If you want to work Book 2 in Michigan during the 2026 data center, utility solar, and hospital buildout, you have to clear one regulatory wall before you can take a referral: Michigan has zero state-to-state electrical license reciprocity. Under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407) administered by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), every journeyman wireman working on a commercial or industrial job in Michigan must hold a State of Michigan Journeyman Electrician License (or a valid City of Detroit license / state apprentice registration).
As of October 14, 2026, Michigan's 11 Inside locals have 141 open positions, led by 85 open calls at IBEW Local 252 in Ann Arbor ($50.44/hr scale, $15.25/hr H&W, $12.09/hr pension) and 21 open calls at IBEW Local 58 in Detroit ($56.07/hr scale, $11.50/hr H&W, $16.50/hr combined pensions). GoHereBro tracks 300 IBEW locals nationwide; the four cards below show the busiest Michigan halls right now.
Compare all 11 Michigan halls side by side on the Michigan IBEW pay scales table and the national 2026 IBEW pay scale hub, or check the live job call map and Hot Spots dashboard.
Why the Michigan electrical license matters right now: Local 252 Barn Data Center & Local 58 calls
Unlike states where travelers can work under a contractor's license while waiting on paperwork, Michigan halls print the state license requirement on almost every Inside Journeyman call.
At IBEW Local 252 in Ann Arbor (7920 Jackson Road, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, phone (734) 424-0978), referral is currently running as an in-person day book (sign in at the hall between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with dispatch starting at 8:30 a.m.). Out of 85 open positions across 16 calls on the October 14, 2026 board, 75 positions are at the Barn Data Center working 6x10s or 5x10s + 8:
| Local & contractor | Open positions | Project & city | Schedule | Base scale / package | License & drug test requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 252: Shaw Electric | 14 JW | Barn Data Center (Ann Arbor) | 6x10s (6:00 a.m. start) | $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license or MI apprentice registration; drug test within 90 days |
| Local 252: VEC | 14 JW | Barn Data Center (Ann Arbor) | 5x10s + 8 (6:00 a.m. start) | $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license or MI apprentice registration; drug test within 90 days |
| Local 252: Superior Electric Tri County | 11 JW + 3 JW | Barn Data Center (6x10s) & Ann Arbor high-rise | 6x10s (6:00 a.m.) / 40 hrs | $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license; current MUST drug test on high-rise call |
| Local 252: Motor City Electric | 11 JW + 6 MV Splicers | Barn Data Center (Ann Arbor) | 6x10s (7:00 a.m. start) | $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license; 6 splicer calls require Raychem MV certification |
| Local 252: Triangle Electric | 8 JW (1st shift) + 1 JW (2nd shift) | Barn Data Center (Ann Arbor) | 6x10s (7:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m.) | $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license or MI apprentice registration; drug test within 90 days |
| Local 252: RESA Power | 5 LV + 5 MV Test Techs | Barn Data Center (Ann Arbor) | Call hall | Call hall | NETA experience preferred; drug test |
| Local 58: Jay Rank Electric | 9 JW | Watertown Solar (Sandusky, MI) | 5x10s (7:00 a.m. start) | $56.07/hr ($85.75/hr pkg) | Tri-Trade agreement; Michigan electrical license, current drug test, background check |
| Local 58: MJ Electric | 5 JW | Silver Creek Solar | 6x10s + $100/day per diem | $56.07/hr + $100/day | NMA agreement; current drug test, background check |
| Local 58: Industrial Electric & EBI | 1 JW + 1 Welder | Belle River Power Plant (East China) | 40 hrs (JW) / 7x12s (Welder) | $56.07/hr ($85.75/hr pkg) | Michigan electrical license (JW) or 6G aluminum TIG cert (Welder) |
On a 6x10s Barn Data Center call at Local 252 ($50.44/hr scale, assuming standard 1.5x overtime on 20 overtime hours), a Journeyman Wireman grosses $3,530.80 a week ($2,017.60 straight time + $1,513.20 overtime) before taxes and working dues, while the contractor puts another $27.34 an hour into health and welfare ($15.25/hr) and retirement ($12.09/hr).
Does Michigan reciprocate electrical licenses with any state?
No. Michigan is a no-reciprocity state for Journeyman and Master Electrician licenses. Even if you passed a state exam in a National Electrical Reciprocity Alliance (NERA) state or hold a state card in neighboring Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, or Minnesota, you cannot transfer your license into Michigan without sitting for the Michigan Journeyman Electrician Examination through PSI.
