Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 6 in San Francisco, CA earn $95.75/hr in base wages, or $139.47/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 6 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.
The Local 6 pay scale for 2026 is $95.75 per hour for journeymen in San Francisco, CA, or about $191,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $139.47 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
| Local 6 journeyman hourly wage | $95.75 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $139.47 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $191,500 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $43.09–$47.88 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 6 apprentice in San Francisco, CA starts at roughly $43.09 an hour — about 45% of the $95.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $71.81 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 6 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $43.09 / hour | $86,175 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $52.66 / hour | $105,325 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $62.24 / hour | $124,475 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $71.81 / hour | $143,625 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $81.39 / hour | $162,775 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $95.75 / hour | $191,500 |
IBEW Local 6 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (415) 861-5752 to confirm dispatch hours, 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 6 represents the organized electrical workforce in the City and County of San Francisco, a market defined by high-density commercial construction and complex infrastructure requirements. Established to uphold the standards of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, this local serves as the primary labor source for the city’s landmark high-rises, transit systems, and institutional facilities. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the labor dynamics of this region, noting that Local 6 maintains one of the highest skill requirements in the nation due to the unique seismic and historical preservation codes inherent to San Francisco's built environment.
The San Francisco electrical market is distinct because the local's jurisdiction is geographically compact but exceptionally dense in project volume. Signatory contractors operating here engage in everything from massive tech tenant improvements to large-scale municipal renovations. Members of Local 6 are cross-trained in diverse electrical systems, including power distribution, lighting controls, integrated fire alarm systems, and telecommunications. This specialization ensures that the workforce can handle the technical demands of modern commercial developments and the critical maintenance of the city’s aging utility infrastructure, making Local 6 a pivotal organization in Northern California’s broader construction economy.
The current journeyman hourly rate is established at $95.75, which reflects the high cost of living and the technical expertise required within the San Francisco market. When including fringe benefits, the total compensation package reaches $139.47 per hour, effective June 26, 2026. Apprentice electricians enter the program at a lower percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases are contingent upon the successful mastery of electrical theory and practical application through the San Francisco Electrical JATC. By the fifth year of the program, apprentices earn a significant portion of the full rate, ensuring a smooth transition to journeyman status upon passing the state certification exam.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 6 is strictly defined as the City and County of San Francisco. Unlike other locals that may cover multiple counties across a broad geographic range, Local 6 focuses exclusively on this dense urban core. The jurisdiction encompasses all electrical work performed within the city limits, including Treasure Island and the Farallon Islands. Travel and dispatch rules are governed by the Inside Wireman's Agreement, with the local's dispatch office managing the referral system for signatory contractors. Work under this agreement includes the installation, maintenance, and repair of all electrical systems in commercial, industrial, and residential structures within the chartered territory.
The signatory contractor landscape in San Francisco is a mix of large-scale national mechanical-electrical firms and specialized local shops. Many of these contractors focus on the city's robust commercial office market, performing large-scale build-outs for global technology and financial firms. Others specialize in public works projects, including upgrades to healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and public transportation hubs. Hiring is typically managed through the union referral hall, where contractors request manpower based on project needs. The competitive nature of San Francisco real estate demands that these contractors maintain high levels of productivity and safety, relying on the JATC-trained workforce to meet strict project timelines.
As of June 26, 2026, the total package for a journeyman is $139.47 per hour. This includes the $95.75 hourly base wage plus contributions to health and welfare, pension, annuity, and training funds. These fringes are paid by the contractor on top of the hourly wage, providing significant long-term financial security compared to non-union electrical roles.
The JATC program is a five-year apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices work during the day for signatory contractors and attend school in the evenings or on weekends. The curriculum covers electrical theory, blueprint reading, motor controls, and safety protocols. Graduates receive a nationally recognized journeyman certification and are eligible for full Local 6 benefits.
Local 6 accepts travelers depending on the current work volume and the exhaustion of the local Book 1 referral list. Travelers must provide a current dues receipt and a travel letter from their home local's business manager. San Francisco is a highly sought-after jurisdiction, so travelers should check the work forecast via the tenth district or local dispatch records.
The majority of the work involves high-density commercial construction, including tech headquarters, financial district renovations, and mixed-use residential towers. Additionally, there is a consistent demand for skilled wiremen in public infrastructure, such as airport expansions, hospital seismic retrofits, and electrical upgrades to the city's municipal transit systems.
IBEW Local 6 is seated in San Francisco, California (CA). We hold published wage sheets for 46 locals across California — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving San Francisco and the rest of California, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 6. 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 6 pay scale for 2026 is $95.75 per hour for journeymen in San Francisco, CA, or about $191,500 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $139.47 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 6 agreement make $95.75 an hour in base wages, or $139.47 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$95.75 per hour base wage and $139.47 per hour total package for a journeyman in San Francisco, CA, effective 6/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $191,500 before overtime.
A Local 6 apprentice in San Francisco, CA starts at roughly $43.09 an hour — about 45% of the $95.75 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $71.81 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 6 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $43.09 an hour, or roughly $86,175 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $95.75 journeyman rate effective 6/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $62.24 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $71.81 an hour in the fourth period and $95.75 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 6 training center.
The current IBEW Local 6 journeyman rate is $95.75/hour, with a total package of $139.47/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $191,500 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 6 business office before relying on the figure.
The $95.75/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $139.47/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 6 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 $95.75/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $43.09–$47.88/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 6 is headquartered in San Francisco, CA 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 6 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 6 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 6 hall is at 55 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117, serving San Francisco, CA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (415) 861-5752.
IBEW Local 6 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (415) 861-5752 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 6 can be reached at (415) 861-5752. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.