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Electrician Apprentice Salary - How Much Can You Expect to Make?

Starting a new career in the electrical trade comes with a lot of questions, particularly about electrician apprenticeship salary. How much will I make? How long before I can move to the next level? Does my location make a difference in pay? 

Anyone new to the trade must start their career as an apprentice, working under a licensed electrician. In most cases, the apprenticeship takes about 4 years and requires 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year. Once the apprentice meets these requirements, he or she can become a licensed electrician. 

What is the expected electrician apprentice salary? 

Electrician apprentice pay varies from location to location and what type of electrical work is done. An outside linesman apprentice in Louisiana can expect a much different salary than a residential wireman apprentice in California, for example. 

Regardless of where you are and what type of electrician you want to be, apprenticeship salary is a percentage of what the licensed tradesman makes. Here are a few examples: 

Outside Lineman Apprentice: Outside linemen install, maintain, and repair transmissions lines. The base hourly rate for a licensed journeyman is $50.50 per hour. New apprentices typically earn 60% of the journeyman's rate, so expect to make around $30 per hour. Apprentices can expect to make a larger percentage as they increase their skill and experience, eventually making 90% of the journeyman's rate. 

Inside Wireman Apprentice: Inside wiremen install power lines, lighting systems, electrical panels, or any other equipment needed in commercial environments. The average hourly rate for an inside wire journeyman is $43 per hour. New apprentices typically earn 50% of the journeyman's rate, so expect $19 per hour. Again, the apprentice will make a larger percentage as they gain experience. 

Residential Wireman Apprentice: Residential wiremen install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in single-family and multi-family dwellings. The average hourly wage for residential journeymen is $32 per hour. New electrician apprentice pay is 50% to start, so expect $16 per hour. 

Skilled electricians will always be in demand, so starting an apprenticeship will always be a good decision. To get started in the electrical career, contact Independent Electrical Contractors. We have training centers across the country where you will learn the technical knowledge required to become an electrician and be set up with an apprenticeship to begin your journey.

What are you waiting for? Start building a rewarding career in the electrical field today!

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