What are the benefits of an electrician apprenticeship?
Similar to other construction apprenticeships such as plumbing, the benefit of learning the trade through an electrician apprenticeship is that you earn while you learn. An electrician’s average starting salary is £18,000 with experienced electricians earning as much as £40,000 on average.
Can I apply for an electrical apprenticeship while in education?
You can apply for an electrical apprenticeship even if you are still in education, but you will need to find an employer before starting the apprenticeship. In addition to a regular apprenticeship, there are also installation electrician advanced apprenticeships which you can apply for.
Is being an electrician a good career?
If you like the idea of being your own boss, then working as an electrician is an excellent option to consider. You have a skill that is instantly marketable as an independent contractor. You could also start a business where you can hire other electricians to work jobs in your community.
How can I increase my earnings as an electrical apprentice?
They have a user-friendly interface that will help you in your search. Overtime (hourly wage X 1.5) and double time (hourly wage X 2), which is typical in the electrical trade, can account for extra earnings each year. As you progress as an apprentice your knowledge and skills increase, which effectively increases your “value”.
What does an apprenticeship teach you?
Your apprenticeship program will teach you a broad base of skills, starting with basic electrical work and eventually addressing the essential skills of your chosen specialty.
How much do electricians make?
Electricians make upwards of $50,000 a year. They have excellent job security with reliable income. They get to work with their hands, and they rarely have to sit down in an office. All in all, being an electrician is an incredible job with big payoffs.
Do electrical apprentices get paid?
Compare this to a traditional internship. Most interns don’t get paid, or they get paid very little.
Is an apprenticeship too long?
They might say that an apprenticeship is too long of a commitment or that it requires you to take too many classes. In reality, it can take much longer to learn on the job what you would learn quickly during an apprenticeship. You’ll also make very little income if you jump right into your field without any experience.
Do you need a college degree to become an electrician?
3. You Can Earn College Credits. You don’t need to have a college degree to become an electrician. However, as you pursue an electrician apprenticeship program, you can earn college credits towards an associate’s degree.
Do interns get paid?
Most interns don’t get paid, or they get paid very little. They certainly learn valuable skills, but they also have to make coffee, run errands, and perform administrative tasks. Next, compare an electrician apprenticeship to on-the-job training outside of an apprenticeship program.
What is an electrician apprentice?
An electrician apprentice is both a student and professional who spends years developing the skills necessary to work as an independent electrician. The profession requires apprenticeships, so people without experience can safely learn with experts, known as journeymen or master electricians.
What does an electrician apprentice do?
Electrician apprentices work to gain enough experience to understand a wide variety of common electrical systems and their potential malfunctions. Their primary responsibilities are to help the journeyman they work with complete jobs while expanding their understanding of the trade.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to questions you may have if you are interested in becoming an electrician apprentice:
What is the role of an apprentice electrician?
Your most important role as a new apprentice is to assist the journeyman electrician. Electricians do a lot more than just pulling wire, installing plugs and lights, and replacing bad breakers. There’s a mechanical side to the electrical trade too. Take a look at some of the things you could learn as an apprentice.
What is an electrician apprentice?
What is an Electrician’s Apprentice (And How to Become an Electrical Apprentice) If you’re interested in becoming an electrician apprentice then you’re in the right place. Becoming an electrician is an excellent career choice, especially for those who want to get to work right out of high school. With a growing shortage ...
How many hours does an electrician need to be an inside wireman?
For the inside wireman program, each electrician apprentice receives a minimum 8,000 hours of on-the-job training in the electrical industry with the supervision of a journeyman electrician . Apprentices will also receive 700 to 900 hours of classroom instruction over the course of the program.
How often do electricians take classes?
Classes can be offered either twice a week at night, during the day, one day a week, or in weekly sessions. The apprenticeship you choose to attend will provide the minimum amount of hours of academic education the state licensing agency requires for electrician apprentices to obtain their licenses.
What is an inside wireman apprentice?
Inside Wireman Apprentice. An “inside wireman” or “commercial electrician” works on the non-residential side of the electrical trade. Commercial buildings are usually schools, gas stations, and basically any other building besides a house.
What is an electrician trade school?
Electrician trade schools are for-profit and may or may not have affiliations with trade or contractor associations. This means they may or may not help you get a job after you finish their program.
Is an electrician cheaper than a journeyman?
New construction takes a lot of manpower and since electrician apprentices are cheaper than a journeyman, this is a hot spot for newbies. There’s a crazy amount of skills you can learn as an inside wireman. The exposure to all types of systems is staggering and can sometimes be overwhelming.
What are the pros and cons of union jobs?
Pros. Paid Apprenticeship and Training, Competitive Wage and Benefits, Safety on the Job is Priority on all Union Jobsites. Cons. travel time (Jobs may be assigned on a Statewide basis), Job security is based on the economy and the general politics concerning Union Labor.
Is working union a lifestyle?
Working union and going through the apprenticeship is a lifestyle. It has its ups and downs like any job. There is bs you have to deal with. But overall fair wages for what you do. The only draw back to being an apprentice is having to wait for a call out to go to work.
Is it better to be an apprentice or a career?
There is no better place to make a career for yourself. You receive theoretical as well as on the job training from people who have been in the field for years. The hardest part of the job is the low pay as an apprentice, but once you work your way out of apprenticeship it pays off.
What are the two types of apprenticeships for electricians?
