Are there benefits besides hourly pay for apprentice electricians?

BLS doesn't track apprentice pay separately. Electricians' helpers, the closest entry-level benchmark, earned a national median of $20.51 per hour in May 2025, and the middle half earned $17.71 to $23.30 per hour, according to BLS wage data. Union apprenticeship programs commonly start first-year apprentices at about 40% to 50% of journeyman scale.

Yes, apprentices usually get pay raises every 6 to 12 months or after working a certain number of hours. By their fourth or fifth year, they often earn 75% to 85% of a journeyman's wage, based on union wage schedules like the Minneapolis Electrical JATC.

The main factors are location, market demand, company size, specialization, and whether it's a union or non-union job. Big cities and areas with high demand for electricians often pay more.

Many employers offer benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and education support. Some also provide overtime opportunities.

Yes, union apprenticeships usually offer higher starting wages and a more structured pay increase system compared to non-union positions.