As mentioned in this video, these wages reflect IBEW wages for Local 48 (Portland, Oregon). Depending on where you live and the cost of living, your local’s wages may either be more or less.

I’m retired now but worked IBEW Local 3 in NYC !!! The money was great but doesn’t mean anything if your not happy doing what you do. To me being a electrician completing a job or a phase of a job is instant gratification. Most days you don’t do the same thing which puts you in a rut. Not many jobs give you that. I never regret becoming an electrician.

and if you don't want to support a family 6 figures as a single man is living the dream

22 years old. Been kinda lost as to where to go next, I've been working at an amazon warehouse, I plan on trying to join my local IBEW soon. Haven't been this excited in a while.

Waiting on my aptitude test here in Seattle with local 46. Making a career jump after over a decade of sales. Your channel, along with ElectricianU have been a great resource.

Just found this channel. Looking at a career change after the virus rocked my industry. Just turned 29.. Definitely a humbling experience.

I appreciate it. As a 17 year old trying to figure out what to do, this meant a lot to me.

I just applied to my local I.B.E.W. recently I really hope I get accepted I did 6 years in the Navy after high school as an electrician so I have a lot of experience already and really enjoyed doing it. I just can't wait any longer and really want to start working that's why I'm here watching this lol. 40+ hour work weeks sound amazing I'm used to 90+ with no overtime pay and a lot of sea time stuck on a ship so I'm ready for anything.

I've been a union painter/paper hanger in the Seattle area for 16 years. I'm so tired of it. We had our first kid in September and I'm in the middle of my paid family leave. Over the years I've spent in the field I've noticed the sparkys, plummers and elevator constructors look the most content at their jobs. With my disposition I'm leaning towards starting over in another trade as an electrician. I'd never consider going non-union. Thank you for posting this eye opening video...

Hey man just wanted to say i love these types of videos. I was in the non-union for 4 years and it took me 3 years to get into Local 400 recently last week, yes im taking a paycut but ik in the long run it’ll be worth it for my family and career. Your videos helped convince me to join the IBEW despite what all my non-union coworkers would tell me

Great job on your postings. As an IBEW local 6 member, I can attest to a great long and successful career. All the non union naysayers need to hear from genuine members such as you. Keep up the great work. This is COMET in action. Suggestion: consider bringing guests on to help share experience and learned information to educate the uneducated.

When I changed from food service to the IBEW, my hourly pay went up 9 cents, but my take home was $80 more per week.

Hell yeah buddy. I’m 21 working at a union shop until I get in. Hopefully by summer. I’m hype!!

Im really glad you talked about the reality about having to take a pay cut, ever since I started watching your videos I’ve been brushing up on my math to be ready, the only that has been holding me back is having to take the pay cut, I make 22 right now so it’s sucks losing $5 I think starting wage at my local is 17, but either way like you mention it’ll be worth it, it was nice to hear those words or reassurance

just got my acceptance letter to my local! just waiting for them to call to start work!

Made a comment a few months ago while I was living in Japan mentioning my interest in IBEW Local 48. Well 6 months later Im here in Portland currently applying to the Union. Portland is nothing like I thought it would be and i'm diggin it here. Im seriously stoking at this opportunity as my wife and I want to start a family IMMEDIATELY! My aptitude test is on the 6th and i'm more than nervous. Spent the last 2 weeks relearning all of pre-algebra, algebra basics and algebra 1. Going for Inside Wireman of course. NO EXCUSES, DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this channel, I'm a highschool homeschooler and your videos are perfect for all the big questions I've been trying to figure out, Thank you so much, keep up the great work

I’m 19. I’ve been doing electrical for about 7 months now. I’m trying to get into the union this month. Kinda scared tbh. Just doing a follow up! I got Placement testing this month! If I pass I get an interview! Wish me luck!

Can you make a vid about unions? How they work? How u get in them? Base pay?

Lu 60 San Antonio Jman, just turned out last year. Signed on the books here in 46 and 76. Best decision I ever made was starting the apprenticeship. Looking to transition from construction to industrial maintenance and PLC work now as I’ve always enjoyed working with controls and troubleshooting. I have opportunities now that I never dreamed would be available to me just 8 years ago thanks to the the union and apprenticeship. I love this trade.

Hey man , love your videos! Full of information regarding what to expect from this career. I’ve never been hands on really other then working on my car and your videos give me motivation to further a career boost. My future father in law is a journeyman in IBEW local 351 here in South Jersey and he is part of motivation on becoming an electrician. Just about three days away from taking my aptitude test👍🏻

So thankful to have found your channel. I’m moving from Florida to Portland as a journeyman and I haven’t found any info on KZfaq about local 48 until now. Thank you.

