Journeyman base rates at the 2 union locals based in Madison, WI run $50.00 to $50.00 an hour on the 1 published sheet we hold — roughly $100,000 a year at the midpoint, before the fringe package. Each figure below shows its source and effective date.
| Local | Trade | Hall | Journeyman / hr | Total package | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBEW Local 159 rates in Madison | Electricians | Madison, WI | $50.00 | $76.19 | 6/12/25 |
| SMART Local 565 rates in Madison | Sheet Metal Workers | Madison, WI | No sheet published | — | — |
Base rates only; fringes are paid on top. Sheet set last cross-checked 2026-09-23.
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SMART Local 565 — no published wage sheet on file; contact the hall for current scale.
$50.00 an hour journeyman base at IBEW Local 159, before fringes.
Union wages in Madison sit at a $50.00 an hour median journeyman base across the 1 published sheet we hold for Madison, WI — 11.6% above the $44.79 median across every local sheet on this site, and 1.0% below the $50.50 Wisconsin median. Base rates only — health, pension, annuity and training are paid on top.
Published union pay rates for Madison, WI run $50.00 to $50.00 an hour on journeyman base scale — about $100,000 a year at the midpoint on 2,000 hours. Every rate below is taken from the local's own wage sheet and carries its effective date; confirm the current step with the hall before you rely on it for an offer.
| Market | Median journeyman / hr | Range | Sheets | vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI union wages | $55.58 | $52.00–$64.48 | 5 | +11.2% |
| Kenosha, WI union wages | $51.54 | $51.54–$51.54 | 1 | +3.1% |
| Racine, WI union wages | $50.50 | $50.50–$57.35 | 2 | +1.0% |
| Janesville, WI union wages | $48.70 | $48.70–$48.70 | 1 | −2.6% |
| Eau Claire / Fall Creek, WI union wages | $46.72 | $46.72–$46.72 | 1 | −6.6% |
| Green Bay, WI union wages | $43.95 | $43.95–$43.95 | 1 | −12.1% |
| Stevens Point, WI union wages | $43.31 | $43.31–$43.31 | 1 | −13.4% |
| Appleton, WI union wages | $41.76 | $41.76–$50.25 | 2 | −16.5% |
| Market | Median journeyman / hr | Range | Sheets | vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA union wages | $83.40 | $62.76–$95.75 | 8 | +66.8% |
| San Jose, CA union wages | $83.40 | $76.86–$95.53 | 6 | +66.8% |
| San Mateo, CA union wages | $79.41 | $79.41–$88.00 | 2 | +58.8% |
| Philadelphia, PA union wages | $70.32 | $66.22–$73.73 | 3 | +40.6% |
| Martinez, CA union wages | $68.26 | $68.26–$68.57 | 2 | +36.5% |
| Boston, MA union wages | $66.53 | $66.17–$70.80 | 4 | +33.1% |
| Seattle, WA union wages | $65.30 | $58.47–$76.95 | 6 | +30.6% |
| Jersey City, NJ union wages | $60.82 | $60.82–$64.96 | 2 | +21.6% |
Medians are taken across the published journeyman base rates for locals based in each market. Cities differ in trade mix and agreement cycle, so compare like trades before drawing a conclusion.
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Not journeyed out yet? See Madison union apprenticeships — the halls running each program, entry requirements and apprentice pay by period.
Across the 1 Madison-area local with a published wage sheet, journeyman base rates run $50.00 to $50.00 an hour, midpoint near $50.00 — about $100,000 a year at 2,000 hours. Fringes (health, pension, training) are paid on top of that base.
Of the sheets we hold, IBEW Local 159 (Electricians) shows the highest journeyman base rate at $50.00 an hour, effective 6/12/25. Rates reset each agreement cycle, so confirm with the hall before relying on the figure.
No. The journeyman rate is the base hourly wage. Health and welfare, pension, annuity and training contributions are paid on top — that combined figure is the total package, shown where the sheet publishes it.
Apply to the local's apprenticeship or ask about journeyman organizing directly with the hall, and register on the out-of-work list if you already hold the ticket. We also place union-scale and merit-shop tradespeople with Madison contractors — the openings on this page are live.
Each figure is read off that local's published wage sheet, with the source and effective date shown next to it. Our sheet set was last cross-checked 2026-09-23.
Madison's median published journeyman base is $50.00 an hour, 11.6% above the $44.79 median across all local wage sheets we hold. Nearby Wisconsin markets: Milwaukee, WI $55.58/hr, Kenosha, WI $51.54/hr, Racine, WI $50.50/hr, Janesville, WI $48.70/hr.
Journeyman base rates in Madison, WI run $50.00 to $50.00 an hour on the 1 sheet published by locals based in the market, with the fringe package paid on top of that base. Apprentice rates are a set percentage of scale by period.
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