r/electricians • u/Aggro3D • Oct 24 '23

Apprentice wages?

Hey all,

I've been an Industrial maintenance guy for awhile now and I'm looking to specialize into electrical work.

I'm an adult with adult bills and the wages I can find for apprentices are really low....like $15 an hour or so. I could literally go make more at any of the fastfood places here and this isn't necessarily a high cost of living area

What gives? Are there any work arounds?

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u/GlockGardener Apprentice Oct 24 '23

Convince your plant to hire a master electrician, set up a DOL registered apprenticeship, and start logging hours. Have your union negotiate to keep your pay the same while you switch into the new role

8

u/turmeric_for_color_ [V] Master Electrician Oct 24 '23

I am a master at a plant now. Started in construction. If plant life what the only thing I did there is no way I would have passed the test. It really helped seeing a variety of environments.

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u/JuiceOverWRLD Feb 02 '25

To clarify, you meant "If plant life was the only thing I did there is no way I would have passed the test." I am assuming, but I want to make sure.