r/AskElectricians • u/Silver_Wrap7408 • 12h ago
ELECTRICAL APPRENTICE
So I REALLY want to get into the industrial electrical field. To fill you in on myself, i am 27 and I have worked in industrial hvac for a smaller company about 6 years ago demolishing and installing units with the main focus on running ductwork. I was young and very green to the industry and didn’t understand the opportunity for the growth I could’ve made. That being said I only did that for about 14 months before I left to be back home everyday instead of only home on the weekends. I was working in my state but it was far enough away to get per diem Monday-Friday. Since I left that job I’ve worked as a machine operator, lawn and pest technician, and currently as residential foundation repair and waterproofing of crawl spaces and basements for 3.5 years. I became a crew foreman after a year (I was being pressured for that position after only being there a few months because I’m a responsible person that honestly loves learning tricks and tips to better myself in whatever I do, but I wanted to wait it out and not jump in too fast as I haven’t held that title and responsibility before). Though I left that position and stepped down shortly after a year into the position because the pay difference wasn’t much (paid by the job not really by the hours) and I could get jobs done faster since there wasn’t a set end of the day time and could get home sooner maximizing my “hourly” rate by the math. I am very work focused and I work harder than I probably need to.
All of that said I have been wanting to go into working in industrial construction. Mainly electrical since that is something I haven’t done and am eager to learn while also being a great career path I want to pursue. It also seems a lot less demanding on the body, so I can see myself not burning out from how my brain is kind of hardwired to work vigorously.
I have been researching but really just need the help of someone giving me real steps to take to make this switch. I cannot seem to find jobs on indeed, google, etc. that are available to someone without schooling or experience in the electrical field, though I’ve read a lot of people do find these apprenticeships without going to school. Is this a necessary step I should take? It’s pretty difficult to make as I do have a wife and kid and I’m the one working in my house (by choice, we love this lifestyle). I would really like to avoid this step and learn on the job as I am a very hands on learner. I am absolutely down to go to school for it, but I feel it would be harder for me without being able to apply what I’m learning as I go if that makes sense. I absolutely would further my knowledge with school knowing I will be using it everyday.
I really want to get into per diem jobs which seems to be the more difficult route to go without the experience but it has the pay that I know would keep me and my family from sinking as right now we are just getting by barely. It truthfully would put us in a comfortable position since we aren’t overwhelmed with ridiculous debt by trying to live outside our means. I just cannot save any money or do things with my family since it all goes into just getting us barely by.
I really appreciate any advice from anyone, and especially from someone who lives a similar experience who doesn’t mind to lift and give a hard working guy, who doesn’t get vulnerable and ask for help, some direction to be successful in giving his family a great life!
Seriously, any advice is greatly appreciated and thank you for taking the time to read this long post!
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u/TeddysGang 12h ago
First question. Are you ready to take a pay cut, you will would start out as an apprentice, and that usually means the lowest pay rate. Private companies vary on the amount and frequency of raises, while union gets raises every 1000 hours and a set pay rate depending on your location.
It will at least take you 2.5 - 3 years to start making decent money, not counting if you get laid off because of slow work. Not trying to scare you, but this is the reality, and you will have to make hard financial choices since you have a family.
Second question. Are you willing to put in the hours? Private companies sometimes will make you do mandatory O.T. For me, I worked from 10 to 16 hours a day and 6 days a week from October to December when we had to push to get a project done.
Union doesn't do this very much, but it happens once in awhile, but the trade off is you are required to go to school, mainly right after work.
When I was an apprentice my schedule looked like this.
4:45 am - wake up and get ready, walk my dog, wake my wife. 5:30 am - out the door 6:30 am - start work 3:00 pm - Finish work, and start heading to class 4:30 pm - start class 7:00 pm - finish class 7:40 pm - get home, shower, eat spend time with my wife, get ready everything I need work for tomorrow. 10:30 pm ish- Sleep
To be transparent this only happens 2 days a week, but you can see I only have 3 or 4 hours free time after class, and this will be for at least 3 years. And this can be hard on families, its gonna need compromise and understanding from you and your wife. Just think if you can jump these hurdles, if no, then this isn't the job for you. If yes, the we can move on from there
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u/Silver_Wrap7408 11h ago
I can take the hourly pay cut as long as the OT makes up for it. I can handle working OT. I have worked it many times, even from starting at 7am and clocking out at 2am, I have worked some very very long days but this job doesn’t have any growth as in raises. Only moving up into office positions in the company (which puts me on salary) which is also a pay cut from what I’m doing and can make until becoming general manager. I am looking to get into a real trade with growth and skills that are transferable and I can stick to until retiring, this job is not that.