Electrician apprenticeship programs can be broken down into basic two types: union and non-union shops. Neither is better than the other, necessarily, but your decision can alter your career path and earnings.
How old do you have to be to become an electrician?
The entrance requirements to become an electrical apprentice for a union or to enter a trade school are generally the same: Be 18 years old. Have a high school degree or equivalent. Have a reliable form of transportation. Be able to work independently and as part of a team.
How to become a non-union electrician?
To get this formal training, you’ll need to go through trade school to earn an electrical certificate.
Is it easier to get into a union apprenticeship?
Generally easier to get into compared to union apprenticeships. Job stability can be impacted by seasonal slowdowns and other variables. Union Apprenticeship – If you’re going the union route, you’ll start by locating national and local electrical unions in your area.
Is it rewarding to be an electrician apprentice?
Working as an electrician apprentice is a rewarding but also challenging job. You’ll make mistakes, have orders barked at you, and feel out of your element. Keep asking questions, put in the hard work, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a licensed journeyman.
How much does an apprentice electrician make in 2021?
The average apprentice electrician salary in 2021 is around $34,841. If a first year apprentice works 40 hours per week, 50 weeks a year, they can earn a minimum of $20,000 a year. This salary is based on the lowest-paying state for electrician apprentices. Starting hourly wages are calculated at 40% of a journeyman electrician’s rate – which is ...
How often does an apprentice increase their wages?
Your wages can increase every 6 to 12 months (1000 to 2000 hours of work) throughout your apprenticeship.
What is apprenticeship pay scale?
The apprenticeship pay scale is the minimum a union electrical contractor can pay you. There’s always the off chance that you could ask for a raise and get it. If you’re a 2nd year apprentice and you’re smarter and working harder than a 4th year apprentice, what’s the harm in asking for a bump?
Where are wages higher?
Wages are typically higher in the northern states and lower in the southern states. More in the cities, less in rural areas. Electricians working in the oil fields, on oil rigs, or major projects in the middle of nowhere, make a lot more than average.
What is an electrician?
An electrician may go by many names – electrical fitter, installation electrician, electrical technician, electrical engineer, or even the more colloquial “sparky” – but the job will always involve some form of fitting, servicing, or fixing of electrical equipment, wiring, circuits, or even machinery.
What grades do you need to be an electrician?
These normally require you to have 5 GCSEs at grades grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including Maths and English.
Can you be color blind and apply for electrical apprenticeship?
Customer service skills. Ability to work with others. Attention to detail. Unfortunately, if you are colour blind then you will be unable to apply for electrical apprenticeships due to health and safety reasons.
What is an electrician apprentice?
The electrical apprentice license is what all electricians work under, whether you go to a trade school or take an apprenticeship. You’ll keep this title until you have enough experience to apply for a journeyman’s license. Here are the details for both of these two training options:
How long does an apprenticeship last?
Apprenticeships typically last 4-5 years, with approximately 8,000 on-the-job training hours and 500 hours of class time required. To get into an apprenticeship, you must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass a math test.
Do trade jobs take long to train?
You’ve heard the rumors—most trade careers don’t take long to train for; they are engaging lines of work, and that you can take home good pay.
Is apprenticeship good for electrical training?
Apprenticeship. When looking to receive electrical training, you can count on apprenticeships as a reliable option. Like trade schools, you learn by doing, but apprenticeships have the distinct difference of paying you to learn the trade. However, they can be challenging to get into.
Why is it important to be an electrician?
It creates the opportunity to do so cash jobs. Your skills as an electrician will be very useful for your neighbors. They might want to put in a hot tub or upgrade their hot water heater and need your skills to finish the work. Those circumstances create an opportunity to do cash jobs that can boost your income.
What are the pros and cons of being an electrician?
1. The work you are doing remains challenging and varied. Your work as an electrician means that no two days will usually be the same. Your career is going to be in a highly-skilled trade where a variety of jobs are available each day.
How much does an electrician make?
The median pay for an electrician in the United States is about $50,000 per year. If you find yourself in the top 10%, then you can earn about $100,000 per year. Apprenticeship programs typically pay in the $10 to $15 per hour range. 3. There are opportunities for self-employment as an electrician.
How many hours do you need to be an electrician?
There are union and non-union choices in most communities, but both of them require up to 10,000 hours of on-site training and experience before you’ll receive clearance to work independently. There can also be up to 1,000 hours of classroom work to complete. 2. The work you do as an electrician is often dangerous.
How long does it take to become an electrician?
1. It can take several years for you to complete your apprenticeship.#N#You don’t need to have an undergraduate degree to begin working as an electrician. You’ll be spending that time in an apprenticeship program instead. Most people need between four to five years to graduate from this learning process. There are union and non-union choices in most communities, but both of them require up to 10,000 hours of on-site training and experience before you’ll receive clearance to work independently. There can also be up to 1,000 hours of classroom work to complete.
Do electricians work odd hours?
Most electricians find themselves working at odd hours of the day. If you decide to get into the construction industry as an electrician, then you can have a fairly regular schedule. Most workers in this industry find themselves working some strange hours and long days to help their community.
Is it easy to be an electrician?
Working as an electrician is never an easy job. Even if you’re repairing a light fixture or installing a ceiling fan, there are potential dangers that you must manage to keep yourself and those around you safe. That’s why you will receive a lot of respect in this career, even as an apprentice.