For a full comparison of states that do reciprocate without an exam, check our 50-state electrician license reciprocity guide.
Step-by-step: how an IBEW traveler gets a Michigan Journeyman Electrician license
Because you must receive exam authorization from LARA before you can book a test date at PSI, start your paperwork several weeks before you plan to sign Book 2 in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Lansing, or Grand Rapids:
Step 1: Document 8,000 hours (4 years) of electrical experience
Under MCL 339.5811 (Article 8 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407), an applicant for a Michigan Journeyman Electrician license must:
- Be at least 20 years old.
- Provide notarized verification of at least 8,000 hours of practical experience obtained over a period of not less than 4 years in electrical wiring construction and maintenance under the supervision of a licensed journeyman or master electrician.
- For IBEW Journeyman Wiremen, gather notarized Employment Verification forms (or official letterhead statements) from your former signatory contractors and/or your home IBEW local and JATC showing your exact start and end dates and total hours worked in the electrical trade. LARA rejects unnotarized letters or forms that state "years" without an explicit hour total (>= 8,000 hours).
Step 2: Submit your Journeyman Electrician Examination & Licensure Application in MiPLUS
- Create an account on Michigan's online licensing portal (MiPLUS) at
michigan.gov/miplusunder the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC). - Select the Journeyman Electrician Examination & Licensure Application, upload your notarized 8,000-hour experience affidavits (and out-of-state license verification if applicable), and pay the $100.00 non-refundable application and initial license fee.
- LARA BCC reviews the application (typically 2 to 4 weeks). Once approved, LARA sends an eligibility notice to PSI Exams, who will email or mail your Examination Eligibility postcard.
Step 3: Pass the Michigan Journeyman Electrician Exam (PSI)
PSI Services (test-takers.psiexams.com/mibcc or (855) 579-4635) administers the exam at testing centers across Michigan and nationwide. The exam fee is roughly $104, paid directly to PSI when you schedule your seat.
The test has 80 multiple-choice questions with a 2.5-hour (150-minute) time limit, and you need a 75% score (60 correct answers out of 80) to pass. It is an open-book exam covering:
- The edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) currently enforced by the State of Michigan (verify the active code edition on your PSI Candidate Information Bulletin before buying tabs, as Michigan enforces its adopted Part 8 Electrical Code Rules alongside the NEC).
- Michigan Public Act 407 of 2016 (Skilled Trades Regulation Act, Article 8) and the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (1972 PA 230).
Step 4: Annual renewal and code update rules
- Michigan Journeyman Electrician licenses expire on December 31 every year (annual renewal fee is $40.00 via MiPLUS).
- Whenever LARA adopts a new edition of the Michigan Electrical Code, every license holder must complete a 15-hour state-approved Code Update Course within 12 months of the new code's effective date in order to renew.
The City of Detroit exception: how municipal and state cards interact
Michigan has one unique municipal carve-out that every traveler working in Local 58 Detroit or Local 252 Ann Arbor should know:
- The City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) (
detroitmi.gov, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave, Suite 408) is the only municipality in Michigan authorized under PA 407 to issue its own municipal Journeyman and Master Electrician licenses and administer exams through its Board of Electrical Examiners. - Under Michigan law, a valid City of Detroit Journeyman Electrician license and a State of Michigan (LARA) Journeyman Electrician license are mutually recognized for performing electrical work across Michigan jurisdictions, though contractors outside Detroit usually ask to see your state LARA pocket card at hire-in.
