ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area PAY

Thanks for the responses. Here in WA, we normally start off at $9.00. Yet, when you get time in (1000-2000 hours), you are looking at $11-13 per hour. Before I was laid off from one company, I was making 9, and we would get raises every 1/4. Great company, but things slowed down, so lay offs took place! Starting at $9 is fine, but once you get in your first 2000 hours, you should be looking at $12 per hour easy.

$7.50 to 10.00 an hour

The locals that I'm familiar with start apprentices at 45% of journeyman scale, with a 5% increase every 950 hours. For example if the local scale is $20/hour, you'd start at $9/hour, and you should now be at $11/hour, or 55% of journeyman scale.

At 2000 hours you would be considered as a beginning 2nd year apprentice. Most IBEW locals now have a 5 year apprenticeship. To even be considered for the apprenticeship program, you must have first completed a state approved 2 year contruction electrician program. If you're non-union, you take what you can get.

[This message has been edited by Matt M (edited 02-09-2003).]