Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 743 in Reading, PA earn $44.52/hr in base wages, or $71.11/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
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IBEW Local 743 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 743 pay scale for 2026 is $44.52 per hour for journeymen in Reading, PA, or about $89,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $71.11 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/13/25.
| Local 743 journeyman hourly wage | $44.52 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $71.11 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $89,040 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.03–$22.26 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/13/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 743 apprentice in Reading, PA starts at roughly $20.03 an hour — about 45% of the $44.52 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.39 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 743 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.03 / hour | $40,068 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.49 / hour | $48,972 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.94 / hour | $57,876 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $33.39 / hour | $66,780 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $37.84 / hour | $75,684 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $44.52 / hour | $89,040 |
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Local 743 wages: $44.52 an hour on the journeyman scale, $71.11 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/13/25. That is the most recent Reading, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 37% of the IBEW Local 743 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Unverified: crowd-sourced figure (unionpayscales.com), not confirmed against the local's own wage sheet
Download the IBEW Local 743 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 13, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $26.59/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the IBEW Local 743 scale used across the Reading, PA area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial and industrial electrical, building automation and controls wiring, data and low-voltage systems and service and retrofit work for signatory contractors throughout the Reading metro, so a electrician wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits electrician talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Reading. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 743 rates. For current Reading scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 743 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — contact the hall to confirm dispatch procedure and what to bring before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 743 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals throughout the Reading, Pennsylvania market and surrounding counties. Since 2014, our recruitment team has tracked the impact of this local on the regional construction economy, specifically regarding commercial and industrial electrical infrastructure. The local is responsible for providing highly trained labor to signatory contractors, ensuring that large-scale institutional projects, manufacturing facilities, and municipal developments meet the National Electrical Code standards. Members benefit from a collective bargaining agreement that establishes standardized pay scales and comprehensive fringe benefits, creating a stable environment for both veteran journeymen and those beginning their careers in the electrical trades.
The Reading market serves as a critical hub for Pennsylvania's industrial corridor, necessitating a robust pipeline of qualified electricians to support ongoing maintenance and new construction. IBEW Local 743 manages this pipeline through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), which produces journey-level workers capable of handling complex power systems, lighting controls, and telecommunications wiring. For contractors, partnering with this local provides access to a pre-screened workforce, while for tradespeople, it offers a path to middle-class earnings and secure retirement. The local's presence in Berks and neighboring counties ensures that significant regional projects are staffed by workers who have undergone rigorous safety and technical instruction.
Effective June 13, 2025, the journeyman hourly rate for IBEW Local 743 is established at $44.52. When incorporating the full fringe benefit load, the total package reaches $71.11 per hour. This total package includes employer contributions to health and welfare, pension funds, and apprenticeship training. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% and increasing annually or bi-annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year of the program, an apprentice's wage closely mirrors the full journeyman scale. These scheduled increases provide a clear financial trajectory for new entrants, while the total package ensures that the cost of healthcare and retirement is not deducted from the base hourly take-home pay.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 743 covers the Greater Reading area and extends through several key counties in Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania. This territory includes all of Berks County and portions of Schuylkill, Chester, and Montgomery counties. Members dispatched from the Reading headquarters work on a variety of sites ranging from downtown commercial high-rises to sprawling industrial warehouses along the regional interstate corridors. The jurisdiction ensures that signatory contractors have a defined geographic area where they can bid on work using the Local 743 labor agreement. Traveling members from other IBEW locals must typically check in with the business manager before starting work within these boundaries to ensure compliance with local work rules and referral procedures.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 743 consists of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from small, specialized shops to large-scale mechanical and electrical primes. These contractors primarily service the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors, including hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing plants. Many of these firms are long-standing members of the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA), working in partnership with the local to maintain labor harmony. Hiring fluctuates based on regional project starts, but the presence of consistent industrial maintenance contracts in the Reading area provides a baseline of steady man-hours for the membership throughout the fiscal year.
The hourly wage of $44.52 is the gross amount paid directly to the electrician's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $71.11 includes an additional $26.59 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and retirement. These benefits are paid by the contractor in addition to your hourly pay, not deducted from it, providing a significantly higher total compensation value than non-union roles.
Wage increases are determined by the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the IBEW and NECA. These typically occur annually on a set date, such as the June 13th milestone. The specific allocation between the base wage and fringe benefits is usually voted on by the local membership, allowing them to decide whether to put raises toward take-home pay or retirement funds.
Yes, IBEW members can transfer via a 'travel card' process, though acceptance depends on the local's current work volume and the 'Book 1' versus 'Book 2' referral system. Journeymen must be in good standing with their home local and should contact the Reading business manager to discuss the specific requirements for becoming a permanent member of Local 743.
Prior experience is not required to apply for the IBEW Local 743 apprenticeship. The program is designed to take individuals with zero electrical knowledge and train them through a five-year curriculum. However, any documented experience in construction or a related technical field can be beneficial during the interview process, and some applicants may be eligible for advanced placement based on their skills.
IBEW Local 743 is seated in Reading, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 24 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 743 pay scale for 2026 is $44.52 per hour for journeymen in Reading, PA, or about $89,040 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $71.11 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/13/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 743 agreement make $44.52 an hour in base wages, or $71.11 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/13/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$44.52 per hour base wage and $71.11 per hour total package for a journeyman in Reading, PA, effective 6/13/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $89,040 before overtime.
A Local 743 apprentice in Reading, PA starts at roughly $20.03 an hour — about 45% of the $44.52 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.39 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 743 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.03 an hour, or roughly $40,068 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $44.52 journeyman rate effective 6/13/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.94 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $33.39 an hour in the fourth period and $44.52 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 743 training center.
Local 743 wages: $44.52 an hour on the journeyman scale, $71.11 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/13/25. That is the most recent Reading, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 743 journeyman rate is $44.52 an hour ($71.11 total package), effective 6/13/25 — roughly $89,040 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 743 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-743-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $44.52 hourly scale, the $71.11 total package and the 6/13/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 743 journeyman rate is $44.52/hour, with a total package of $71.11/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/13/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $89,040 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 743 business office before relying on the figure.
The $44.52/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $71.11/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 743 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 $44.52/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.03–$22.26/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 743 is headquartered in Reading, PA 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 743 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 743 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 743 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 743 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 6/13/25 schedule; check with the Local 743 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 743 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 743 hall is at 1022 James Dr, Leesport, PA 19533, serving Reading, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 743 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Contact the hall to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
IBEW Local 743 does not publish a phone number in the directory data we import; check the local's official site for current contact details.
$44.52/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $71.11/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 13, 2025 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
June 13, 2025. Pulled from the local's current published CBA wage sheet on unionpayscales.com and cross-checked at build time. High confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $44.52/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $26.59/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $71.11/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 23, 2026 (7 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.