Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 601 in Champaign, IL earn $52.51/hr in base wages, or $74.90/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Sep 2026.
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The Local 601 pay scale for 2026 is $52.51 per hour for journeymen in Champaign, IL, or about $105,020 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $74.90 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 9/23/26.
| Local 601 journeyman hourly wage | $52.51 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $74.90 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $105,020 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $23.63–$26.26 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 9/23/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
Apply now — Gulfstream places electricians candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 601 apprentice in Champaign, IL starts at roughly $23.63 an hour — about 45% of the $52.51 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.38 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 601 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $23.63 / hour | $47,259 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $28.88 / hour | $57,761 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $34.13 / hour | $68,263 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $39.38 / hour | $78,765 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $44.63 / hour | $89,267 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $52.51 / hour | $105,020 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with Champaign listings first when available. Jobs elsewhere in the state are not necessarily near this hall. Union status is not verified for these jobs; confirm with your recruiter.
IBEW Local 601 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 601 wages: $52.51 an hour on the journeyman scale, $74.90 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 9/23/26. That is the most recent Champaign, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 30% of the IBEW Local 601 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 601 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective September 23, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $22.39/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 601 scale used across the Champaign, IL 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 Champaign 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 Champaign. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 601 rates. For current Champaign scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 601 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (217) 352-1741 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.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 601 represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across East Central Illinois. Headquartered in Champaign, this local serves as a critical labor partner for the region's diverse construction landscape, which includes major institutional, healthcare, and industrial projects. The jurisdiction's economic stability is deeply tied to the presence of large-scale educational facilities and the surrounding agricultural processing infrastructure. By maintaining a highly trained workforce through rigorous standards, Local 601 ensures that signatory contractors remain competitive while delivering safe, code-compliant electrical installations for both public and private sector developers in the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area and neighboring counties.
The local's presence since 2014 and well before has established a standardized framework for electrical labor in the region, bridging the gap between skilled tradespeople and the electrical contractors who drive local development. Members of Local 601 work on everything from high-voltage industrial systems and complex automated controls to commercial lighting and power distribution. The market remains active due to ongoing facility upgrades at large regional institutions and the expansion of the light industrial corridor along the Interstate 57 and Interstate 74 intersection. This demand for qualified labor makes the local's apprenticeship and journeyman programs vital for sustaining the regional construction pipeline and supporting the broader Illinois economy.
As of March 1, 2026, the IBEW Local 601 journeyman wireman hourly rate is set at $51.07. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $73.15 per hour. This substantial gap between the check wage and the total package covers essential benefits including health insurance and multiple retirement tiers. Apprentices in the five-year program typically begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40-45% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled step-ups ensure that as the apprentice gains technical proficiency in electrical theory and site safety, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory mechanical and electrical primes in the jurisdiction.
The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 601 covers a significant portion of East Central Illinois, centered in Champaign and extending into several surrounding counties. This territory includes a mix of dense urban centers, university campuses, and rural industrial sites. Under the inside wireman agreement, the jurisdiction covers all electrical work performed within the property lines of any given project, including power, lighting, and communication systems. The local manages dispatch for travelers and local members alike, ensuring that manpower is allocated efficiently to large-scale healthcare renovations, new commercial developments, and utility-scale projects. Members are expected to commute throughout this multi-county region to meet the needs of signatory contractors operating across the territory.
The contractor landscape in the Champaign region consists of a robust mix of national electrical firms and established local shops. These signatory contractors range from large-scale prime firms capable of handling multi-million dollar institutional projects to specialized subcontractors focused on service, maintenance, and small-bore commercial work. Because of the local's proximity to major research and industrial facilities, many contractors specialize in highly technical environments that require precise adherence to safety protocols and complex electrical specifications. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of the regional bidding cycle, with peak demand often coinciding with major university summer shutdowns or large-scale industrial facility expansions that require rapid manpower mobilization.