You got me, I’m subbed.. now put in a good word for me. I’m out of the military in 5 months and I’ll be home back in Oregon 😭

Just want to say thank you for all your content! I just got my rank for the IBEW local 48 apprenticeship. I ranked 38. Your videos definitely helped me! Hopefully ill get the call in the next couple months. Also just want to add the math exam was a lot harder than I was expecting. I paid out for a test prep program designed to pass the test. Well worth the 50 bucks.

Posting cause I just started my first 1 week of my Apprenticeship after waiting 11 months. Thanks dude, loving the job

Great video man. Shout out to Toronto Local 353. I'm 2 years into my apprenticeship and have grown so much because of it. It's a real eye opener and what I always like to say "a college of the world". Meeting new people and working with others, forming relationships and different perspectives on life. Learning how buildings come to life and how stuff actually works is an education like no other. In my local we have an extra term of apprenticeship called a pre-apprentice which make 35% of a journeyman wage. Cant lie it sucked but its slowly starting to build into something that will definitely be worth it in the end.

I’m with the local 26 in Washington DC we have about the same pay scale. Keep spreading the word on the Ibew.

On top of the health and welfare , the multiple retirements, and the brotherhood? Its definitely the way to go

I am taking my aptitude test next month and your videos have helped me a lot in preparation. Thank you!!

This man is a genius

Great video! Thank you for sharing with all of us this valuable information. I work in healthcare field for the past 15 years and I’m thinking of changing careers and if I were to do so and start as an apprentice, my pay cut would be approximately 80% less than I’m making now, but I’m willing to take that chance and hoping to pay off on the long run. Thank you again for sharing your valuable knowledge with us!

I used to be a truck driver, I started going to trade school for electrician two weeks ago I'll see how this goes.

I’m a union electrician local 11. I joined the apprenticeship program back in 2000. I really liked the union ways but had to leave due to little or no work at the time. Went back to non union and landed with a good company that kept me busy for ever 20 plus years. Decided to give the union another shot since the construction industry was booming. It was great everyone was happy but then again it slowed down. Like dead. That’s the issue with the union when it’s gets slow it’s dead stop slow. Been on the books for almost a year. So now I’m back to working non union like every other union member does when they get laid off. I landed with a great solar company now installing back up battery systems and now making the most money I’ve ever made. So yes I’ve made a ton of money as an electrician but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve had both my hands fixed from carpule tunnel had four surgeries on my knees till the finally had to get knee replacements. So if you want to carry like 30lbs of tools on your waist for the rest of your career then this is for you.

You are a superb job counselor! I feel maybe learning the electrical trade is a better path than college.

I live in Guyana 🇬🇾 but I am abt it move to Florida and your video has allot of valuable information inside

Also remember this pay varies from local to local. But just about all locals pay at a livable wage rate based on location. I'm in local 640 in Phoenix Arizona. Journeyman rate is currently 33.10, benefits included make 46.12 an hour, and monthly fee is about 40 bucks.

This is def worth it it’s gonna take me 8 years to top out at $30/hr at my current job.

I actually liked and subscribed while you took a sip of that Java. Thanks for your help bro !

You earned a sub from me. While this is American oriented, I am trying to become an electrician up here in Canada, and I think your channel will still help me out a bit.

Excellent breakdown, very informative and enthusiastic. I appreciate your work, brother

I tourned 30 yesterday. I've been trying different office jobs in my twenties. I came to realise how much I don't belong here. I've been thinking about going back to school for a couples of Weeks. Better late than Never I guess. Anyways, I did some research and I think I would love to be an electrician. Thanx for the video.

We are lucky to be getting advice from such a genuine person. Thank you!

Absolutely love these videos. You have answered so many questions. I got my paperwork submitted and application started right before covid hit for the Washington DC IBEW. Just waiting on an aptitude test date. Got email saying should be soon. Going to start studying. One question, if you don’t mind, my girlfriend and I love traveling. And at my job now I get 3 weeks vacation, just wondering if I’ll still get at least one week while doing the apprenticeship. Thank you. And thank you for your videos, they’ve really gotten me pumped and determined to do this.

Thanks man for all of the great info! I’ve been looking to get more info about being an electrician and your videos have really helped me out.

Great video! Shout out from IBEW Local 25 (Long Island NY)

If you're already licensed, your local might work something out with you. I started the apprenticeship with 3rd year wage rates because I had my license and an organizer convinced me to join.

