Highest-Paying IBEW Jobs in July 2026: 10 Locals With the Biggest Weekly Checks

The highest-paying IBEW jobs in July 2026 are not necessarily the locals with the highest base scale. Overtime, night-shift rates, incentive pay, per diem, and the number of hours available can turn a lower-scale call into one of the biggest weekly checks in the country.

GoHereBro compared fresh dispatch information verified on July 11, 2026. Based on the strongest advertised opportunity in each local, the current leaders range from approximately $4,376 to $6,401 per week before taxes.

Important: These are estimated weekly gross earnings for specific advertised schedules—not guaranteed wages, annual salaries, or promises of dispatch. Calls can fill or change quickly. Confirm the rate, schedule, overtime rules, incentive eligibility, per diem, licensing requirements, and call duration with the hall before traveling.

The 10 Highest-Paying IBEW Job Markets Right Now

These estimates include advertised overtime and qualifying daily allowances when an amount was stated. Employer-paid health, pension, and annuity benefits are not included.

1. IBEW Local 332 — San Jose, California: About $6,401 per Week

IBEW Local 332 takes the top spot with a San Jose-area scale of $95.53 per hour and an advertised Sunnyvale call working five 10-hour shifts plus an eight-hour Saturday.

Estimated check:

• 40 straight-time hours: approximately $3,821
• 18 overtime hours at 1.5×: approximately $2,580
• Estimated weekly gross: $6,401

This is the clearest example of a premium base rate beating longer schedules elsewhere. The call advertised two journeyman wiremen, so the earning potential is enormous but the number of available positions is limited. California certification requirements can also stop an unprepared traveler at the door. Read our California electrician license guide before heading west.

2. IBEW Local 1426 — Grand Forks, North Dakota: About $5,748 per Week

Local 1426 had an Apex Line Contractors opportunity advertising:

• Six journeyman linemen
• 6×12s
• $58.50 per hour
• $100 per day per diem
• Additional advertised daily incentive

Using the hourly rate, 72-hour schedule, and stated per diem produces an estimated gross of $5,748 per week before any additional incentive that may depend on attendance or eligibility.

This is an outside-line opportunity, so inside wiremen should not assume they qualify. Travelers also need to verify North Dakota licensing and classification requirements. Our North Dakota electrical license guide covers the state-card process and reciprocity rules.

3. IBEW Local 20 — Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: About $5,366 per Week

Local 20 showed a Big State Electric call for six journeyman wiremen at the Red Oak data center. The advertised night-shift package was:

• 6×12s
• $60.98 per hour
• Estimated weekly gross: $5,366

At 72 hours, the schedule creates 32 overtime hours. That is why this call outranks markets with a comparable hourly rate but fewer hours.

Texas remains one of the most active electrical construction markets in the country, especially around data centers. Travelers should still confirm whether the quoted night rate already includes a shift differential and whether a Texas journeyman license is required. See the Texas data center electrician jobs and TDLR guide.

4. IBEW Local 291 — Boise, Idaho: About $5,299 per Week

Local 291 continues to be one of the strongest traveler destinations in 2026. An EC Electric call connected to the Micron PLA advertised:

• Ten journeyman wiremen
• Rotating 60/60/50 schedule
• $45.33 per hour
• $20 per hour additional pay
• $170 per day travel allowance

Using an average 57-hour workweek for the rotating schedule, the estimated weekly total is approximately $5,299.

The allowance is a major part of that number. Verify how many days qualify, whether the payment requires perfect attendance, and whether it is treated as taxable compensation. For project details, housing considerations, licensing, and Book 2 information, read the Micron Boise traveler guide.

5. IBEW Local 294 — Hibbing, Minnesota: About $5,039 per Week

Local 294 had one of July’s largest manpower opportunities: Hunt Electric advertised 105 journeyman wiremen working 6×10s.

