Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 855 in Muncie, IN earn $40.18/hr in base wages, or $60.76/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2026.
IBEW Local 855 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 855 pay scale for 2026 is $40.18 per hour for journeymen in Muncie, IN, or about $80,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $60.76 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/26.
| Local 855 journeyman hourly wage | $40.18 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $60.76 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $80,360 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.08–$20.09 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/10/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 855 apprentice in Muncie, IN starts at roughly $18.08 an hour — about 45% of the $40.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.13 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 855 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.08 / hour | $36,162 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.10 / hour | $44,198 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $26.12 / hour | $52,234 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $30.13 / hour | $60,270 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $34.15 / hour | $68,306 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $40.18 / hour | $80,360 |
IBEW Local 855 serves as the primary labor organization for Inside Wiremen and electrical professionals across Muncie and the surrounding East Central Indiana region. Founded on the principles of high-quality craftsmanship and rigorous safety standards, this local provides a stable workforce for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this territory, where Local 855 members handle complex installations ranging from industrial manufacturing facilities to municipal infrastructure. The local maintains a strong presence in the regional economy by ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a pool of highly skilled, drug-free electricians who have completed standardized training.
The market for electrical work in Muncie and its neighboring counties is driven by a mix of institutional investment and industrial maintenance. Local 855 is chartered to organize all workers in the electrical industry within its defined territory, providing a centralized dispatch system that connects members with signatory employers. For the tradesperson, this means access to a collective bargaining agreement that dictates fair compensation, safety protocols, and comprehensive benefits. For the contractor, it offers a predictable labor cost model and a scalable workforce capable of meeting the technical demands of modern power systems, telecommunications, and automated controls prevalent in Indiana's evolving industrial landscape.
Based on the figures effective January 10, 2026, the Journeyman Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 855 is established at $40.18. When factoring in the fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $60.76 per hour. Apprentice wages are calculated as a percentage of this Journeyman scale, typically starting at roughly 40-45% for first-year students and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases reflect the apprentice's growing proficiency in electrical theory, blueprint reading, and code compliance. It is important to note that these figures represent the minimum scale set by the collective bargaining agreement; specialty certifications or foreman roles may command additional premiums above this base rate.
The jurisdiction of IBEW Local 855 is centered in Muncie, Indiana, covering a multi-county area in the east-central portion of the state. This chartered territory defines where the local has the exclusive right to organize and dispatch labor under their specific Inside Wireman agreement. Work performed under this jurisdiction includes the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems in diverse settings such as hospitals, schools, and heavy industrial plants. Members are dispatched from the Muncie hall to jobsites across the territory, ensuring that signatory contractors remain compliant with local labor standards. The jurisdiction also covers renewable energy projects, such as solar arrays, which are becoming increasingly common throughout the Indiana agricultural and industrial corridor.
The contractor landscape for IBEW Local 855 consists of a diverse group of signatory firms, ranging from large-scale industrial electrical contractors to mid-sized commercial shops. These employers rely on the local's referral system to man projects that require high-voltage expertise, complex control wiring, and integrated building systems. Many of these firms specialize in the maintenance of Muncie's manufacturing base, while others focus on the expansion of local educational institutions and healthcare facilities. Because the local provides a standardized training curriculum, these contractors can bid on complex technical projects with the assurance that their workforce possesses a uniform level of competency and safety awareness, reducing project risk and overhead costs.
The hourly wage of $40.18 is the gross amount paid directly to the electrician on their paycheck. The total package of $60.76 includes that wage plus an additional $20.58 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These benefits are paid by the contractor on top of the wage and are not deducted from the employee's hourly pay.
Yes, IBEW Local 855 participates in the ERTS (Electronic Reciprocity Transfer System). This allows members from other locals to work in the Muncie jurisdiction while having their fringe benefits sent back to their home local's funds. Travelers must report to the Muncie hall with a valid travel letter and dues receipt before being dispatched to a signatory contractor.
Wage adjustments are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the IBEW and the a mechanical contractor Association (NECA). These increases are usually scheduled annually or bi-annually. The rate of $40.18 is the scheduled scale effective in early 2026, but members should check with the hall for subsequent negotiated raises or cost-of-living adjustments.
Experienced electricians can join through a process often called 'organizing' or 'testing in.' The local will evaluate your years of experience and may require a craft certification exam to determine your skill level. Depending on the results, you may be brought in as a Journeyman or placed in a specific year of the apprenticeship to bridge any knowledge gaps.
IBEW Local 855 is seated in Muncie, Indiana (IN). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Indiana — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Muncie and the rest of Indiana, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 855. 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 855 pay scale for 2026 is $40.18 per hour for journeymen in Muncie, IN, or about $80,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $60.76 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 855 agreement make $40.18 an hour in base wages, or $60.76 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/10/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$40.18 per hour base wage and $60.76 per hour total package for a journeyman in Muncie, IN, effective 1/10/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $80,360 before overtime.
A Local 855 apprentice in Muncie, IN starts at roughly $18.08 an hour — about 45% of the $40.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.13 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 855 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.08 an hour, or roughly $36,162 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $40.18 journeyman rate effective 1/10/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $26.12 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $30.13 an hour in the fourth period and $40.18 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 855 training center.
The current IBEW Local 855 journeyman rate is $40.18/hour, with a total package of $60.76/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/10/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $80,360 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 855 business office before relying on the figure.
The $40.18/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $60.76/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 855 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 $40.18/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.08–$20.09/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 855 is headquartered in Muncie, IN 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 855 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 855 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 855 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 855 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 1/10/26 schedule; check with the Local 855 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 855 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.