Any electricians out there?

[JamesKarr 10+ year member]

Been thinking bout doing the whole electrician thing. I was wondering if there were any here that could point me in the right direction and what kind of pay you make.

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[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

gotta start as an apprentice first, which sucks because of the hours and medium pay. Personally I hated doing it, but im more of an engineering geek.

 

[DBBOOM 10+ year member]

Contact your nearest IBEW Union Hall and ask when the next apprenticeship tests are being given.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

gotta start as an apprentice first, which sucks because of the hours and medium pay. Personally I hated doing it, but im more of an engineering geek.

Depends on the state but where I live it's 4 years as an apprentice then you test to be a journeyman. It can pay VERY well but at the same time it can have it's lean times when the economy is bad. When you or your company has to low ball on bids for jobs no one will get a raise LOL. If you become your own boss you also must keep up with the code changes which can change often and what was good 2 years ago can be far enough different for you to not pass inspection depending on what it is.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

contact McIntosh. he is THE electrician //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

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[gotparts90 10+ year member]

Contact your nearest IBEW Union Hall and ask when the next apprenticeship tests are being given.

yep do this and also check any other tests for other fields you can always take the test the turn down the apprenticeship if that's not the job you want. If you get signed up for multiple programs you stand a chance.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Yeah the first day on the job was for me to memorize the new codes in the NEC //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

but over the years it's come in handy, I can walk into any house/building and tell if the wiring is in code pretty easy.

 

[billjones42 10+ year member]

Be a **** star. It's way easier.

 

[DownSouth954 10+ year member]

My step-father is an Electrical Contractor and pays his guys around $10 - $16 an hour (after taxes ; on the books ) depending on experience and such. I worked with him one summer just digging trenches for conduit and I got $10/hr... It's hard work and a lot of freakin' troubleshooting. I never had to climb into attics or anything like that but that part sucks as well.

Down here it's a lot of Pool/Jacuzzi hook ups so that's where I spent the majority of my time. My experience may differ from the typical journeyman electrical work or whatever....

 

[JamesKarr 10+ year member]

My moms cousin could really hook me up but hes out of state. I need to call and talk with him but I was looking for others opinions and pay.

10-16 isnt even worth it for me. I make in between that now Part Time.

 

[gotparts90 10+ year member]

around here its about 30 an hour for union electricians in Florida they don't make much money at all but cheap to live there. Go for it at least sign up for the test and see how you do 12-15 is probable apprentice pay to start I am in the 597 and that the apprentice pay for us I think

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

I was going to be an electrician but everyone said I was too negative.

 

[Korn4Life 5,000+ posts]

Get in the Union. If you go to school make sure to use everything they offer to ya... Right now the Electrical jobs are slow. Atleast in my area...

 

[Korn4Life 5,000+ posts]

Oh and if they where hiring the paper mill in my town starts electricans at $21.50 per hour

 

[Bigrick31 10+ year member]

Yea the union is the way to go. In San Francisco our journeyman make $50.50 an hour and apprentices start out at $20 The schooling is free you just pay for book. Plus you get good benefits pension and retirement (usually some unions arnt as strong as others)