Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 934 in Kingsport, TN earn $30.04/hr in base wages, or $45.12/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Aug 2025.
IBEW Local 934 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 934 pay scale for 2026 is $30.04 per hour for journeymen in Kingsport, TN, or about $60,080 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.12 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/10/25.
| Local 934 journeyman hourly wage | $30.04 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $45.12 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $60,080 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.52–$15.02 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/10/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 934 apprentice in Kingsport, TN starts at roughly $13.52 an hour — about 45% of the $30.04 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.53 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 934 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.52 / hour | $27,036 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $16.52 / hour | $33,044 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $19.53 / hour | $39,052 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $22.53 / hour | $45,060 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $25.53 / hour | $51,068 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $30.04 / hour | $60,080 |
IBEW Local 934 represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Headquartered in Kingsport, this local provides the skilled labor force necessary for the massive industrial complexes, healthcare facilities, and commercial developments that define the Northeast Tennessee economy. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this corridor, noting that Local 934 members are essential for maintaining the high-voltage infrastructure and automated systems required by the region's diverse manufacturing base. The local operates under the umbrella of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, ensuring that safety standards and technical proficiency remain consistent for all signatory partners.
The market for electrical work in the Kingsport and Bristol area is heavily influenced by the presence of large-scale chemical processing plants and regional medical hubs. Local 934 serves as the primary source for certified electricians who can handle complex conduit runs, motor controls, and sophisticated power distribution systems. For contractors, the local offers a scalable workforce that reduces the overhead associated with permanent hiring during fluctuating project cycles. For the tradesperson, the local provides a structured career path backed by collective bargaining, which secures competitive middle-class wages and robust benefits that are often superior to non-union electrical positions in the surrounding Appalachian Highlands region.
As of the August 10, 2025, adjustment, the Journeyman Inside Wireman hourly rate for IBEW Local 934 is set at $30.04. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $45.12 per hour. Apprentices within the Local 934 JATC program earn a progressive percentage of this journeyman scale, typically starting around 40% to 50% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This tiered structure allows workers to earn a living wage while mastering the trade. The total package includes significant employer-paid contributions toward retirement and healthcare, which are not deducted from the $30.04 base check but are paid in addition to it, representing a substantial long-term value for the member.
The chartered jurisdiction for IBEW Local 934 encompasses a multi-county region centered around Kingsport, Tennessee, and extending into portions of Southwest Virginia. This territory includes major hubs like Bristol and Johnson City, covering a mix of urban commercial zones and expansive industrial sites. The jurisdiction covers all inside electrical work, including power and lighting systems, instrumentation, and telecommunications infrastructure. Members dispatched through the Kingsport hall may work on everything from retail build-outs to heavy industrial maintenance. Travel requirements are generally confined to the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, though larger regional projects may require commuting to specific industrial sites along the Holston River or the interstate corridors that connect Tennessee and Virginia.
The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 934 is characterized by a mix of local shops and large regional mechanical-electrical primes. These firms specialize in diverse market sectors, ranging from high-precision industrial maintenance in chemical plants to the installation of electrical systems in modern educational and healthcare facilities. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of the regional construction cycle, with surges often driven by plant shutdowns or new infrastructure initiatives. Signatory contractors benefit from a pool of pre-screened, drug-tested, and highly trained electricians, ensuring that projects meet stringent National Electrical Code standards. This partnership allows for a stable labor environment that supports both small-scale commercial service and massive capital expenditure projects throughout Northeast Tennessee.
The hourly wage of $30.04 is the gross amount appearing on your paycheck before taxes. The total package of $45.12 includes an additional $15.08 per hour paid by the contractor directly into your benefits. These fringes cover your health insurance, pensions, and training, meaning you do not have to pay for these out-of-pocket from your $30.04 base rate.
Yes, Local 934 is uniquely positioned to cover the Tri-Cities area, which naturally spans the state line. Its jurisdiction includes several counties in Southwest Virginia, such as Scott and Washington County. Members may be dispatched to projects in Bristol, VA, or other surrounding areas, maintaining the same wage and benefit standards established in the master agreement.
Wage increases are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Union and the local chapter of NECA. These adjustments usually occur annually or bi-annually. The current scheduled rate of $30.04 becomes effective in August 2025. Future increases depend on the specific terms of the successor agreement and the prevailing economic conditions of the Kingsport market.
Travelers and members looking to transfer should follow the procedures outlined in the IBEW Constitution. You must first contact your home local's Business Manager and then report to the Local 934 hall in Kingsport. Acceptance of a permanent transfer (changing your 'home card') is subject to the local's current bylaws, work availability, and the approval of the executive board.
IBEW Local 934 is seated in Kingsport, Tennessee (TN). We hold published wage sheets for 14 locals across Tennessee — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Kingsport and the rest of Tennessee, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 934. 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 934 pay scale for 2026 is $30.04 per hour for journeymen in Kingsport, TN, or about $60,080 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.12 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/10/25.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 934 agreement make $30.04 an hour in base wages, or $45.12 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 8/10/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$30.04 per hour base wage and $45.12 per hour total package for a journeyman in Kingsport, TN, effective 8/10/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $60,080 before overtime.
A Local 934 apprentice in Kingsport, TN starts at roughly $13.52 an hour — about 45% of the $30.04 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.53 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 934 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.52 an hour, or roughly $27,036 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $30.04 journeyman rate effective 8/10/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $19.53 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $22.53 an hour in the fourth period and $30.04 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 934 training center.
The current IBEW Local 934 journeyman rate is $30.04/hour, with a total package of $45.12/hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/10/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $60,080 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 934 business office before relying on the figure.
The $30.04/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $45.12/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 934 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 $30.04/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.52–$15.02/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 934 is headquartered in Kingsport, TN 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 934 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 934 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 934 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 934 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 8/10/25 schedule; check with the Local 934 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 934 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.