Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 704 in Dubuque, IA earn $43.80/hr in base wages, or $65.71/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2026.
IBEW Local 704 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 704 pay scale for 2026 is $43.80 per hour for journeymen in Dubuque, IA, or about $87,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $65.71 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
| Local 704 journeyman hourly wage | $43.80 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $65.71 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $87,600 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.71–$21.90 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/4/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 704 apprentice in Dubuque, IA starts at roughly $19.71 an hour — about 45% of the $43.80 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.85 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 704 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.71 / hour | $39,420 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.09 / hour | $48,180 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.47 / hour | $56,940 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.85 / hour | $65,700 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $37.23 / hour | $74,460 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $43.80 / hour | $87,600 |
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 704 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals serving the Dubuque, Iowa, tri-state region. Established to manage labor relations between skilled tradespeople and signatory electrical contractors, the local oversees commercial, industrial, and residential electrical installations. The membership is central to the infrastructure of Northeast Iowa, providing the technical expertise required for high-voltage power distribution, integrated control systems, and renewable energy projects. By maintaining a highly trained workforce, Local 704 ensures that regional development projects meet rigorous National Electrical Code standards while securing competitive middle-class livelihoods for its members and their families.
The Dubuque market is unique due to its geographic position at the intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. IBEW Local 704 operates within a regional economy characterized by manufacturing hubs, healthcare facilities, and academic institutions, all of which require ongoing electrical maintenance and sophisticated technological upgrades. For contractors, the local provides a scalable labor pool that eliminates the volatility of open-market hiring. For the worker, being part of Local 704 means access to a structured career path backed by collective bargaining. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region, noting that the demand for journeyman wiremen remains steady as the area continues to modernize its industrial and commercial footprint.
The wage structure for IBEW Local 704 is defined by a collective bargaining agreement that establishes a clear path from entry-level apprentice to master-level journeyman. As of the June 2026 schedule, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate is set at $43.80, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $65.71 when fringe benefits are included. Apprentices typically begin their five-year program at approximately 40% to 50% of the journeyman rate, with scheduled percentage increases occurring as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This progression ensures that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors while rewarding workers for their increasing proficiency. The total package reflects a significant investment in long-term financial security, covering health insurance and multiple retirement vehicles that are portable between various signatory employers within the local's jurisdiction.
The chartered jurisdiction of IBEW Local 704 primarily covers Dubuque County and surrounding areas in Northeast Iowa. This territory includes high-density commercial zones in the city of Dubuque as well as rural industrial sites across the tri-state border region. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from municipal water treatment plants and hospitals to large-scale manufacturing warehouses. The jurisdiction requires a workforce capable of navigating diverse project types, from heavy industrial motor controls to precision commercial lighting systems. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the local's work rules, ensuring that manning requirements and safety protocols are strictly followed to maintain the integrity of the regional electrical grid and infrastructure.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 704 consists of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from small, family-owned electrical shops to large-scale regional mechanical and electrical primes. These contractors specialize in different sectors, including commercial interior build-outs, industrial automation, and long-term facility maintenance for the area's largest employers. The relationship between the union and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA) ensures that these firms have access to a pool of pre-vetted, safety-certified electricians. This stability allows signatory contractors to bid on large-scale public works and private developments with confidence in their labor costs and productivity rates, effectively supporting the growth of Dubuque’s built environment.
The hourly wage of $43.80 is the gross amount paid on the member's weekly paycheck. The total package of $65.71 includes an additional $21.91 per hour in employer-paid benefits, such as health insurance, pension contributions, and training funds. These benefits are paid directly by the contractor into the trust funds and are not deducted from the hourly wage.
While Local 704 is headquartered in Dubuque, its specific charter defines its territory. Often, locals in the tri-state area have reciprocal agreements, but work in East Dubuque, IL, or southwestern Wisconsin may fall under the jurisdiction of nearby locals like IBEW 364 or IBEW 890. Members should check their dispatch orders to confirm the specific local jurisdiction for every job site.
Wage increases are determined through collective bargaining negotiations between Local 704 and the signatory contractors. Typically, these agreements span three to five years, with scheduled annual or semi-annual increases to the base rate or fringe benefits. The $43.80 rate effective in June 2026 represents one of these scheduled adjustments designed to keep pace with inflation and regional cost of living.
Yes, IBEW members in good standing can move between locals through the 'traveling' system or by officially transferring their membership, known as 'depositing your card.' This process generally requires the approval of the Local 704 Business Manager and may depend on current work volume and the number of local members on the out-of-work list. Travelers must report to the hall before starting work.
IBEW Local 704 is seated in Dubuque, Iowa (IA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Iowa — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Dubuque and the rest of Iowa, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 704. 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 704 pay scale for 2026 is $43.80 per hour for journeymen in Dubuque, IA, or about $87,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $65.71 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/4/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 704 agreement make $43.80 an hour in base wages, or $65.71 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/4/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$43.80 per hour base wage and $65.71 per hour total package for a journeyman in Dubuque, IA, effective 6/4/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $87,600 before overtime.
A Local 704 apprentice in Dubuque, IA starts at roughly $19.71 an hour — about 45% of the $43.80 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.85 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 704 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.71 an hour, or roughly $39,420 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $43.80 journeyman rate effective 6/4/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.47 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.85 an hour in the fourth period and $43.80 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 704 training center.
The current IBEW Local 704 journeyman rate is $43.80/hour, with a total package of $65.71/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/4/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $87,600 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 704 business office before relying on the figure.
The $43.80/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $65.71/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 704 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 $43.80/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.71–$21.90/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 704 is headquartered in Dubuque, IA 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 704 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 704 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 704 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 704 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 6/4/26 schedule; check with the Local 704 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 704 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.