Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 776 in Charleston, SC earn $34/hr in base wages, or $46.80/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2025.
IBEW Local 776 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 776 pay scale for 2026 is $34.00 per hour for journeymen in Charleston, SC, or about $68,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $46.80 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/23/25.
| Local 776 journeyman hourly wage | $34.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $46.80 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $68,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.30–$17.00 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/23/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 776 apprentice in Charleston, SC starts at roughly $15.30 an hour — about 45% of the $34.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.50 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 776 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.30 / hour | $30,600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $18.70 / hour | $37,400 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.10 / hour | $44,200 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.50 / hour | $51,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $28.90 / hour | $57,800 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.00 / hour | $68,000 |
IBEW Local 776 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (843) 554-1080 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing 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 776 represents skilled inside wiremen, telecommunications technicians, and electrical professionals across the coastal South Carolina region. Headquartered in Charleston, this local provides the skilled labor force necessary for the massive industrial and commercial expansion defining the Lowcountry. As a critical partner to signatory electrical contractors, Local 776 manages the training and dispatching of electricians who support high-visibility infrastructure, maritime port facilities, and large-scale manufacturing plants. The local focuses on maintaining rigorous safety standards and technical proficiency in a market that demands precision for both new construction and complex system maintenance.
The Charleston market presents a unique landscape for electrical work, blending historic preservation requirements with cutting-edge industrial needs. Local 776 members are responsible for the installation and upkeep of power distribution, lighting control, and integrated systems in one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the Southeast. Because South Carolina is a right-to-work state, the local emphasizes the value of the 'Union Advantage' by providing contractors with a highly mobile, drug-free, and OSH-certified workforce. This structured labor pool allows for predictable project scaling and ensures that large-scale commercial developments meet NEC codes and local municipal requirements without the delays associated with unskilled labor shortages.
Based on the figures effective May 23, 2025, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 776 is $34.00 per hour. When accounting for the full fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $46.80 per hour. The $12.80 difference covers essential non-taxable benefits including health insurance and retirement contributions. Apprentices in the Charleston Electrical JATC earn a graduated percentage of this journeyman rate, typically starting at 40-50% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This progression ensures that as an apprentice's skill set expands, their compensation reflects their increased utility to the signatory contractor. Final wage determinations should always be verified through the Local 776 business office to account for specific classifications or shift differentials.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 776 covers a significant portion of coastal South Carolina, centered in Charleston and extending into the surrounding maritime and inland corridors. This territory includes major industrial zones, commercial districts, and military installations where signatory contractors hold prime electrical contracts. The work encompasses all inside wiring tasks, from low-voltage data cabling to heavy industrial motor controls and power distribution. Members are dispatched from the Charleston hall to job sites across the Lowcountry, with travel and subsistence rules governed by the collective bargaining agreement. This geographic reach ensures that contractors have access to a centralized pool of manpower for projects ranging from this employer Head up toward the Georgetown area.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 776 is comprised of diverse signatory entities ranging from national electrical primes to specialized local shops. These firms focus heavily on the industrial sector, supporting the region's aerospace, automotive, and port-related facilities. There is also a robust presence of contractors specializing in commercial healthcare facilities and municipal infrastructure. Hiring through the local allows these contractors to bid on large-scale projects that require a guaranteed headcount of licensed electricians. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market since 2014, noting that the signatory mix remains stable due to the specialized nature of the maritime and industrial electrical work prevalent in the Charleston basin.
The $34.00 hourly rate is the gross taxable pay an IBEW Local 776 journeyman receives in their paycheck. The $46.80 total package includes that wage plus $12.80 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid by the contractor directly into trust funds and are not deducted from the journeyman's hourly wage.
Yes, Local 776 actively recruits experienced electricians currently working in the non-union sector. Depending on your years of experience and ability to pass a craft certification exam, you may be admitted as a Journeyman Wireman or placed into an advanced standing within the apprenticeship. This process allows skilled tradespeople to access the higher package and safer working conditions of the union.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the IBEW and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases usually occur annually or semi-annually on specific dates defined in the contract. The current schedule shows a transition in May 2025, which reflects the cost-of-living and market adjustments negotiated by the local leadership.
While the IBEW JATC provides the core training, many signatory contractors in Charleston require additional site-specific credentials. This often includes TWIC cards for port-related work, OSHA 10 or 30 safety certifications, and specialized training for high-voltage terminations or fire alarm systems. The local union hall and JATC coordinate this training to ensure members remain eligible for dispatch to all regional job sites.
IBEW Local 776 is seated in Charleston, South Carolina (SC). We hold published wage sheets for 2 locals across South Carolina — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Charleston and the rest of South Carolina, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 776. 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 776 pay scale for 2026 is $34.00 per hour for journeymen in Charleston, SC, or about $68,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $46.80 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/23/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 776 agreement make $34.00 an hour in base wages, or $46.80 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/23/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.00 per hour base wage and $46.80 per hour total package for a journeyman in Charleston, SC, effective 5/23/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $68,000 before overtime.
A Local 776 apprentice in Charleston, SC starts at roughly $15.30 an hour — about 45% of the $34.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.50 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 776 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.30 an hour, or roughly $30,600 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.00 journeyman rate effective 5/23/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.10 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.50 an hour in the fourth period and $34.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 776 training center.
The current IBEW Local 776 journeyman rate is $34.00/hour, with a total package of $46.80/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/23/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $68,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 776 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $46.80/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 776 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 $34.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.30–$17.00/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 776 is headquartered in Charleston, SC 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 776 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 776 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 776 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 776 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 5/23/25 schedule; check with the Local 776 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 776 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 776 hall is at 3345 Seiberling Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418, serving Charleston, SC and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (843) 554-1080.
IBEW Local 776 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (843) 554-1080 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 776 can be reached at (843) 554-1080. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.