should contact the JATC office to inquire about specific residency or transfer policies.
IBEW Local 527 is seated in Galveston County, Texas (TX). We hold published wage sheets for 20 locals across Texas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Galveston County and the rest of Texas, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 527. 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 527 pay scale is $30.18 per hour for journeymen in Galveston County, TX, or about $60,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $42.14 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 527 agreement make $30.18 an hour in base wages, or $42.14 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/21/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$30.18 per hour base wage and $42.14 per hour total package for a journeyman in Galveston County, TX, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $60,360 before overtime.
A Local 527 apprentice in Galveston County, TX starts at roughly $13.58 an hour — about 45% of the $30.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.63 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 527 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.58 an hour, or roughly $27,162 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $30.18 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $19.62 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $22.63 an hour in the fourth period and $30.18 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 527 training center.
The current IBEW Local 527 journeyman rate is $30.18/hour, with a total package of $42.14/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $60,360 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 527 business office before relying on the figure.
The $30.18/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $42.14/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 527 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 $30.18/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.58–$15.09/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 527 is headquartered in Galveston County, TX 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 527 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 527 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 527 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 527 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 10/21/22 schedule; check with the Local 527 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 527 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.