Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 557 in Saginaw, MI earn $40/hr in base wages, or $69.15/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2025.
IBEW Local 557 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 557 pay scale for 2026 is $40.00 per hour for journeymen in Saginaw, MI, or about $80,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $69.15 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/6/25.
| Local 557 journeyman hourly wage | $40.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $69.15 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $80,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.00–$20.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/6/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 557 apprentice in Saginaw, MI starts at roughly $18.00 an hour — about 45% of the $40.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.00 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 557 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.00 / hour | $36,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.00 / hour | $44,000 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $26.00 / hour | $52,000 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $30.00 / hour | $60,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $34.00 / hour | $68,000 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $40.00 / hour | $80,000 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 557 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across the Saginaw Valley region of Michigan. Based in Saginaw, this local union manages the labor supply for commercial, industrial, and residential electrical installations. The local maintains a rigorous standard for craftsmanship, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a highly trained workforce capable of handling complex power distribution, lighting, and specialized systems. As a key player in Michigan's industrial corridor, Local 557 supports the infrastructure necessary for the region's manufacturing legacy and its transition toward modern commercial development and renewable energy projects.
The electrical market in Saginaw and the surrounding counties relies on the partnership between Local 557 and its signatory contractors. This relationship is governed by collective bargaining agreements that establish high-tier safety standards, fair compensation, and comprehensive benefits. For the tradesperson, the local provides a structured career path with consistent representation, while contractors benefit from a scalable pool of qualified labor that reduces the overhead associated with independent recruitment. The stability provided by Local 557 is essential for large-scale projects, where electrical complexity requires precision and adherence to National Electrical Code (NEC) standards to ensure long-term operational safety and efficiency.
Effective July 6, 2025, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 557 is established at $40.00 per hour. When considering the full compensation package, including employer-funded benefits, the total package reaches $69.15 per hour. This reflects the significant investment in health, retirement, and training that defines the unionized electrical trade. Apprentices in the Saginaw JATC program begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate—typically starting around 40% to 50%—and receive scheduled raises every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training, provided they meet their classroom requirements. This step-up progression ensures that as an apprentice’s technical proficiency increases, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory contractor and the project site.
IBEW Local 557 holds jurisdiction over all electrical work within Saginaw County and portions of the surrounding central Michigan territory. This charter covers a diverse range of work sites, from automotive manufacturing plants and medical facilities to municipal infrastructure and retail developments. The local manages the dispatch of members to these sites, ensuring that labor requirements are met according to the specific needs of the signatory mechanical and electrical primes. Members working within this jurisdiction are subject to the terms of the Inside Wireman Agreement, which dictates travel pay, shift differentials, and overtime rules for work performed outside of standard hours across the Saginaw Valley.
The contractor landscape for Local 557 in the Saginaw market is comprised of diverse signatory firms ranging from small residential shops to large-scale industrial electrical primes. These contractors primarily serve the manufacturing, healthcare, and educational sectors, which are the pillars of the regional economy. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major industrial outages, plant renovations, and new commercial construction. Because Local 557 provides a centralized referral system, signatory contractors can quickly scale their crews for large projects without the long-term risk of permanent hiring, while members benefit from the ability to move between contractors as project phases conclude.
As of the July 6, 2025 update, the journeyman hourly wage is $40.00, with a total package of $69.15 including fringes. Rates are subject to change based on the collective bargaining agreement, and members should always confirm the latest schedules with the hall before beginning a new dispatch.
Yes, Local 557 participates in the ERTS (Electronic Reciprocity Transfer System), allowing travelers from other IBEW locals to have their fringe benefits directed back to their home funds. Travelers must check in with the dispatcher and provide a valid travel letter from their home local.
The Inside Wireman apprenticeship is generally a five-year program. It combines 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with mandatory classroom instruction. This ensures that every graduate is fully prepared to sit for the state journeyman exam and handle high-voltage industrial applications safely.
The jurisdiction features a mix of heavy industrial work, particularly in automotive and manufacturing facilities, as well as significant institutional work for local hospital systems and school districts. There is also a consistent demand for commercial tenant improvements and municipal electrical infrastructure maintenance.
IBEW Local 557 is seated in Saginaw, Michigan (MI). We hold published wage sheets for 22 locals across Michigan — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Saginaw and the rest of Michigan, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 557. 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 557 pay scale for 2026 is $40.00 per hour for journeymen in Saginaw, MI, or about $80,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $69.15 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/6/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 557 agreement make $40.00 an hour in base wages, or $69.15 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/6/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$40.00 per hour base wage and $69.15 per hour total package for a journeyman in Saginaw, MI, effective 7/6/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $80,000 before overtime.
A Local 557 apprentice in Saginaw, MI starts at roughly $18.00 an hour — about 45% of the $40.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.00 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 557 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.00 an hour, or roughly $36,000 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $40.00 journeyman rate effective 7/6/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $26.00 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $30.00 an hour in the fourth period and $40.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 557 training center.
The current IBEW Local 557 journeyman rate is $40.00/hour, with a total package of $69.15/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/6/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $80,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 557 business office before relying on the figure.
The $40.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $69.15/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 557 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 $40.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.00–$20.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 557 is headquartered in Saginaw, MI 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 557 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 557 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 557 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 557 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 7/6/25 schedule; check with the Local 557 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 557 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.