Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 56 in Erie, PA earn $41.69/hr in base wages, or $73.11/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Aug 2026.
The Local 56 pay scale for 2026 is $41.69 per hour for journeymen in Erie, PA, or about $83,380 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.11 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/14/26.
| Local 56 journeyman hourly wage | $41.69 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $73.11 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $83,380 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.76–$20.85 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/14/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 56 apprentice in Erie, PA starts at roughly $18.76 an hour — about 45% of the $41.69 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.27 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 56 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.76 / hour | $37,521 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.93 / hour | $45,859 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $27.10 / hour | $54,197 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $31.27 / hour | $62,535 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $35.44 / hour | $70,873 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $41.69 / hour | $83,380 |
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IBEW Local 56 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 56 wages: $41.69 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.11 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 8/14/26. That is the most recent Erie, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 43% of the IBEW Local 56 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.
Unverified: crowd-sourced figure (unionpayscales.com), not confirmed against the local's own wage sheet
Download the IBEW Local 56 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective August 14, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $31.42/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 56 scale used across the Erie, PA 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 Erie 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 Erie. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 56 rates. For current Erie scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 56 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (814) 825-5505 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 56 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the Erie, Pennsylvania market. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional labor landscape where this local serves as the primary source for certified electrical labor in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The local is responsible for maintaining rigorous safety and technical standards across commercial, industrial, and residential projects. As the regional economy evolves toward modernized manufacturing and healthcare infrastructure, Local 56 provides the technical workforce necessary to support complex power distribution, lighting systems, and integrated control networks for the region's largest facilities.
The Erie market presents a unique blend of heavy industrial legacy and emerging institutional growth. Members of Local 56 are essential to the operations of the region's port facilities, manufacturing plants, and sprawling medical campuses. By providing a structured labor pool to signatory electrical contractors, the union ensures that large-scale capital projects remain on schedule and compliant with the National Electrical Code. For the individual electrician, membership offers a path to middle-class stability through collective bargaining, while for the contractor, it offers a scalable workforce that has undergone standardized, high-voltage training and safety certifications.
Based on the effective rates for August 2026, a Journeyman Wireman in IBEW Local 56 earns a base hourly wage of $41.69. When including the comprehensive fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $73.11 per hour. Apprentices entering the program do not start at this full rate but instead progress through a multi-year wage scale typically starting at approximately 40% to 50% of the journeyman rate. These percentages increase annually or upon the completion of specific work-hour milestones and classroom modules through the JATC. This stepped progression ensures that labor costs for signatory contractors remain proportional to the skill level of the individual worker while providing the apprentice with a clear, transparent path toward the full $73.11 total package.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 56 is centered in Erie County, Pennsylvania, covering the entirety of the city and its surrounding municipalities. The chartered territory extends to ensure that all electrical work within this Northwest corner of the state falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement. This includes inland projects as well as specialized marine-related electrical infrastructure along the Lake Erie shoreline. Members dispatched from the Erie hall are expected to travel within this designated radius to support signatory contractors on job sites ranging from retail developments to heavy industrial processing plants. The local maintains strict oversight of work rules to ensure that all electrical installations within these boundaries meet union quality standards.
The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 56 consists of a diverse mix of electrical firms capable of handling various project scales. This includes large-scale industrial electrical primes that focus on plant maintenance and heavy power systems, as well as commercial contractors specializing in tenant fit-outs and institutional builds. There are also smaller, specialized shops focused on residential service and localized infrastructure. Hiring through the hall allows these firms to scale their workforce rapidly in response to major project awards without the overhead of permanent staffing. This flexibility is critical for the Erie market, where project demands can fluctuate based on industrial cycles and seasonal construction windows.
The $41.69 hourly wage is the gross amount paid on the member's weekly paycheck. The $73.11 total package includes that wage plus an additional $31.42 in employer-paid benefits like healthcare, pension, and training. These benefits are paid by the contractor on top of the wage and are not deducted from the journeyman's hourly pay.
Yes, through the JATC, members have access to continuing education including OSHA safety training, EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program) certification, and specialized instrumentation training. This ensures that Local 56 electricians remain the most qualified workforce for modern green energy and high-tech manufacturing projects entering the Erie market.
Local 56 operates a traditional hiring hall model. Signatory contractors request manpower, and members are dispatched based on a book system that prioritizes local members who are currently out of work. Electricians from other IBEW locals may work in the jurisdiction as 'travelers' if the local book is clear and work demand exceeds local supply.
The work is highly varied, ranging from the maintenance of historic industrial facilities to the installation of advanced electrical systems in new medical centers. Members also perform significant work on public infrastructure, including municipal buildings and educational facilities, ensuring all high-voltage and low-voltage systems are installed to the highest safety standards.
IBEW Local 56 is seated in Erie, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical construction and service staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Portland mechanical recruiter · Dallas–Fort Worth mechanical recruiter · Los Angeles mechanical recruiter · San Diego mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Erie and the rest of Pennsylvania, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 56. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 56 pay scale for 2026 is $41.69 per hour for journeymen in Erie, PA, or about $83,380 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.11 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/14/26.
IBEW Local 56 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $41.69 per hour in Erie, PA, with a total package of $73.11 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/14/26. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 8/14/26 with the IBEW Local 56 business office.
The IBEW Local 56 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $41.69 per hour ($73.11 per hour total package), effective 8/14/26, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 56 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 8/14/26 with the hall.
Local 56 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $41.69 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($18.76–$20.85 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 56 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 56 agreement make $41.69 an hour in base wages, or $73.11 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 8/14/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$41.69 per hour base wage and $73.11 per hour total package for a journeyman in Erie, PA, effective 8/14/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $83,380 before overtime.
A Local 56 apprentice in Erie, PA starts at roughly $18.76 an hour — about 45% of the $41.69 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.27 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 56 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.76 an hour, or roughly $37,521 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $41.69 journeyman rate effective 8/14/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $27.10 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $31.27 an hour in the fourth period and $41.69 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 56 training center.
Local 56 wages: $41.69 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.11 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 8/14/26. That is the most recent Erie, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 56 journeyman rate is $41.69 an hour ($73.11 total package), effective 8/14/26 — roughly $83,380 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 56 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-56-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $41.69 hourly scale, the $73.11 total package and the 8/14/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 56 journeyman rate is $41.69/hour, with a total package of $73.11/hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/14/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $83,380 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 56 business office before relying on the figure.
The $41.69/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $73.11/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 56 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 $41.69/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.76–$20.85/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 56 is headquartered in Erie, PA 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 56 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 56 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 56 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 56 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 8/14/26 schedule; check with the Local 56 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 56 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Erie, PA, 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 56 business office.
The IBEW Local 56 hall is at 185 Pennbriar Dr, Erie, PA 16509, serving Erie, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (814) 825-5505.
IBEW Local 56 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (814) 825-5505 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 56 can be reached at (814) 825-5505. 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 56's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (814) 825-5505.
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 (814) 825-5505.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 56's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (814) 825-5505.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 56's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (814) 825-5505.
IBEW Local 56's sourced journeyman inside wireman union rate is $41.69/hr in base wages and $73.11/hr for the total package, effective August 14, 2026. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$41.69/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $73.11/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective August 14, 2026 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
August 14, 2026. Pulled from the local's current published CBA wage sheet on unionpayscales.com and cross-checked at build time. High confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $41.69/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $31.42/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $73.11/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.