Last year I made 75k but that was honestly a record year for my company (and myself and I was lived very comfortable that year) because jobs were left and right until it got competitive with other companies and prices had to become super competitive which in turn has made it difficult to keep up with steady jobs coming in. This is a pay by the job kind of place, so a cheap job is cheap pay and there’s no milking it for the hours (OT).
I have the mindset and determination to make my family’s dream come true and we understand the sacrifices that have to be made to get to where we want to be. I’m not afraid of the work at all. I just need the reliability of getting OT at the beginning with the lower hourly rate and then with time the raises and more certifications.
I have purposely kept my living costs low because I knew I needed a career that I can build on and with some time, can have the expendable income to use to enjoy life and not be in a situation where I can’t take a hit and financially ruin myself. This year just hasn’t put out the numbers that makes staying make sense.
This isn’t just a “wow I saw a video of a guy making bank so I’m going to do that”, I’m trying to make real calculated decisions and really start my future in a career that is very much in demand and isn’t going to go obsolete ever. Whether it happens to be residential, commercial, industrial, or power lines. The world runs on electricity and if I happen to get laid off at one place I know I can find another and keep pushing.
I appreciate your insight and would love to hear more from you! Please pick me apart more, share more of your perspective, and tell me more angles I may not have already thought about. As well as give me more direction I can take. What is it that you do specifically and how much do you like it? What would you say the pros and cons are with your field? Are you satisfied with where you’re at this moment and has it paid off the way you think it should have? This is something I’m very serious and interested in. And again I really appreciate your insight and I definitely want to hear more!
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u/Stvl1 10h ago
Coming from the Union side of things. Here’s a site for comparing union journeyman scale based on your area. Apprentices typically start around 40-45% journeyman hourly rate.
https://unionpayscales.com/trades/ibew-electricians/
Find one in your area, talk to someone from the JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) about joining. They can give you more details on how to join their local.
If you do get in, you aren’t allowed to solicit work when you’re laid off. Nor are you allowed to do side jobs. You get put on the books and have to wait until you’re called. From my experience, apprentices get sent (no choice) to various contractors to experience a bit of everything but it varies based on your local. Hope things go well for you.
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u/Silver_Wrap7408 10h ago
What level are you at? This may be obvious but would you say it was worth it to get where you are now? Also what could I do now without years of school that could put me above other applicants i.e. course certifications and safety certifications or do those not matter much because the company will put me through them? I would love to hear more from you I appreciate it!
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u/Stvl1 9h ago
Third year in the apprenticeship. Yeah it was worth it. I used to get exceeded in multiple categories on reviews then get a $0.30 raise. Never in my life saw a $5+ raise until here (my first to second year). I get a negotiation raise along with a separate yearly apprentice step raise.
It was a process to get in and I applied to the two locals I was close to. I went with whoever took me in first. The JATC values work experience in electrical/construction (union and non-union). Your JATC could possibly let you start at a higher pay rate if you can prove it with pay stubs.
There aren’t many certifications that will get you ahead but I’d recommend refreshing your math skills (fractions/trigonometry). Talk to your local rep, they will know more specific info about their program that may give you a heads up.
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u/elevatorovertimeho 3h ago
Union…. get out what you put in! Non union get what they give, embrace it! Life has many choices, this was mine….. NEIEP.org
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u/Silver_Wrap7408 2h ago
Appreciate it, definitely going to try to talk directly with them and get some direction from the source. I appreciate it!
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u/elevatorovertimeho 2h ago
See recruitment map and follow directions to the tee! Or you will fail before you get started!
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