The hourly wage of $51.07 is the gross amount paid on the member's weekly paycheck before taxes. The total package of $73.15 includes an additional $22.08 per hour paid by the employer into fringe benefits such as healthcare, pensions, and training funds. These benefits are not deducted from the hourly wage but are paid in addition to it.
The IBEW Local 601 inside wireman apprenticeship is a five-year commitment. During this time, participants work full-time for signatory contractors to gain 8,000 hours of on-the-job training while also attending classroom instruction. This model allows apprentices to earn a progressive wage while learning the technical complexities of the electrical trade without incurring student debt.
Yes, IBEW Local 601 has processes for organizing experienced non-union electricians and accepting transfers from other IBEW locals. Experienced workers may undergo a skills assessment or a classification review to determine their standing within the local. Transfers, or 'travelers,' are typically handled according to the international union's reciprocity rules and the local's current work demand.
Due to the presence of a major land-grant university and regional medical hubs, institutional construction and renovation are highly prevalent. Additionally, the area sees significant industrial work in food processing and manufacturing facilities. Commercial retail development and public infrastructure projects, such as municipal building upgrades and street lighting, also constitute a steady portion of the local's man-hours.
IBEW Local 601 is seated in Champaign, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 42 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Champaign and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 601. 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 601 pay scale for 2026 is $52.51 per hour for journeymen in Champaign, IL, or about $105,020 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $74.90 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 9/23/26.
IBEW Local 601 wages for 2026: journeyman Electricians rate of $52.51 per hour in Champaign, IL, with a total package of $74.90 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 9/23/26. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 9/23/26 with the IBEW Local 601 business office.
The IBEW Local 601 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $52.51 per hour ($74.90 per hour total package), effective 9/23/26, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the IBEW Local 601 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 9/23/26 with the hall.
Local 601 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $52.51 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($23.63–$26.26 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 601 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 601 agreement make $52.51 an hour in base wages, or $74.90 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 9/23/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$52.51 per hour base wage and $74.90 per hour total package for a journeyman in Champaign, IL, effective 9/23/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $105,020 before overtime.
A Local 601 apprentice in Champaign, IL starts at roughly $23.63 an hour — about 45% of the $52.51 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.38 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 601 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $23.63 an hour, or roughly $47,259 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $52.51 journeyman rate effective 9/23/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $34.13 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $39.38 an hour in the fourth period and $52.51 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 601 training center.
Local 601 wages: $52.51 an hour on the journeyman scale, $74.90 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 9/23/26. That is the most recent Champaign, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 601 journeyman rate is $52.51 an hour ($74.90 total package), effective 9/23/26 — roughly $105,020 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 601 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-601-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $52.51 hourly scale, the $74.90 total package and the 9/23/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 601 journeyman rate is $52.51/hour, with a total package of $74.90/hour including fringe benefits, effective 9/23/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $105,020 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 601 business office before relying on the figure.
The $52.51/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $74.90/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 601 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 $52.51/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $23.63–$26.26/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 601 is headquartered in Champaign, IL 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 601 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 601 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 601 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 601 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 9/23/26 schedule; check with the Local 601 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 601 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current electricians roles near Champaign, IL, 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 601 business office.
The IBEW Local 601 hall is at 3301 Boardwalk Dr, Champaign, IL 61822, serving Champaign, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (217) 352-1741.
IBEW Local 601 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (217) 352-1741 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 601 can be reached at (217) 352-1741. 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 601's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (217) 352-1741.
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 (217) 352-1741.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 601's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (217) 352-1741.
We haven't found an official source for IBEW Local 601's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (217) 352-1741.
IBEW Local 601's sourced journeyman inside wireman union rate is $52.51/hr in base wages and $74.90/hr for the total package, effective September 23, 2026. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$52.51/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $74.90/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective September 23, 2026 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
September 23, 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 $52.51/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $22.39/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $74.90/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.