Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 688 in Mansfield, OH earn $41/hr in base wages, or $63.59/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 688 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 688 pay scale for 2026 is $41.00 per hour for journeymen in Mansfield, OH, or about $82,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.59 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
| Local 688 journeyman hourly wage | $41.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $63.59 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $82,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.45–$20.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 688 apprentice in Mansfield, OH starts at roughly $18.45 an hour — about 45% of the $41.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.75 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 688 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.45 / hour | $36,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.55 / hour | $45,100 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $26.65 / hour | $53,300 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $30.75 / hour | $61,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $34.85 / hour | $69,700 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $41.00 / hour | $82,000 |
IBEW Local 688 represents skilled inside wiremen, telecommunications workers, and electrical professionals across North Central Ohio. Headquartered in Mansfield, this local union manages the labor supply for industrial, commercial, and institutional projects throughout a multi-county territory. The organization focuses on maintaining rigorous safety standards and providing a stable workforce for signatory contractors who handle complex electrical installations. By organizing the trade in this region, Local 688 ensures that electricians receive fair compensation while contractors benefit from a pool of highly trained labor capable of executing large-scale builds in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors.
The Mansfield market serves as a critical hub for electrical infrastructure, bridging the gap between major metropolitan centers in Ohio. Local 688 members are instrumental in the upkeep and expansion of the region's diverse economic base, ranging from traditional manufacturing facilities to modern logistics and distribution centers. The local operates a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) to ensure that every journeyman wireman possesses the technical proficiency required for modern power systems. This commitment to training makes the local a primary partner for prime electrical contractors who require reliable manning for high-priority projects across their chartered territory.
Based on the schedule effective June 26, 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 688 is established at $41.00. When including the fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $63.59 per hour. Apprentices typically begin their progression at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40% to 50% for first-year students and increasing annually as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases reflect the growing technical competence of the worker. By the final year of the five-year program, apprentices earn near-full scale before achieving journeyman status. These rates are standardized across the jurisdiction to ensure labor cost predictability for all signatory partners and fair pay for the membership.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 688 covers a specific footprint in North Central Ohio, centered around Richland County and extending into surrounding rural and suburban areas. This territory includes a mix of industrial corridors and developing commercial zones. Members are dispatched from the Mansfield hall to job sites ranging from municipal utility upgrades to private industrial expansions. The jurisdiction ensures that all electrical work performed under the collective bargaining agreement adheres to the National Electrical Code and local amendments. Contractors operating within these boundaries must comply with the dispatch rules set forth in the agreement, ensuring that local labor is prioritized for regional developments.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 688 consists of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from small, local service shops to large-scale industrial electrical contractors. These firms specialize in diverse sectors including heavy manufacturing, automotive supply chain facilities, and regional healthcare systems. Signatory mechanical primes often partner with these electrical contractors to deliver integrated building systems for public and private owners. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major capital projects and outages at regional industrial plants. The partnership between the local and its signatory contractors is governed by a commitment to quality and the ability to scale labor forces rapidly to meet aggressive project schedules.
The $41.00 hourly wage is the gross amount paid directly on the worker's paycheck. The $63.59 total package includes that wage plus an additional $22.59 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid on top of the wage and are not deducted from the hourly rate.
While the State of Ohio licenses contractors, individual journeymen must complete the JATC program or demonstrate equivalent experience to be dispatched as a journeyman wireman. Being an IBEW member ensures you meet the high standards recognized by the state and local municipalities for performing electrical work safely.
Yes, IBEW members in good standing can typically work in Local 688's jurisdiction as 'travelers' if there is a demand for labor. Permanent transfers, or 'vesting your book,' usually requires approval from the business manager and may depend on current local unemployment levels and long-term work outlook.
Absolutely. Beyond general inside wiring, Local 688 contractors often handle specialized systems including fire alarms, security controls, industrial automation, and high-voltage terminations. Members can access specialized certifications through the JATC to qualify for these technical roles, which are often critical for industrial projects in the Mansfield area.
IBEW Local 688 is seated in Mansfield, 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 Mansfield and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 688. 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 688 pay scale for 2026 is $41.00 per hour for journeymen in Mansfield, OH, or about $82,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.59 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 688 agreement make $41.00 an hour in base wages, or $63.59 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.
$41.00 per hour base wage and $63.59 per hour total package for a journeyman in Mansfield, OH, effective 6/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $82,000 before overtime.
A Local 688 apprentice in Mansfield, OH starts at roughly $18.45 an hour — about 45% of the $41.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.75 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 688 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.45 an hour, or roughly $36,900 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $41.00 journeyman rate effective 6/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $26.65 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $30.75 an hour in the fourth period and $41.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 688 training center.
The current IBEW Local 688 journeyman rate is $41.00/hour, with a total package of $63.59/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $82,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 688 business office before relying on the figure.
The $41.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $63.59/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 688 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 $41.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.45–$20.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 688 is headquartered in Mansfield, 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 688 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 688 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 688 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 688 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 688 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 688 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.