Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 683 in Columbus, OH earn $46/hr in base wages, or $71.65/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
IBEW Local 683 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 683 pay scale for 2026 is $46.00 per hour for journeymen in Columbus, OH, or about $92,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $71.65 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
| Local 683 journeyman hourly wage | $46.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $71.65 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $92,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.70–$23.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/31/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 683 apprentice in Columbus, OH starts at roughly $20.70 an hour — about 45% of the $46.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.50 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 683 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.70 / hour | $41,400 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $25.30 / hour | $50,600 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.90 / hour | $59,800 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $34.50 / hour | $69,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $39.10 / hour | $78,200 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $46.00 / hour | $92,000 |
IBEW Local 683 represents inside wiremen, telecommunications workers, and residential electricians across Central Ohio, serving as the primary labor source for the Columbus metropolitan area. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional electrical market, noting that Local 683 is a critical driver for major commercial and industrial infrastructure. The local operates in a high-demand environment, fueled by massive data center developments, healthcare expansions, and public works projects. Members are trained to handle complex power distribution, lighting controls, and integrated building systems, ensuring that signatory contractors maintain a workforce capable of meeting the rigorous safety and technical standards required for modern electrical installations.
The Columbus market is currently one of the most active construction hubs in the Midwest, making Local 683 a vital entity for both skilled tradespeople and signatory employers. As the city continues to expand its footprint in the technology and manufacturing sectors, the demand for highly skilled inside wiremen remains consistently high. The local provides a standardized framework for labor costs and quality control, which allows for predictable project budgeting in a volatile economy. By maintaining a robust apprenticeship program and a clear dispatch system, the union ensures that the electrical needs of the region's largest facilities are met by a workforce that adheres to the National Electrical Code and local building regulations.
The economic structure for IBEW Local 683 journeymen is based on a negotiated hourly rate of $46.00, resulting in a total compensation package of $71.65 when including fringe benefits. This package, effective May 31, 2026, represents the upper tier of skilled labor compensation in Central Ohio. Apprentices follow a strictly defined wage progression, typically starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate—often around 40% to 50% for first-year students—and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled raises provide a transparent career path, where fifth-year apprentices earn significantly closer to the full journeyman scale. The total package includes employer-paid contributions to health insurance and multiple retirement vehicles, ensuring that the net take-home pay is not diminished by individual benefit costs.
IBEW Local 683 holds jurisdiction over a broad swath of Central Ohio, centered on the Columbus metropolitan region. The territory includes Franklin County and extends into several surrounding rural and suburban counties, covering a mix of high-density urban commercial work and large-scale industrial sites. Dispatch typically occurs from the Columbus headquarters, with members sent to projects ranging from multi-story office towers to massive industrial processing plants. The jurisdiction covers all inside wiring work, including the installation and maintenance of electrical systems in commercial, industrial, and residential structures. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the Local 683 collective bargaining agreement, which governs overtime rules, travel pay, and site-specific safety protocols.
The contractor landscape for Local 683 is comprised of a diverse mix of signatory firms, ranging from small specialty shops to some of the largest mechanical and electrical primes in the country. These contractors specialize in diverse market segments including mission-critical data centers, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and large-scale healthcare campuses. Hiring through the hall allows these firms to scale their workforce rapidly in response to project awards without the overhead of permanent large-scale recruitment. For the tradesperson, this provides access to a variety of work environments, from service and maintenance roles to multi-year new construction projects, supported by a consistent set of labor standards and safety expectations.
The hourly rate ($46.00) is the gross amount paid directly on the check, while the total package ($71.65) includes all fringe benefits like pension, healthcare, and training funds. These benefits are paid by the employer on top of the hourly wage, meaning they are not deducted from the employee's gross pay, providing a higher overall value.
Yes, experienced electricians can often join through a process called 'organizing' or by testing in as a journeyman wireman. The local will evaluate your years of verifiable experience and your performance on a competency exam. This allows skilled workers to access higher wages and better benefits without restarting an entire apprenticeship.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between Local 683 and NECA. These increases are usually scheduled annually or bi-annually throughout the life of the contract. The specific allocation between the hourly check and the fringe benefit funds is typically decided by a vote of the union membership.
The JATC training center provides ongoing education for members, including certifications for EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure), fire alarm systems, instrumentation, and welding. Staying current with these certifications allows journeymen to remain competitive for specialized assignments at industrial sites and high-tech facilities across Central Ohio.
IBEW Local 683 is seated in Columbus, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Columbus and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 683. 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 683 pay scale for 2026 is $46.00 per hour for journeymen in Columbus, OH, or about $92,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $71.65 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 683 agreement make $46.00 an hour in base wages, or $71.65 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/31/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$46.00 per hour base wage and $71.65 per hour total package for a journeyman in Columbus, OH, effective 5/31/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $92,000 before overtime.
A Local 683 apprentice in Columbus, OH starts at roughly $20.70 an hour — about 45% of the $46.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.50 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 683 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.70 an hour, or roughly $41,400 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $46.00 journeyman rate effective 5/31/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.90 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $34.50 an hour in the fourth period and $46.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 683 training center.
The current IBEW Local 683 journeyman rate is $46.00/hour, with a total package of $71.65/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/31/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $92,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 683 business office before relying on the figure.
The $46.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $71.65/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 683 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 $46.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.70–$23.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 683 is headquartered in Columbus, OH 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 683 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 683 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 683 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 683 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 5/31/26 schedule; check with the Local 683 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 683 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.