All 11 Michigan IBEW Inside locals: scales, packages & open calls
If you are planning a Michigan run once your LARA card is in hand, here is the full statewide picture across all 11 Inside locals tracked by GoHereBro:
| Local | City | JW hourly scale | Health & welfare | Pension / annuity | Open calls | Hall address & phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 58 | Detroit | $56.07 | $11.50/hr | $12.00 defined + $4.50 contrib | 21 | 1358 Abbott St, Detroit, MI 48226 · (313) 963-2130 |
| Local 252 | Ann Arbor | $50.44 | $15.25/hr | $12.09/hr | 85 | 7920 Jackson Rd, Ste A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 · (734) 424-0978 |
| Local 665 | Lansing | $47.00 | $10.61/hr | $10.75 defined + $6.76 contrib | 6 | 5710 Ivan Dr, Lansing, MI 48917 · (517) 393-5218 |
| Local 948 | Flint | $46.96 | $10.61/hr | $10.69 defined + $6.34 contrib | 0 | 1251 W Hill Rd, Flint, MI 48507 · (810) 767-3308 |
| Local 131 | Kalamazoo | $44.30 | $9.61/hr | 25% of gross wages | 3 | 3641 E Cork St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 · (269) 382-1762 |
| Local 906 | Marquette (U.P.) | $42.75 | $10.74/hr | $15.06 defined | 11 | 119 S Front St, Marquette, MI 49855 · (906) 226-7497 |
| Local 692 | Bay City | $42.02 | $9.93/hr | 23% of gross wages | 0 | 1300 W Thomas St, Bay City, MI 48706 · (989) 684-4510 |
| Local 275 | Muskegon / Coopersville | $42.00 | $9.54/hr | 25% pension + 10% annuity | 10 | 140 N 64th Ave, Coopersville, MI 49404 · (616) 837-7149 |
| Local 557 | Saginaw | $42.00 | $10.00/hr | 23.73% pension + 21.15% annuity | 2 | 7303 Gratiot Rd, Saginaw, MI 48609 · (989) 781-0516 |
| Local 445 | Battle Creek | $42.00 | $10.40/hr | $8.60 defined + $6.64 contrib | 0 | 4071 W Dickman Rd, Springfield, MI 49037 · (269) 964-4545 |
| Local 498 | Traverse City | $40.78 | $9.78/hr | $9.09/hr | 3 | 3912 Blair Townhall Rd W, Traverse City, MI 49685 · (231) 943-4980 |
New to hitting the road? Read our complete guide on how to travel IBEW Book 2 for travel letters, MUST drug testing in Michigan, and reciprocal benefit forms (ERTS).
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan have electrical license reciprocity with any other state?
No. Michigan does not reciprocate Journeyman or Master Electrician licenses with any other state. Out-of-state electricians must document 8,000 hours of experience over at least 4 years through LARA's MiPLUS portal and pass the Michigan Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI.
Can I take a Local 252 Barn Data Center call in Ann Arbor without a Michigan electrical license?
No. Every Journeyman Wireman call for the Barn Data Center at IBEW Local 252 (Shaw, VEC, Superior Electric, Motor City Electric, and Triangle) explicitly requires either a Michigan electrical license or State of Michigan apprentice registration, plus a drug test current within 90 days.
How many hours of experience do I need for the Michigan Journeyman Electrician exam?
Under Michigan Compiled Laws MCL 339.5811 (2016 PA 407), you must be at least 20 years old and provide notarized proof of 8,000 hours of practical electrical experience gained over at least 4 years.
How many questions are on the Michigan Journeyman Electrician exam?
The PSI Michigan Journeyman Electrician exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions with a 2.5-hour (150-minute) time limit. You need a score of 75% (60 correct answers) to pass. It is an open-book test covering the National Electrical Code, Michigan Part 8 rules, and Michigan Public Acts 407 and 230.
How much does a Michigan Journeyman Electrician license cost?
The application and initial license fee paid to LARA BCC in MiPLUS is $100.00, the PSI exam fee is roughly $104.00, and annual license renewal on December 31 is $40.00/year.
How does IBEW Local 252 dispatch work in Ann Arbor?
As of October 2026, IBEW Local 252 runs an in-person day book at the union hall (7920 Jackson Road, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103). Wiremen sign in at the hall between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and dispatch begins at 8:30 a.m.
What is the highest-paying IBEW local in Michigan in 2026?
IBEW Local 58 in Detroit has the highest straight-time Journeyman Wireman scale in Michigan at $56.07/hr ($85.75/hr total package with $11.50/hr H&W, $12.00/hr defined pension, $4.50/hr contribution pension, and $1.68/hr NEBF), followed by IBEW Local 252 in Ann Arbor at $50.44/hr ($77.78/hr package before NEBF).
What is a MUST drug test on Michigan IBEW calls?
MUST (Management and Unions Serving Together) is the Michigan construction industry safety and drug-testing consortium used by IBEW locals and NECA contractors across Southeast Michigan. Many calls at Local 252 and Local 58 require an active MUST drug screen and safety modules (or a 90-day drug test prior to dispatch).
Official sources
- Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: Electrical Division & Licensing
- Michigan Legislature: Skilled Trades Regulation Act, 2016 PA 407, Article 8 (MCL 339.5801 to 339.5819)
- Michigan MiPLUS Online Licensing Portal
- IBEW Local 252 Ann Arbor Work Calls Page
- City of Detroit BSEED Electrical Licensing Division
