Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 81 in Scranton, PA earn $47.97/hr in base wages, or $74.28/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
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IBEW Local 81 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 81 pay scale for 2026 is $47.97 per hour for journeymen in Scranton, PA, or about $95,940 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $74.28 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/26/26.
| Local 81 journeyman hourly wage | $47.97 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $74.28 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $95,940 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $21.59–$23.99 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/26/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 81 apprentice in Scranton, PA starts at roughly $21.59 an hour — about 45% of the $47.97 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $35.98 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 81 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $21.59 / hour | $43,173 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $26.38 / hour | $52,767 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $31.18 / hour | $62,361 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $35.98 / hour | $71,955 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $40.77 / hour | $81,549 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $47.97 / hour | $95,940 |
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Local 81 wages: $47.97 an hour on the journeyman scale, $74.28 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 5/26/26. That is the most recent Scranton, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 35% of the IBEW Local 81 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 81 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective May 26, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $26.31/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 81 scale used across the Scranton, 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 Scranton 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 Scranton. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 81 rates. For current Scranton scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
IBEW Local 81 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 81 represents skilled inside wiremen and electrical professionals across the Scranton, Pennsylvania metropolitan area and surrounding Northeast PA counties. As a charter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, this local manages the labor supply for critical commercial, industrial, and institutional projects throughout the Lackawanna Valley. The organization ensures that its members are trained to handle complex power distribution, lighting systems, and integrated building controls. By maintaining rigorous standards for craftsmanship and safety, the local serves as the primary labor partner for signatory contractors participating in the region's diverse economic development, ranging from healthcare facilities to large-scale distribution centers.
The electrical market in Northeast Pennsylvania is defined by a mix of legacy industrial infrastructure and modern commercial expansion. Local 81 plays a pivotal role in this ecosystem by providing a steady pipeline of Commonwealth-certified electricians who can meet the technical demands of high-voltage installations and precision systems. For contractors, partnering with this local offers access to a pre-screened workforce, while members benefit from collectively bargained protections and a structured career path. The local's headquarters in Scranton serves as the central hub for dispatch, training through the JATC, and administrative oversight of the prevailing wage and fringe benefit standards that govern the regional electrical trade.
The economic framework for IBEW Local 81 is established through a collective bargaining agreement that sets a Journeyman hourly rate of $47.97. When including the comprehensive fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $74.28 per hour, effective as of May 2026. This total package covers critical non-wage costs such as healthcare and retirement security. For those entering the trade through the apprenticeship program, wages are calculated as a progressive percentage of the Journeyman rate. These increments typically start between 40% and 50% for first-year students and increase annually as the apprentice completes classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This structured climb ensures that pay remains commensurate with the increasing technical skill and responsibility required of a developing wireman.
The chartered territory for IBEW Local 81 is centered in Scranton and extends across several key counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This jurisdiction covers all inside electrical work, including the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems within property lines. The territory includes heavy industrial sites, commercial retail spaces, and public works projects. Members dispatched from the Scranton hall are required to adhere to the travel and subsistence rules defined in the current agreement when working on the outskirts of the jurisdiction. Contractors operating within these boundaries must follow the referral system, ensuring that local labor is prioritized for projects situated in the Lackawanna and Susquehanna regions.
The signatory landscape for IBEW Local 81 consists of a robust network of electrical firms ranging from small specialty shops to large-scale mechanical-electrical primes. These contractors primarily service the commercial and industrial sectors, taking on significant roles in the construction of educational institutions, regional hospitals, and manufacturing plants. Hiring activity is generally driven by large-scale capital projects and long-term facility maintenance contracts. Signatory partners benefit from the ability to scale their workforce rapidly through the union's referral hall, ensuring they have the manpower to meet project deadlines without the overhead of permanent recruiting for fluctuating workloads. This collaborative environment maintains high productivity levels across the Scranton electrical market.
The hourly wage of $47.97 is the gross amount paid directly to the member on their paycheck. The total package of $74.28 includes an additional $26.31 per hour in employer-paid fringes, such as health insurance and retirement contributions. These benefits are paid on top of the wage and are not deducted from the $47.97 hourly rate.
Yes, through the Scranton JATC, Journeymen have access to advanced certifications and safety training. This includes OSHA 30, EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), and specialized training on fire alarm systems or programmable logic controllers. Staying current with these certifications allows members to remain competitive and eligible for specialized project roles.
Electricians from other IBEW locals may seek work in Local 81's jurisdiction by signing 'Book 2' at the Scranton hall. Local members have priority on 'Book 1.' When local manpower is fully utilized, the dispatcher refers travelers to signatory contractors based on their position on the list and the specific requirements of the requesting contractor.
Applicants for the apprenticeship program generally must reside within the geographical jurisdiction of Local 81 for at least one year prior to applying. This ensures that the local is training workers who live and contribute to the Northeastern Pennsylvania economy. Specific documentation like a driver's license or utility bills may be required for verification.
IBEW Local 81 is seated in Scranton, 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 81 pay scale for 2026 is $47.97 per hour for journeymen in Scranton, PA, or about $95,940 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $74.28 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/26/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 81 agreement make $47.97 an hour in base wages, or $74.28 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/26/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$47.97 per hour base wage and $74.28 per hour total package for a journeyman in Scranton, PA, effective 5/26/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $95,940 before overtime.
A Local 81 apprentice in Scranton, PA starts at roughly $21.59 an hour — about 45% of the $47.97 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $35.98 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 81 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $21.59 an hour, or roughly $43,173 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $47.97 journeyman rate effective 5/26/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $31.18 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $35.98 an hour in the fourth period and $47.97 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 81 training center.
Local 81 wages: $47.97 an hour on the journeyman scale, $74.28 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 5/26/26. That is the most recent Scranton, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published IBEW Local 81 journeyman rate is $47.97 an hour ($74.28 total package), effective 5/26/26 — roughly $95,940 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable IBEW Local 81 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ibew-local-81-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $47.97 hourly scale, the $74.28 total package and the 5/26/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current IBEW Local 81 journeyman rate is $47.97/hour, with a total package of $74.28/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/26/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $95,940 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 81 business office before relying on the figure.
The $47.97/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $74.28/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 81 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 $47.97/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $21.59–$23.99/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 81 is headquartered in Scranton, 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 81 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 81 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 81 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 81 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 5/26/26 schedule; check with the Local 81 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 81 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.
The IBEW Local 81 hall is at 431 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, PA 18503, serving Scranton, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction.
IBEW Local 81 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 81 does not publish a phone number in the directory data we import; check the local's official site for current contact details.
$47.97/hr in base wages for journeyman inside wireman, or $74.28/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective May 26, 2026 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
May 26, 2026. 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 $47.97/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $26.31/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $74.28/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.