How Much Do Apprentices Actually Make?

Apprentices are paid a percentage of the local journeyman rate, starting around 40 to 50% in year one and rising in scheduled steps, often every 1,000 hours of on-the-job training, until reaching full journeyman pay by year four or five. Overtime, union membership, and location all move these numbers meaningfully.

Using a national average journeyman electrician rate of roughly $30 to $48 per hour as a reference point, and applying the standard apprenticeship percentage structure used across most electrician, HVAC, and plumbing programs:

These percentages are consistent across most registered apprenticeship programs, whether union or non-union, though the base journeyman rate they're calculated from varies significantly by state and local demand. For a deeper look at how that base rate varies, see our breakdown of journeyman electrician salary by state.

Union apprentices, through IBEW for electrical work or equivalent trade unions for plumbing and HVAC, generally follow the same 40 to 50% starting structure, but the journeyman rate they're a percentage of is typically higher due to negotiated contracts. Total compensation, including health insurance and pension contributions, can run 20 to 30% higher for union apprentices compared to non-union positions offering similar base pay.

Non-union apprenticeships often offer more scheduling flexibility and can be easier to enter, but the wage ceiling and benefits package are usually smaller. Our union versus non-union electrician pay guide covers this comparison in more detail for journeyman-level pay.

Once an apprentice is trusted with more independent work, usually by year two or three, overtime becomes a real factor. At time-and-a-half, picking up available overtime shifts, particularly on weekends, can add $5,000 to $15,000 to annual earnings depending on how much is available and how much the apprentice takes on.

The comparison that matters most isn't apprentice pay versus journeyman pay. It's apprentice pay versus what a four year degree actually costs. Average student loan debt for a bachelor's degree now exceeds $38,000, accumulated during years with no income, before a graduate has earned a dollar in their field.

A first-year trade apprentice earning $37,000 to $50,000 is not just avoiding that debt. They're often out-earning what a new college graduate takes home in their first year, while their trade-school peers are still years from their first paycheck in their intended field. See our full trade school versus college comparison for the complete cost and earnings picture.

These figures are national averages and typical structures. Actual pay varies by state, by specific employer or union local, and by how much overtime is realistically available in your market. A first-year apprentice in a high-demand metro area will often out-earn the national range significantly; a first-year apprentice in a lower cost-of-living area with limited overtime may land toward the lower end.

The percentages above describe electrical, HVAC, and plumbing apprenticeships specifically, since those programs share a similar structure. Other trades, like welding or carpentry, may have shorter total training timelines with a different pay progression curve.