How much will I make per Hour

On your paycheque, you will see $41.17 per hour as your wage. In addition, you’ll receive an 8% vacation and holiday pay of $3.29 per hour, bringing your total hourly pay to $44.46.

On top of that, your employer contributes:

$3.97 per hour to your medical fund
$7.79 per hour to your pension
$3.42 per hour to the Local Union fund

As a JW electrician, your total pay package comes in at $59.64 per hour. See the NS Wage Rates chart (right) for a full wage breakdown.

NS Wage Rates

(May 1, 2025)

  
    Class
    Wage (Hr)
    Vacation
    /Holiday
    Health & Welfare
    Pension
    Training & Union Funds
    Total
  

    0-1800hrs
    $20.58
    $1.65
    $3.97
    $3.90
    $1.71
    $31.81
  

    1801-2700hrs
    $22.64
    $1.81
    $3.97
    $4.28
    $3.42
    $36.12
  

    2701-3600hrs
    $24.70
    $1.98
    $3.97
    $4.67
    $3.42
    $38.74
  

    3601-4500hrs
    $26.76
    $2.14
    $3.97
    $5.06
    $3.42
    $41.35
  

    4501-5400hrs
    $28.82
    $2.31
    $3.97
    $5.45
    $3.42
    $43.97
  

    5401-6300hrs
    $30.88
    $2.47
    $3.97
    $5.84
    $3.42
    $46.58
  

    6301-7200hrs
    $32.94
    $2.64
    $3.97
    $6.23
    $3.42
    $49.20
  

    Journey Person
    $41.17
    $3.29
    $3.97
    $7.79
    $3.42
    $59.64
  

    Working Foreperson (10%)
    $45.29
    $3.62
    $3.97
    $7.79
    $3.42
    $64.09
  

    Non-Working Foreperson (20%)
    $49.40
    $3.95
    $3.97
    $7.79
    $3.42
    $68.53
  

Will I have to sit on a list for a job?

No, you will not have to sit on a list. Unionized employers can hire directly and have unfilled job calls, which means you will not be waiting to go to work. New union members are going out to work within a few days of joining.

Will I be forced to work long hours or at a job away from home?

You will never be forced to take a job away from home if you don’t want it, and all overtime is optional. If you do decide to work overtime, you’ll be paid 1.5X your regular wages after 8 hours in a day, 40 hours in a week, and all day on Saturdays. Sundays and Holidays pay 2X.

Will I be out of work frequently?

IBEW Local 625’s contractors currently have over a decade of work booked and plan to hire more than 400 JW electricians over the next 18 months. So no, you are not likely to find yourself out of work.

Will I have to pay large sums of money for Union Dues?

As of July 1, 2025, JW working dues will be $137.85 per month. This is less than 2% of your gross take-home pay for four 40-hour weeks, and less than 1.5% of your total package income for four 40-hour weeks. Your dues are tax deductible. You’ll also receive a years-of-service pension and a death benefit from the IBEW International Office that’s made possible by dues payments. These benefits are in addition to the Local Union’s pension and death benefits.

When can I retire and enjoy my pension?

You’re eligible to retire and claim your local pension at 60 years of age, and your international pension at 62. Your defined benefit plan means you'll receive a monthly payment for the rest of your life, whether you live to be 65 or 105. This means you won't have to worry about running out of money, a risk that comes with defined contribution pension systems like an RRSP.

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