Get the AppIBEW Local 48 Pay Scale 2026 — Portland, OR Wages & Application Dates
Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician
Last updated:
IBEW Local 48 in Portland, OR pays journeyman inside wiremen $65.50/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.
Journeyman
$65.50/hr
Package
$95.79/hr
Applications
Closed
Application status
Applications are closed right now — training Center remains closed for all applications until further notice; updates will be posted on the Current Application Openings page.
Applications are handled by NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (NIETC).
Official application page ↗
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Status last verified October 22, 2026. Source: official JATC/local site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the JATC before making plans.
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IBEW Local 48 pay scale 2026
Local 48 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 $65.50/hr (2026 contract data), and the total package — wage plus health, pension, and annuity contributions — is about $95.79/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyman rate that steps up as they progress.
| Apprentice step | % of journeyman | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 45% | $29.48 |
| Period 2 | 50% | $32.75 |
| Period 3 | 55% | $36.02 |
| Period 4 | 65% | $42.58 |
| Period 5 | 75% | $49.13 |
| Period 6 | 85% | $55.67 |
| Journeyman | 100% | $65.50 |
Local 48 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
$35 non-refundable application fee for Inside and Limited Energy apprenticeships (fee waiver available below 150% federal poverty guidelines); no fee for Limited Residential Electrician. Application openings are normally posted at least 30 days in advance. Not accepting new requests for reinterviews at this time. Pre-apprenticeship classes also paused/postponed until 2026 with no scheduled date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does IBEW Local 48 in Portland accept apprenticeship applications?
As of October 22, 2026: Applications are closed right now — training Center remains closed for all applications until further notice; updates will be posted on the Current Application Openings page. 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 48 pay?
The journeyman inside wireman rate for IBEW Local 48 is $65.50/hr (2026 contract data), with a total wage-plus-benefits package around $95.79/hr. Apprentices earn a percentage of the base rate, typically starting near 45% and stepping up each period.
How much do IBEW Local 48 apprentices make?
A first-period IBEW Local 48 apprentice earns about $29.48/hr — 45% of the $65.50/hr journeyman scale — and steps up each period to $55.67/hr in the final period before turning out at full scale. Local 48 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 48?
Applications go through NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (NIETC). 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 48 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 Portland
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.
