Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 666 in Richmond, VA earn $39.35/hr in base wages, or $58.02/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2026.
IBEW Local 666 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 666 pay scale for 2026 is $39.35 per hour for journeymen in Richmond, VA, or about $78,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $58.02 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/20/26.
| Local 666 journeyman hourly wage | $39.35 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $58.02 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $78,700 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $17.71–$19.68 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/20/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 666 apprentice in Richmond, VA starts at roughly $17.71 an hour — about 45% of the $39.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.51 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 666 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $17.71 / hour | $35,415 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $21.64 / hour | $43,285 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $25.58 / hour | $51,155 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $29.51 / hour | $59,025 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $33.45 / hour | $66,895 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $39.35 / hour | $78,700 |
IBEW Local 666 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area and surrounding Central Virginia counties. Established to maintain high standards for electrical installations, this local serves as the primary labor source for complex commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. The Richmond market is characterized by a diverse mix of data center development, healthcare infrastructure, and government facilities, all of which require the rigorous training provided through the union's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. For contractors, Local 666 provides a scalable, drug-free workforce capable of meeting strict NEC compliance and project deadlines in a competitive Mid-Atlantic construction environment.
The role of Local 666 extends beyond simple labor provision; it acts as a stabilizing force for electrical labor costs in Central Virginia. By negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the Virginia Chapter of NECA, the local ensures that journeymen receive a living wage and robust benefits while providing signatory contractors with a predictable bidding framework. Members are trained in cutting-edge technologies including renewable energy systems, integrated building controls, and advanced power distribution. As Richmond continues to grow as a logistics and technology hub, the demand for IBEW-trained wiremen remains high, particularly for large-scale industrial builds and mission-critical facilities that require the highest levels of technical proficiency and safety standards.
The current journeyman hourly rate for IBEW Local 666 is set at $39.35, contributing to a total compensation package of $58.02 per hour effective January 20, 2026. This package includes comprehensive fringe benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and training funds. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year of the apprenticeship, workers generally earn approximately 80-85% of the full scale. These structured increases ensure that as an apprentice's skill set grows, their compensation reflects their increasing value to the signatory electrical contractors on the job site.
The chartered jurisdiction for Local 666 covers a significant portion of Central Virginia, anchored by the City of Richmond and extending into the Tri-Cities area. The territory includes major industrial corridors and suburban development zones where signatory contractors manage the majority of large-scale electrical work. Members dispatched from the Richmond hall are authorized to perform inside wireman tasks, which encompass power distribution, lighting, motor controls, and low-voltage systems within the property lines. Jurisdiction also covers specialized sectors such as instrumentation and data communications. Travel requirements vary based on the project location within these counties, but the local maintains a centralized dispatch system to ensure labor is allocated efficiently across all active signatory job sites in the region.
The contractor landscape for Local 666 is comprised of a robust mix of national electrical firms and established local signatory primes. These companies specialize in diverse sectors, ranging from high-voltage industrial installations at manufacturing plants to complex electrical systems in Richmond's expanding healthcare systems. There is also a significant presence of contractors focused on the data center 'Silicon Heartland' expansion, where reliability and speed to market are paramount. While Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the regional labor market since 2014, we observe that hiring is driven by these large-scale commercial and industrial projects, with smaller signatory shops handling essential service, maintenance, and tenant build-out work across the Richmond metro area.
The hourly wage of $39.35 is the gross amount paid directly on the member's paycheck. The total package of $58.02 includes an additional $18.67 per hour in employer-paid benefits, such as health insurance and retirement funds. These benefits are paid by the contractor over and above the hourly wage, meaning they are not deducted from the employee's $39.35 rate.
Yes, Local 666 is heavily involved in the data center market in Central Virginia. Signatory contractors frequently manage large-scale electrical infrastructure for these facilities, including medium-voltage distribution, backup power systems, and fiber optic cabling. This sector provides consistent man-hours for members due to the high density of server farms and technology hubs currently being developed in and around the Richmond jurisdiction.
Travelers and members seeking to transfer must follow the IBEW Constitution and local bylaws. Typically, this involves signing the Book 2 out-of-work list for temporary employment. For a permanent transfer, a member usually needs to work in the jurisdiction for a specific period and receive approval from the local's executive board. It is recommended to contact the business manager before arriving in Richmond.
While the Journeyman Wireman license is the standard requirement, many projects in the Richmond market require additional certifications. These may include OSHA 30 safety training, NFPA 70E arc flash safety, and specialized certifications for EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) or fire alarm systems. The JATC provides ongoing training modules so that members can maintain these credentials and remain eligible for high-security or specialized job sites.
IBEW Local 666 is seated in Richmond, Virginia (VA). We hold published wage sheets for 5 locals across Virginia — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Richmond and the rest of Virginia, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 666. 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 666 pay scale for 2026 is $39.35 per hour for journeymen in Richmond, VA, or about $78,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $58.02 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/20/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 666 agreement make $39.35 an hour in base wages, or $58.02 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/20/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$39.35 per hour base wage and $58.02 per hour total package for a journeyman in Richmond, VA, effective 1/20/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $78,700 before overtime.
A Local 666 apprentice in Richmond, VA starts at roughly $17.71 an hour — about 45% of the $39.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.51 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 666 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $17.71 an hour, or roughly $35,415 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $39.35 journeyman rate effective 1/20/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $25.58 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $29.51 an hour in the fourth period and $39.35 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 666 training center.
The current IBEW Local 666 journeyman rate is $39.35/hour, with a total package of $58.02/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/20/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $78,700 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 666 business office before relying on the figure.
The $39.35/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $58.02/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 666 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 $39.35/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $17.71–$19.68/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 666 is headquartered in Richmond, VA 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 666 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 666 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 666 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 666 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 1/20/26 schedule; check with the Local 666 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 666 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.