What a registered apprenticeship is
Federal rules in 29 CFR 29.5 set the floor for any registered program. The program must have a written plan, "at least 2,000 hours" of on-the-job learning for a time-based program, and "a progressively increasing schedule of wages to be paid to the apprentice consistent with the skill acquired." The entry wage cannot be below the federal minimum wage. Related classroom instruction of at least 144 hours a year is recommended. The probationary period cannot exceed 25 percent of the program or one year, whichever is shorter. The starting age must be at least 16 (29 CFR 29.5, current as of October 15, 2026).
On completion you get a certificate from the registration agency, which the Department of Labor describes as "a portable, nationally-recognized credential" (apprenticeship.gov, read October 2026). Most states then require electricians to pass a test and be licensed (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
The three main program sponsors
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| Sponsor | Who runs it | Length and hours | Scale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) | IBEW locals and NECA chapters through local JATCs | Inside wireman 5 years; outside lineman 3.5 years; residential wireman and telecom installer 3 years; local programs require 8,000 hours on the job | "Hundreds of local programs," at least one training center in each state; over 350,000 apprentices trained to journeyman | electricaltrainingalliance.org, read October 2026 |
| Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) | Non-union contractor chapters | "About four years"; "a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) and 576 hours of classroom instruction" | "More than 70 training locations" | ieci.org, read October 2026 |
| Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) | Non-union chapters using NCCER curriculum | Varies by chapter | 67 chapters; "over 450 government-registered apprenticeship programs across 20 different occupations" | abc.org, read October 2026 |
All three are earn-while-you-learn. IEC says "the cost of your classroom education is often shared by your employer or covered by state funding" (ieci.org).
What it pays while you learn
Apprentice pay is a percentage of the local journeyman rate and rises with hours completed.
- Washington, DC area (IBEW Local 26 JATC): 45 percent of the journeyman rate in the first period, then 47, 50, 60, 70 and 80 percent. With the journeyman rate at $62.00 an hour as of June 1, 2026, that is $27.90 to $49.60 an hour (jatc26.org).
- Dallas-Fort Worth (IBEW Local 20, North Texas Electrical JATC): apprentices "start at $20.33/hour" plus $2.91 an hour paid into insurance and retirement, with "scheduled raises as they advance" (ibew20.org, read October 2026).
Once licensed, electricians earned a median of $63,190 a year, or $30.38 an hour, in 2025. BLS projects 9 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 and "about 72,700 openings for electricians" each year on average (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
Electrician and helper pay by metro
Hourly figures from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The 10th percentile is close to what a new apprentice or helper earns.
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| Metro | Electricians: median | Electricians: 10th percentile | Helpers of electricians: median |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. (national) | $30.38 | $20.50 | $20.51 |
| Atlanta | $28.20 | $17.97 | $19.34 |
| Austin | $29.03 | $18.87 | not published |
| Boston | $38.42 | $22.71 | $23.24 |
| Chicago | $49.21 | $23.99 | $19.01 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $28.37 | $18.63 | $21.39 |
| Denver | $30.36 | $22.15 | not published |
| Houston | $28.45 | $18.66 | $21.56 |
| Los Angeles | $35.49 | $22.19 | $24.02 |
| Miami | $28.19 | $18.44 | $19.00 |
| New York | $37.99 | $22.20 | $22.98 |
| Orlando | $24.43 | $18.18 | $18.14 |
| Phoenix | $29.43 | $22.56 | $22.39 |
| Seattle | $48.93 | $26.77 | $36.59 |
More context: pay benchmarks for hourly jobs.
Typical requirements
Each JATC sets its own list. These are from the programs' own pages, read October 2026:
- Age. Phoenix: "at least 18 years old by the time you start the program" (pejatc.org). Columbus: 18 at indenture; 17 to apply (electricaltrades.org). IEC: "generally must be at least 18 years old" (ieci.org).
- Diploma or GED. Required by Phoenix, Columbus and IEC. Phoenix waives school and math requirements for applicants with over 2,000 documented hours of electrical construction work, or veterans with three years of active duty (pejatc.org).
- Algebra. Columbus asks for "one full credit of algebra or higher math with a passing grade of C or above" (electricaltrades.org). Phoenix accepts two semesters of high school Algebra 1 and 2, one semester of college algebra, or its online Tech Math course (pejatc.org).
- Aptitude test. Phoenix schedules every applicant for a General Aptitude Test, held on Saturdays, with no minimum score (pejatc.org). Columbus gives its test at the training center and ranks applicants "from #1 (the highest score) down" (electricaltrades.org). The etA brochure calls it the "NJATC Aptitude Test Battery" (electricaltrainingalliance.org).
- Interview or form. Phoenix replaced interviews with a mandatory Personal Experience Form (pejatc.org).
- Fees. $20 in North Texas, credited back if you are accepted (ntejatc.org); $40 in Phoenix; $50 in Columbus.
- Transportation. IEC requires "a reliable source of transportation to school and to the job site" (ieci.org).
How to apply, step by step
- Find programs. Search the Apprenticeship Job Finder at apprenticeship.gov by occupation and location, then check the etA, IEC and ABC locators.
- Watch the window. Atlanta's JATC takes applications May 1 to 31, 2027 (aejatc.org). Phoenix's deadline for the Fall 2027 inside electrician class is March 15, 2027; once started, you have 30 days to finish (pejatc.org). Columbus accepts applications online at any time (electricaltrades.org).
- Gather documents: photo ID, diploma or GED, and transcripts. North Texas accepts transcripts through Parchment or by mail (ntejatc.org).
- Pay the fee and take the aptitude test.
- Wait for ranking. Phoenix says decisions "usually take up to 4 weeks" (pejatc.org).
- If you are not selected, work as a helper or laborer and reapply. BLS notes some electricians "enter apprenticeship programs after working as a helper" (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026). See construction laborer: your first job and general labor entry points.
Five local programs near data center work
- IBEW Local 26 JATC, Lanham, MD, serving DC, Maryland and Virginia: five-year inside wireman program, 8,000 hours on the job (jatc26.org; ibewlocal26.org).
- North Texas Electrical JATC, Grand Prairie, TX (IBEW Local 20): affiliated with Dallas College; apply online (ibew20.org; ntejatc.org).
- Phoenix Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 640): jurisdiction covers Maricopa County, parts of Pinal County and most of Arizona (ibew640.com).
- Atlanta Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 613 and NECA Atlanta): inside wireman and telecommunications tracks (aejatc.org).
- Electrical Trades Center, Columbus (IBEW Local 683): inside wireman and installer technician tracks (electricaltrades.org).
Where these locals' projects are: data center construction jobs.
What it can cost
Programs pay you, but some charge for books and tools. The Phoenix Electrical JATC listing on Arizona's state job site shows tuition of $6,000, textbooks and workbooks of $3,910, and tools of $600, a total of $10,510 (azjobconnection.gov, updated August 26, 2024). Ask for the full cost sheet before you sign. Google is funding the electrical training ALLIANCE to train "more than 1,700 apprentices in Texas by 2030" (Google, November 14, 2025) and "an additional 2,741 apprentices by 2030" in Virginia (Google, June 11, 2026).
Current openings
See general labor jobs for helper and laborer roles that lead into the trade, or by city: Phoenix, Denver. Other paid-training trades: HVAC apprenticeship. More jobs above $20 an hour: jobs that pay $20 an hour with no degree.
More general labor openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. A real apprenticeship is registered with the Department of Labor or a state agency; search it on apprenticeship.gov. The programs above charge $20 to $50 to apply; no program asks for payment through an app or gift card. How we check: how JobPin verifies listings.
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