Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 617 in San Mateo, CA earn $88/hr in base wages, or $137.51/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
IBEW Local 617 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 617 pay scale for 2026 is $88.00 per hour for journeymen in San Mateo, CA, or about $176,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $137.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/25/26.
| Local 617 journeyman hourly wage | $88.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $137.51 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $176,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $39.60–$44.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/25/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 617 apprentice in San Mateo, CA starts at roughly $39.60 an hour — about 45% of the $88.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $66.00 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 617 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $39.60 / hour | $79,200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $48.40 / hour | $96,800 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $57.20 / hour | $114,400 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $66.00 / hour | $132,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $74.80 / hour | $149,600 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $88.00 / hour | $176,000 |
IBEW Local 617 serves as the primary labor organization for electrical workers throughout San Mateo County, California. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market, which is characterized by its high concentration of biotechnology hubs, data centers, and high-density commercial developments. The local represents a diverse membership of inside wiremen, transportation systems technicians, and sound and communications workers. Because of its proximity to both San Francisco and the Silicon Valley tech corridor, Local 617 maintains some of the most competitive labor standards in the United States to address the region's high cost of living and technical complexity.
The San Mateo market is distinct for its rigorous building codes and the prevalence of large-scale infrastructure projects, ranging from SFO airport expansions to major healthcare facilities. Local 617 provides a highly skilled workforce to signatory contractors, ensuring that complex electrical systems meet the strict safety and efficiency standards required in Northern California. For electricians, this jurisdiction offers a pipeline of long-term work in one of the most stable economic zones in the country. The local's commitment to continuous training through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee ensures that its members remain at the forefront of emerging technologies like electric vehicle infrastructure and advanced energy storage systems.
Based on the figures effective May 25, 2026, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 617 is established at $88.00 per hour. The total compensation package, which includes all fringe benefits, reaches $137.51 per hour. Apprentices entering the program typically begin at a percentage of the Journeyman rate, often starting around 40% and advancing in six-month or yearly intervals as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases are contingent upon successful performance and provide a clear path toward the full Journeyman scale. It is important to note that these figures represent the base building trades agreement and may vary for specialized classifications such as sound and communications or residential work.
The chartered jurisdiction of IBEW Local 617 covers the entirety of San Mateo County. This includes all municipal areas from Daly City in the north down to Menlo Park in the south, encompassing the coastal communities and the highly developed bayside corridor. All electrical work performed within these geographic boundaries, including commercial, industrial, and public works projects, falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement. Members dispatched through the San Mateo hall are subject to the specific travel and subsistence rules defined in the current contract, which are designed to manage the unique traffic and logistical challenges of the San Francisco Peninsula.
The signatory contractor landscape in San Mateo County is comprised of a robust mix of national mechanical-electrical primes and specialized local shops. These firms range from large-scale industrial contractors capable of managing multi-year infrastructure projects to smaller service-oriented businesses focusing on tenant improvements and high-end residential systems. Hiring typically fluctuates based on the volume of active permits in the biotech and tech sectors. Because the market is highly unionized, signatory contractors rely on the Local 617 referral hall to scale their workforces quickly in response to project awards, ensuring a consistent supply of vetted, licensed labor.
The hourly wage of $88.00 is the gross amount paid directly to the worker on their paycheck before taxes. The total package of $137.51 includes an additional $49.51 in employer-paid fringes, such as health insurance, pension contributions, and training funds. These benefits are paid on top of the hourly wage and are not deducted from the $88.00 rate.
Yes, to work as a Journeyman Inside Wireman in San Mateo County, you must hold a valid California General Electrician Certification issued by the DIR. The local union and its signatory contractors strictly adhere to state licensing requirements. Apprentices work under the supervision of certified journeymen while they accumulate the 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience required for state testing.
Wage increases are determined by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated between the union and NECA. These are usually scheduled annually or semi-annually on specific dates, such as the May 2026 increase mentioned. The allocation between the hourly check and the various fringe benefit funds is typically decided by a vote of the membership prior to the effective date.
Members from other locals can work in Local 617's jurisdiction as 'travelers' if there is a labor shortage and the local's 'Book 1' is empty. Travelers must sign the 'Book 2' referral list at the San Mateo hall. They will be subject to the terms of the Local 617 agreement, including the $88.00 journeyman rate, while working in this jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 617 is seated in San Mateo, 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 Mateo and the rest of California, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 617. 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 617 pay scale for 2026 is $88.00 per hour for journeymen in San Mateo, CA, or about $176,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $137.51 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/25/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 617 agreement make $88.00 an hour in base wages, or $137.51 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/25/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$88.00 per hour base wage and $137.51 per hour total package for a journeyman in San Mateo, CA, effective 5/25/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $176,000 before overtime.
A Local 617 apprentice in San Mateo, CA starts at roughly $39.60 an hour — about 45% of the $88.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $66.00 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 617 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $39.60 an hour, or roughly $79,200 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $88.00 journeyman rate effective 5/25/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $57.20 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $66.00 an hour in the fourth period and $88.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 617 training center.
The current IBEW Local 617 journeyman rate is $88.00/hour, with a total package of $137.51/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/25/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $176,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 617 business office before relying on the figure.
The $88.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $137.51/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 617 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 $88.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $39.60–$44.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 617 is headquartered in San Mateo, 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 617 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 617 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 617 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 617 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 5/25/26 schedule; check with the Local 617 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 617 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.