How long is an electrician apprenticeship in Texas?

BLS doesn't track apprentice pay on its own, but electricians' helpers in Texas, the closest entry-level group, earned a median of $21.33 an hour in May 2025, according to BLS wage data. Union apprenticeship programs in Texas post first-year union scale rates of about $18 to $21 an hour on their sites, with raises as you progress.

No. Texas apprenticeship programs are built for beginners, and the TDLR apprentice license has no experience or exam requirement. Union programs ask for a high school algebra credit and an aptitude test, and non-union programs usually need a member contractor to hire you.

Most Texas electrician apprenticeships take about 4 years, with 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 576 to 720 hours of classes. That lines up with the 8,000 hours TDLR requires for a journeyman license, and you can take the exam after 7,000 hours.

Union JATC programs use an aptitude test, interview and ranking list, then place you with a contractor at a set share of the union journeyman scale with benefits. Non-union IEC and ABC programs start with a job at a member contractor, and classes usually meet one night a week. Both lead to the same Texas journeyman exam, so pick the one with the next open window and contractors near you.

Yes. Anyone doing electrical work in Texas needs a license, and apprentices apply to TDLR for an apprentice license that costs $20 and renews every year. You must be at least 16, and most apprenticeship programs ask to see the license before they take your application.