IBEW Local 136 Pay Scale 2026 — Birmingham, AL Wages & Application Dates
Last updated:
IBEW Local 136 in Birmingham, AL pays journeyman inside wiremen $31.00/hr on the check. Below: the full apprentice-to-journeyman scale period by period, whether applications are open right now, how the process works, and a free alert the moment the next window opens.
Application status
Always acceptingApplications are accepted year-round.
Interviews normally occur in July; next selection-committee interviews expected July 2027
Applications are handled by Birmingham Electrical JATC.
Official application page ↗Status last verified August 6, 2026. Source: official JATC/local site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the JATC before making plans.
Get alerted when Local 136 opens
Windows at competitive locals can cap out in days. We watch Birmingham’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.
IBEW Local 136 pay scale 2026
Local 136 wages are set by the local's collective bargaining agreement, not negotiated individually — everyone in a classification earns the same scale. The journeyman inside wireman rate is $31.00/hr (2025 contract data), and the total package — wage plus health, pension, and annuity contributions — is about $47.22/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyman rate that steps up as they progress.
| Apprentice step | % of journeyman | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 45% | $13.95 |
| Period 2 | 50% | $15.50 |
| Period 3 | 55% | $17.05 |
| Period 4 | 65% | $20.15 |
| Period 5 | 75% | $23.25 |
| Period 6 | 85% | $26.35 |
| Journeyman | 100% | $31.00 |
Local 136 doesn't publish its apprentice percentage steps — the table shows typical IBEW steps applied to the local's journeyman rate. Rates move with each collective bargaining agreement; confirm current figures with the local before relying on them.
What to know before you apply
Rolling online application via TradeSchool portal (bejatc.org/apply): create account, submit HS transcript or GED w/ scores, valid Alabama driver's license, Social Security card; must be 18+ with HS diploma/GED incl. one full year of HS algebra with passing grade; pass drug screen and qualify on the NJATC/ETA aptitude test (email test invite, must respond within 72 hours). Candidates worked down the eligibility list by submission-completion date; interviews normally in July. Tuition paid by IBEW/NECA — applicant pays only book costs; 53 college credits earned. Contact: 205-849-5522, corey@bejatc.org.
Be ready before the window opens
The applicants who get in prepped early. 500+ NJATC-format practice questions, timed tests, and an AI mock interview — free to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does IBEW Local 136 in Birmingham accept apprenticeship applications?
As of August 6, 2026: Applications are accepted year-round. Application schedules are set by the JATC and can change on short notice — always confirm on the JATC's own site before making plans.
How much does IBEW Local 136 pay?
The journeyman inside wireman rate for IBEW Local 136 is $31.00/hr (2025 contract data), with a total wage-plus-benefits package around $47.22/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of that rate, typically starting near 45% and stepping up each period.
How much do IBEW Local 136 apprentices make?
A first-period IBEW Local 136 apprentice earns about $13.95/hr — 45% of the $31.00/hr journeyman scale — and steps up each period to $26.35/hr in the final period before turning out at full scale. Local 136 doesn't publish its own percentage steps, so these use typical IBEW steps applied to the local's journeyman rate.
How do I apply to IBEW Local 136?
Applications go through Birmingham Electrical JATC. The usual process: submit the application with your HS diploma or GED, transcripts showing algebra, and ID; take the aptitude test; then complete a scored interview that sets your rank on the eligibility list.
What test does IBEW Local 136 use?
Most IBEW inside-wireman programs use the Electrical Training Alliance aptitude test (algebra & functions plus reading comprehension); a growing number use the broader GAN battery. Either way, your test score plus interview decide your ranking — prep before the window opens.
Related Resources
More IBEW locals near Birmingham
Michael Briglio
IBEW Local 134 Journeyman · Licensed Contractor · IL Educator
Michael started in the IBEW at 18 and made foreman as a 3rd-year apprentice. Thirteen years in, he’s a Local 134 journeyman, a licensed electrical contractor, a licensed Illinois teacher, and OSHA 30 and EPA 608 certified. He teaches a federally recognized pre-apprenticeship on the south side of Chicago — where he’s helped 100+ students get into the IBEW. He built Sparky AI around exactly what the NJATC exam tests and what trips people up. Prep with this and you walk in ready.
Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.