The reported package included:

• $49.86 base scale
• Saturday paid at double time
• $125–$175 per day subsistence
• Drug test required

Using the top advertised subsistence amount, the estimated weekly gross reaches approximately $5,039. Because the daily allowance is responsible for more than $1,000 of that total, travelers should confirm the exact eligibility rules before calculating a road budget.

Unlike a two-person premium-scale call, this opportunity combines high estimated earnings with major manpower demand.

6. IBEW Local 11 — Los Angeles, California: About $4,515 per Week

Local 11 featured a Fisk Electric call working 6×10s for three weeks at the local’s $64.50 scale.

Estimated check:

• 40 straight-time hours: $2,580
• 20 overtime hours at 1.5×: $1,935
• Estimated weekly gross: $4,515

The short advertised duration matters. Three strong checks can be worthwhile, but this should not be treated as a long-term earnings forecast. California certification and Los Angeles living costs also need to be part of the traveler’s calculation.

7. IBEW Local 1547 — Anchorage, Alaska: About $4,503 per Week

Local 1547 showed a Fullford Electric inside-wireman opportunity paying $64.33 per hour with a reported range of 40 to 60 hours per week.

At the top end of the advertised range, the estimated gross is approximately $4,503 per week. At 40 hours, however, the same rate produces about $2,573. Travelers should budget around the guaranteed schedule—not the maximum possible schedule.

The call also listed an Alaska Certificate of Fitness and driver’s license as requirements. Travel and housing costs can be substantial, so confirm mobilization expenses and lodging before accepting.

8. IBEW Local 583 — El Paso, Texas: About $4,400 per Week

Local 583 had a Summit Line opportunity advertising:

• 40 journeyman positions
• 6×10s
• $55 per hour
• All overtime paid at double time
• New Mexico EE98J license required

The double-time provision drives the estimated weekly gross to $4,400:

• 40 straight-time hours: $2,200
• 20 double-time hours: $2,200

Classification and licensing are critical here. The call should not be read as a general inside-wireman opportunity merely because it appears in an IBEW pay ranking.

9. IBEW Local 494 — Milwaukee, Wisconsin: About $4,391 per Week

Local 494 featured a Cupertino Electric call at the Port Washington data center advertising:

• Five journeyman wiremen
• 58–60 hours per week
• $62.73 per hour
• Wisconsin license required

At 60 hours with standard time-and-a-half overtime, the estimated gross is approximately $4,391 per week.

Wisconsin licensing can be the difference between being ready for dispatch and watching a premium call pass by. Review the Wisconsin journeyman electrician license guide before making travel plans.

10. IBEW Local 430 — Racine, Wisconsin: About $4,376 per Week

Local 430 closes the top 10 with a Gertz call for 22 journeyman wiremen on a Microsoft project.

The advertised opportunity included:

• 6×10s
• $62.51 per hour
• Wisconsin journeyman license or two-plus years of verifiable experience

That schedule produces an estimated weekly gross of approximately $4,376. With 22 advertised positions, it offered a better combination of pay and manpower demand than many small, high-scale calls.

Honorable Mentions

Several markets landed just outside the top 10:

• Local 714, Minot, ND: approximately $4,330 per week on 6×10s with advertised per diem
• Local 278, Corpus Christi, TX: approximately $4,256 per week on a 6×12 line call with per diem
• Local 481, Indianapolis, IN: approximately $4,148 per week on a 7×10 schedule
• Local 237, Niagara Falls, NY: approximately $4,097 per week on 7×10 data-center work, before any unspecified per diem
• Local 405, Cedar Rapids, IA: approximately $3,814 per week on 6×10s with double-time overtime

How We Calculated Weekly Gross Pay

The ranking uses the strongest currently advertised opportunity found in each local’s fresh dispatch outlook.

