Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 76 in Tacoma, WA earn $65.14/hr in base wages, or $83.78/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Sep 2025.
IBEW Local 76 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 76 pay scale for 2026 is $65.14 per hour for journeymen in Tacoma, WA, or about $130,280 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $83.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 9/21/25.
| Local 76 journeyman hourly wage | $65.14 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $83.78 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $130,280 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $29.31–$32.57 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 9/21/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 76 apprentice in Tacoma, WA starts at roughly $29.31 an hour — about 45% of the $65.14 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $48.86 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 76 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $29.31 / hour | $58,626 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $35.83 / hour | $71,654 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $42.34 / hour | $84,682 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $48.86 / hour | $97,710 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $55.37 / hour | $110,738 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $65.14 / hour | $130,280 |
IBEW Local 76 serves as the primary labor organization for inside wiremen, residential electricians, and telecommunications workers across the South Sound region. Based in Tacoma, Washington, this local provides the skilled workforce necessary for the massive industrial, commercial, and maritime infrastructure that defines the Pierce County economy. The organization ensures that electrical installations meet rigorous safety standards while maintaining a stable pipeline of qualified labor for signatory contractors. Because the region includes significant military installations, healthcare hubs, and port facilities, the technical requirements for Local 76 members are diverse, ranging from complex industrial controls to high-density commercial power systems.
The market surrounding Tacoma is a critical corridor between the Seattle metropolitan area and the state capital in Olympia. This positioning makes Local 76 a central player in Washington's construction industry, as the demand for reliable electrical infrastructure continues to grow with regional expansion. By coordinating with the a mechanical contractor Association, the local maintains a collective bargaining agreement that balances competitive wages with comprehensive fringe benefits. For the tradesperson, this means access to high-tier training and workplace protections, while for the contractor, it offers a scalable workforce capable of meeting the rigorous demands of large-scale private and public works projects.
Under the current agreement effective September 2025, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate is set at $65.14 per hour, contributing to a total compensation package of $83.78 when including fringe benefits. Apprentices in Local 76 follow a structured five-year progression, typically starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often around 40% to 45% for first-year students. As apprentices complete required classroom hours through the JATC and hit specific on-the-job training milestones, their pay increases incrementally every six to twelve months. By the fifth year, senior apprentices earn significantly closer to the full rate. This system ensures that labor costs for contractors reflect the actual skill level of the worker while providing a clear, merit-based path for the employee's career advancement.
The territorial jurisdiction of IBEW Local 76 covers the geographic regions of Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Lewis counties. This broad footprint includes the urban center of Tacoma, the state capital in Olympia, and various coastal and rural industrial zones. Members are dispatched from the Tacoma headquarters to projects ranging from shipyard electrical maintenance and military base upgrades to hospital expansions and new residential developments. The local's charter governs all inside electrical work, including power distribution, lighting, and low-voltage systems. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the dispatch rules and labor standards set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, ensuring consistent quality across the South Sound.
The signatory landscape for Local 76 is comprised of a diverse mix of employers, ranging from national mechanical-electrical primes to specialized local shops. These firms handle a variety of work including heavy industrial projects at the Port of Tacoma, long-term maintenance contracts for government facilities, and large-scale commercial builds. The market is characterized by a high demand for contractors who can provide bonded, certified labor for public works and prevailing wage projects. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the South Sound electrical market since 2014, noting that the relationship between Local 76 and its signatory partners remains focused on maintaining a high ratio of journey-level expertise to ensure project safety and efficiency.
Inside Wiremen are trained for the broadest scope of work, including complex industrial and commercial systems, and command the highest wage rate. Residential Wiremen specialize in wood-frame multi-family and single-family dwellings. The training programs and hourly rates differ, so applicants should choose based on their long-term career goals in the Tacoma market.
Yes, all journeymen performing electrical work in Washington must hold a valid EL01 certificate issued by the Department of Labor & Industries. Local 76 members must maintain this license through continuing education, which is often provided or facilitated through the JATC training center in Tacoma.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Union and the NECA chapter. These usually occur annually or semi-annually on specific dates, such as the September adjustment. These increases are often split between the hourly check and the fringe benefit funds based on a membership vote.
Travelers and those seeking a permanent transfer must follow the IBEW Constitution's 'traveler' procedures. This involves signing the out-of-work books at the Tacoma hall as a Book 2 hand. Permanent transfers, or 'getting your ticket into the local,' generally require a specific period of working in the jurisdiction and approval by the local's executive board.
IBEW Local 76 is seated in Tacoma, Washington (WA). We hold published wage sheets for 11 locals across Washington — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Tacoma and the rest of Washington, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 76. 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 76 pay scale for 2026 is $65.14 per hour for journeymen in Tacoma, WA, or about $130,280 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $83.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 9/21/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 76 agreement make $65.14 an hour in base wages, or $83.78 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 9/21/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$65.14 per hour base wage and $83.78 per hour total package for a journeyman in Tacoma, WA, effective 9/21/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $130,280 before overtime.
A Local 76 apprentice in Tacoma, WA starts at roughly $29.31 an hour — about 45% of the $65.14 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $48.86 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 76 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $29.31 an hour, or roughly $58,626 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $65.14 journeyman rate effective 9/21/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $42.34 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $48.86 an hour in the fourth period and $65.14 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 76 training center.
The current IBEW Local 76 journeyman rate is $65.14/hour, with a total package of $83.78/hour including fringe benefits, effective 9/21/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $130,280 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 76 business office before relying on the figure.
The $65.14/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $83.78/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 76 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 $65.14/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $29.31–$32.57/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 76 is headquartered in Tacoma, WA 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 76 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 76 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 76 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 76 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 9/21/25 schedule; check with the Local 76 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 76 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.