Salary Data/Electrician by State/Midwest/Wisconsin/Madison

Electrician Salary in Madison

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from IBEW Local 159, effective May 2024.

How to become an electrician →

Figures come from public sources and may not match the current contract; confirm with the local before making decisions.

Market Context

IBEW Local 159 is the union local for electricians in Madison; its hall is on Fen Oak Drive. The union apprenticeship is administered by the Wisconsin NECA-IBEW training office in Madison. Wisconsin has no state prevailing wage law, so prevailing wage requirements apply only to federally funded construction.

→IBEW Local 159's jurisdiction includes Dane County and the Madison area

Union Scale

IBEW Local 159 inside wireman Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly

$48.55

Effective May 2024

Rate reflects the most recent available Davis-Bacon determination (effective May 2024). Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.

Base wage: $48.55/hr

Benefit contribution: $25.91/hr

Total package: $74.46/hr

Journey-Level Annual

$100,984

Based on 2,080 hrs / year

vs. BLS Area Median

+$22,554

Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the IBEW Local 159 inside wireman journey-level rate from the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination. The BLS area median reflects all electricians across all employment types and experience levels.

JATC Information

Training Center	Madison Area Electrical JAC (IBEW 159)
Address	5303 Fen Oak Drive, Madison, WI 53718
Phone	(608) 255-2989
Website	wijatc.org
Minimum Score	4 out of 9Local 159's apprenticeship page states that everyone who scores at least 4 of 9 on the aptitude test is invited to interview.

Applying to IBEW Local 159?

Check with IBEW Local 159 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.

What to expect →

Area Wage Data

All electricians, union and non-union, all experience levels

Median Annual

$78,430

+$15,240 vs. national

Median Hourly

$37.71

vs. Wisconsin

+$3,970

vs. state average

Total Employed

1,760

In this area

Full Wage Breakdown

All electricians, union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.

Annual Median Wage	$78,430
Annual Mean Wage	$75,920
Hourly Median Wage	$37.71
Hourly Mean Wage	$36.50
Total Employed	1,760
Area Type	Metropolitan Area

Pre-apprenticeship programs in Wisconsin

Madison MC3
Madison
Visit site
WRTP/Big Step
Madison
Visit site
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County - High School Program
Fitchburg
Visit site

All pre-apprenticeship options →

Other Electrician Markets in Wisconsin

View All Wisconsin Data →

Union Rates in Wisconsin and Within 300 Miles

Up to six other metros in Wisconsin, nearest first, then metros in other states within 300 miles. Journey-level rates are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement.

IBEW Local 577

Oshkosh

$41.76/hr

Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination

Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination

Effective June 2025

IBEW Local 577

Appleton