I like your set up and on the other side of the screen its feels like you're really talking to me and were both having coffee lol

I don't know why but your intro is so satisfying 😌

Im at $60.54 hr. 4th year apprentice loval 332

These videos are so awesome, very informative. Thanks so much for doing this

First, I want to say very good video. Next, as an electrician with a little over 30 yrs in the trade, both Union (local 332) and non Union, approximately 16 yrs each, there are pros and cons to both. Everyone should be aware of those. I'm not going to get into specifics but know there are both, good and bad things in each. You mentioned being a foreman and a general foreman and the higher pay scale you get for those titles. What you didn't mention was with those titles are added responsibilities, longer hours, sometimes you get overtime sometimes not, mandatory meetings with management which a lot of times you don't get paid for. And usually to get those positions as foreman /general foreman, you've become a company man instead of being a good union brother. Hence the name International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Brothers lookout for each other and our interests as skilled laborers, whereas foreman/general foreman have the company's best interest as a priority. I was offered foreman positions a few times, offered a company truck, the extra 10% wage raise and easily declined the offers every time. First off, 10% isn't enough money for the pressure, the extra hours, having to baby sit crew, dealing with the other trades, job owners and having the office on your ass constantly, from project managers to Superintendent of Men, to the engineers and purchasing just to name the minimum of things and people you have to deal with. Now, I have my own business, and I work harder and longer hours than I ever had before but I reap the benefits from that. I am a non union shop only because I am a one man outfit. I do have part time help if and when a job requires me to have another person working with me or to do one job while I do another. I would be a union shop but they have minimum number of full-time employees needed for a shop to be part of the union. I don't have that much work. I can keep two full-time, employees busy, one apprentice and one journeyman, right now, but my business is growing every year consistently. I'm at the point where I have to hire at least one journeyman because I can't do it all as one person, owner, sales, engineer, purchasing, accountant, customer service, estimator, secretary, etc... and do all the field work. It's too much and I will be losing money and jobs if I don't expand. I know, it is not a bad position to be in. But when you have clients like mine, and the types of jobs I get, I have to have an employee that is a top quality, well rounded, commercial and residentioal experience, absolutely trustworthy because of the caliber of and the wealth of clients and the value of the properties where I work. I am regularly dealing with light fixtures that are hand made and or one off and 100 years old, architectural designs that are museum pieces, a few have been priceless, and a lot worth in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention the home or office or hotel or cathedral that they are installed and the cost of everything around you. So finding someone that is a good fit will be very difficult. I love being an electrician.

Excellent content my guy !! ⚡💡

First! Thanks for the continued inspiration

Thanks for the info I suscribed since you had exactly the info I was searching 👍

I enjoy your videos. Local 48 jw here. Keep it up.

Its so convenient that he works with the exact local I want to join.

My brother 177 checking in.

i learned about this opportunity in october 2018 from an inspector directly and I wasn't quite ready but I got my ged and license in 2019 and i've been working in retail in warehouse but i'm more than ready to apply to the IBEW and change my life

Good video! Topped out in 2000. Great program and career choice. Oh yeah forgot, we still had to pay $200 for books when I went through but not a problem for the education we received.

I got my teat in 6 months and excited for my future as an electrician!!!

Very helpful video as I am contemplating applying with the IBEW here in Reno area. But i have been very concerned about the massive pay cut. Your video has helped me understand the realities and framework available as an apprentice. Thanks for sharing.

Damn I’m only making 19 and some change as a third year in Kentucky

Can you make a video on travelers and their wages? Great content! 👌🏻

Just stumbled across your videos a few days ago. Noticed the Stumptown Coffee and figured you were from Portland. Like your vidoes. I have been going through a lot of these lately trying to figure if a job switch is something i should go for.

I made 132,000 dollars last year. I’m a service electrician

Applied for union straight out of hs, took aptitude test, had my interview, but I got the letter that I didn’t make it in. I’m very upset because this is the career I’d like to pursue so hopefully I can get some experience or take some classes and have a better chance of getting in next time.

Excellent video, keep up the good content!

you have great style. and all required skills to be a great communicator. besides electricity topics, consider to expose other different topic in youtube videos. regards

Dang bro, yall are doing pretty well over there on the west coast! Our wages are much lower here in Missouri but also cost of living is probably quite a bit less. I really enjoy being an electrician though. Good money and job stays interesting. Cheers bro!

Been an inside wireman for 15 years and one thing I'd like to say to all you young bucks. Its not always sunshine and roses in construction like it is right now. You better get your money when times are good and save for the bad times. If the local work dries up you better have some good savings or be ready to travel and be away from your family most of the year.

