Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 96 in Worcester, MA earn $48.16/hr in base wages, or $88.61/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
IBEW Local 96 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 96 pay scale for 2026 is $48.16 per hour for journeymen in Worcester, MA, or about $96,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $88.61 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
| Local 96 journeyman hourly wage | $48.16 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $88.61 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $96,320 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $21.67–$24.08 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/31/26 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 96 apprentice in Worcester, MA starts at roughly $21.67 an hour — about 45% of the $48.16 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.12 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 96 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $21.67 / hour | $43,344 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $26.49 / hour | $52,976 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $31.30 / hour | $62,608 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $36.12 / hour | $72,240 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $40.94 / hour | $81,872 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $48.16 / hour | $96,320 |
IBEW Local 96 represents the electrical workers of Central Massachusetts, centering its operations and training out of the Worcester market. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region as a critical hub for both institutional and commercial development. The local maintains jurisdiction over all electrical construction, including inside wiring, telecommunications, and industrial systems. As the primary labor source for Worcester and the surrounding municipalities, Local 96 provides signatory contractors with a highly skilled workforce that has completed rigorous classroom and field training through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
The Central Massachusetts market is defined by a mix of historic urban redevelopment, expanding healthcare facilities, and academic infrastructure. Local 96 electricians are instrumental in the modernization of Worcester’s downtown corridor and the maintenance of the region's manufacturing base. For tradespeople, this local offers a competitive alternative to the Boston labor market, providing high-tier wages and comprehensive benefits without the same commuting volatility. For signatory mechanical and electrical primes, the union provides a scalable labor pool capable of executing complex multi-million dollar projects under strict National Electrical Code and local safety standards.
The wage structure for IBEW Local 96 is scheduled to reach a journeyman hourly rate of $48.16 by May 31, 2026. When accounting for the full fringe benefit contribution, the total taxable and non-taxable package reaches $88.61 per hour. Apprentices move through a five-year progression, typically starting at approximately 40% of the journeyman rate. As they complete mandatory classroom hours and achieve specific on-the-job training milestones, their percentage of the journeyman scale increases annually. This tiered system ensures that labor costs remain predictable for contractors while providing a clear path to middle-class earnings for workers. Members should verify the specific deduction breakdown, such as working dues or vacation funds, directly with the Local 96 hall to ensure payroll accuracy.
The territorial jurisdiction of IBEW Local 96 covers the heart of the Commonwealth, centered primarily in Worcester County. The local’s charter includes the City of Worcester and extends to dozens of surrounding towns, ensuring that union electricians handle everything from municipal utility work to private commercial build-outs within this footprint. Traveling members must check in with the dispatcher regarding the referral system and specific zone pay if applicable. The jurisdiction encompasses a variety of work environments, ranging from dense urban high-rises to sprawling industrial parks along the I-495 and I-190 corridors, requiring a workforce adaptable to both commercial and heavy industrial settings.
The signatory landscape for IBEW Local 96 is composed of diverse firms ranging from local family-owned shops to large regional electrical primes. These contractors frequently partner with mechanical firms on integrated HVAC and controls projects, providing the high-voltage and low-voltage wiring necessary for modern building automation. Hiring activity in this market is often driven by the expansion of the biotech sector and the continuous upgrades required by Worcester's numerous higher education institutions. Signatory contractors benefit from a centralized referral system that allows them to scale their workforce rapidly in response to large-scale project awards without the overhead of traditional recruiting.
The specific ratio is defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement to ensure proper supervision and safety. Generally, this involves a set number of journeymen required for every apprentice on-site. This protects the learning environment and ensures that the work meets the high standards of the IBEW and NECA partnership.
Yes, through the JATC, members have access to continuing education including OSHA safety certifications, EVITP electric vehicle infrastructure training, and fire alarm licensing prep. This ensures that Worcester-area contractors have access to technicians who are proficient in the latest technologies and code requirements.
While both locals offer high standards of living, Local 96 focuses on the Central Massachusetts geographic footprint. The wage rates and total packages are calibrated to the Worcester regional economy, which can offer different cost-of-living advantages for members and competitive bidding opportunities for contractors operating outside the immediate Boston metro area.
License reciprocity is governed by the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians. Once a valid Massachusetts license is obtained, a member of another IBEW local may seek to transfer or work as a traveler by following the procedures outlined in the IBEW Constitution and the local's referral rules.
IBEW Local 96 is seated in Worcester, Massachusetts (MA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Massachusetts — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Worcester and the rest of Massachusetts, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 96. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 96 pay scale for 2026 is $48.16 per hour for journeymen in Worcester, MA, or about $96,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $88.61 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/31/26.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 96 agreement make $48.16 an hour in base wages, or $88.61 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/31/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$48.16 per hour base wage and $88.61 per hour total package for a journeyman in Worcester, MA, effective 5/31/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $96,320 before overtime.
A Local 96 apprentice in Worcester, MA starts at roughly $21.67 an hour — about 45% of the $48.16 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.12 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 96 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $21.67 an hour, or roughly $43,344 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $48.16 journeyman rate effective 5/31/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $31.30 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $36.12 an hour in the fourth period and $48.16 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 96 training center.
The current IBEW Local 96 journeyman rate is $48.16/hour, with a total package of $88.61/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/31/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $96,320 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 96 business office before relying on the figure.
The $48.16/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $88.61/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 96 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 $48.16/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $21.67–$24.08/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 96 is headquartered in Worcester, MA 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 96 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 96 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 96 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 96 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 5/31/26 schedule; check with the Local 96 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 96 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.