Unless the source explicitly stated a different rule, the estimate uses:

1. The advertised hourly rate, or local scale when no separate rate was stated
2. Straight time for the first 40 hours
3. Time-and-a-half for hours over 40
4. Double time only when the source explicitly advertised it
5. Stated per diem, subsistence, or travel allowance for the applicable scheduled days

The calculation does not include pension, annuity, health and welfare, or other employer-paid benefits. It also does not subtract taxes, dues, assessments, lodging, transportation, meals, licensing fees, or time between calls.

Highest Scale Is Not the Same as Highest Weekly Pay

Local 332 leads this list because it combines a $95.53 hourly scale with 18 overtime hours. Local 1426 and Local 20 use longer 72-hour schedules to close the gap. Local 291 and Local 294 climb through a combination of overtime and large daily allowances.

That distinction matters when comparing road jobs:

• Base scale determines what each hour is worth.
• Schedule determines how many straight-time and overtime hours are available.
• Overtime rules determine whether extra hours pay 1.5× or 2×.
• Per diem and incentives can add hundreds or thousands of dollars—but may come with attendance rules.
• Call duration determines whether the opportunity lasts three weeks or many months.
• Cost of living determines how much of the check a traveler can keep.

The best job is not automatically the one with the largest estimated check. A stable 50-hour call with affordable housing may beat a short 72-hour call in an expensive market.

How to Find High-Paying IBEW Calls Before They Fill

Use the GoHereBro live IBEW job map to compare open calls, scales, Book 1 and Book 2 numbers, and recently updated dispatch information. The Hottest Locals dashboard helps identify markets combining strong pay with meaningful call volume.

Before leaving:

1. Call the hall and confirm the call is still open.
2. Ask whether the quoted schedule is guaranteed or projected.
3. Confirm overtime and double-time rules.
4. Ask exactly how per diem or incentive eligibility works.
5. Verify state licensing, OSHA, drug-test, background-check, and certification requirements.
6. Check Book 2 signing and re-sign procedures.
7. Price local lodging before estimating take-home value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paying IBEW job in July 2026?

Among opportunities verified by GoHereBro on July 11, a Local 332 call in Sunnyvale, California, produced the highest estimated weekly gross at approximately $6,401 on five 10-hour shifts plus an eight-hour Saturday. Availability can change at any time.

Which IBEW local has the highest hourly scale?

Among the locals in this July ranking, San Jose Local 332 had the highest listed base scale at $95.53 per hour. A high hourly scale does not always create the highest annual income because schedules, call duration, and time between jobs vary.

Are these amounts guaranteed?

No. They are estimates based on advertised rates and schedules. Hours can be reduced, overtime can end, calls can fill, and allowances may have eligibility conditions. Always verify the complete package with the dispatching local.

Does weekly gross include benefits?

No. Weekly gross includes estimated wage earnings and stated daily cash allowances where applicable. Employer-paid pension, annuity, and health benefits are excluded.

Does weekly gross mean take-home pay?

No. Gross pay is before taxes, dues, assessments, lodging, travel, meals, licensing costs, and other expenses.

Can an inside wireman take any job on this list?

No. This list includes both inside and outside opportunities. Lineman calls, inside-wireman calls, state licenses, and project-specific certifications are not interchangeable. Confirm the classification before bidding.

How often do high-paying IBEW calls change?

They can change daily. Small calls may fill immediately, overtime can be reduced, and project schedules can shift. Use the live map for current information rather than relying only on this dated July snapshot.

Bottom Line

The highest-paying IBEW jobs in July 2026 show four different paths to a big weekly check: premium coastal scale, heavy overtime, double-time provisions, and substantial travel allowances.

Local 332 currently leads on estimated gross pay. Local 1426 and Local 20 stand out for 72-hour schedules, while Local 291 and Local 294 combine strong manpower demand with meaningful allowances. The opportunity that puts the most money in a traveler’s pocket will depend on call duration, licensing, housing, classification, and whether the advertised hours hold.

Data verified July 11, 2026. Check the live IBEW job map before you travel.