Solid video, my total endorsement :)

Hey man how’s it doing, I was wondering what you would recommend to do for someone fresh out of high school as far as the application process

I joined the ibew here in AZ right when I finished my 8000 hours, I took their test for Journeyman. IT was a shit show. They gave me an ideal bender with a refrigerator magnet level to bend a kick 90 with a box offset. and a 3 point saddle that had to clear the obstruction by .25 inch. If you know the ideal bender, you now that the hash marks are not correct. I was able to bend the kick 90 without issue but my 3 point saddle was touching the obstruction. So they failed me and told me that I had to take 4 classes on how to bend pipe and I had to pay for the classes as well. Here in AZ they took the benefits out of our checks, so not such a good deal to be in the union here. I told them to go to hell when they asked me to pay for the classes. I could easily teach that class. I am a 6th year Journeyman now.

Glad I found your videos ! Can you make one talking about vacation time ?

We make $55.50 an hour here in Los Angeles local 11. I thank Jesus all the time for my job.

35$ an hour 150$ a day per diem 6days a week 12 hours a day Anything after 40 hours is time and half And we get paid weekly ( Do the math on that guys ) That's industrial journeyman electrician pay

we deserve way more!!!!!!! $100 a hour minimum

your videos are so informative

I've been an electrician now for 25 years and really wish I had gone the union route.

Hey man I’m in Nyc in Manhattan and don’t really know who my local IBEW is, I need help, btw though you are gettin me pumped😂 my dad has been a electrician all his life and always wanted to show me the ropes, but as a young guy I never really cared about it. But now that I’m out of HS and 19 years old I feel like this is the right path to take🙌🏼

I live in MD how what exactly do I search to find my local electricians union. I’m 24 and am ready to really dive into this field. Good videos, I just wish I decided to want to do this earlier.

I’m a roofer in the same exact position of your brother thanks

Ha! Not in south Georgia. My shops TOP field electrician only makes $25 hr

Hey bud, I've been apprenticing for about a month now. I'm a little older than most, 34 years old starting out, but I love it so far, even with the massive change to the type of labor that I'm used to. If there's any other advice you can share please do or link me to a video that you have already made

For local 11 the first 2.5 years are day school for 1 full week every 8 weeks. So since COVID happened I’ve been in school every month since March and I got back in September for my 2-1 class. After that class I go back in November and back on the regular school schedule. Crazy how other locals are different. Here in LA it’s draining. Monday-Friday 8hr days for school and two exams on fridays to pass the week since we do 2 subjects each week. The no pay is hard, but once we hit 3rd year we go to night school 3 days a week.

Great job , you should mention that you get a pension from the money you put into dues and that you get a pension from national electrical contractors association (NECA) on top of your local pension, life is good

How does the IBEW handle applicants that already have an electrical license and have been working in the trade for 10 years? Do they still start out as year one apprentices if they jump to the union?

That’s a cute little wave…

Here's the rate for a NYC Hospital electrician rate in 2007 ( the year I retired ): -$70/hour (I'm sure it's more now ) -Overtime pay is 'time and a half' after 35 hour work week. -$300/week annuity from IBEW local#3 ( one must be on the job full week, otherwise pro-rated ) -28 vacation days and 20 days sick days ( I think City of NY slashed that a bit by now ) - Health insurance is considered "Cadillac Coverage" life time without additional fees after retirement -Retirement is under NYCERS. -You're away from the elements ( cool during hot season, warm during cold season ) -Only drawback? You would be in a dirty place ( cross infections, as with any other hospital wherever that is ) and would be in a 'concrete jungle' most of your career life.

Much love and respect to all union brothers!! Local 332!

Any idea what I should do in the meantime? Just finished my interview last Tuesday. Got a score 76/100. I don’t have any experience under my belt, however I may have a leg up on most..I got a buddy that’s allowing me to use him as a recommendation and let’s not forget applications/tests are suspended until sometime in 2020.

Like the intro..

Excellent brother

i work for a non union company for 5 years. if I join the IBEW union, will I only be getting paid as an aprentice?

WOW! They aint getting that in 570. Tucson sucks for money. The pension is the thing. If youre young and get in by the time you want to retire you'll have a GREAT pension. IBEW pension is one of the nations best and most stable. It will be there when you retire unlike a lot of others

Listening to your pay and then looking at Florida's hurts.

Great channel. Any advice on going union from the non unión side. Been in the trade 2 years and interested in jointing the ibew in the Bay Area

im moving to portland in a couple months, and currently work in trucking. Ill be applying to the local 48, so maybe ill see ya around!

I’m non-union. 22 years as hourly and my boss swaps me to salary expecting 60 hour weeks.

Currently in Laborers local 373 working with bricklayers, making $26.50/h, just applied to ibew local 5, the wage rates start at $16.25 which is a bit discouraging, but im hoping to get in and get this all started.