Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Electrician

Install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and factories.

$62,350/yr median

$37,020$104,180

Much Faster Than AvgModerateUnion: HighEntry: Moderate

Training Path

4-5 year apprenticeship

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Much Faster Than Avg (+11%)

BLS Code

47-2111

Pros

✓Strong pay with no college debt — journeyman electricians regularly clear $60K+, and you earn while you learn during your apprenticeship.
✓High demand across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors means you can almost always find work, even during economic downturns.
✓Strong union presence (IBEW) provides solid benefits, pension plans, and collective bargaining power in many areas.
✓Portable license — once you hold a journeyman or master electrician license, you can work in most states with reciprocity agreements.
✓Clear advancement path from apprentice to journeyman to master electrician, with the option to start your own contracting business.
✓Intellectually engaging work that involves reading blueprints, solving problems, and understanding electrical theory — not just brute labor.

Cons

✗The 4-5 year apprenticeship is a real commitment, and apprentice pay in year one can be tight, especially in high cost-of-living areas.
✗Electrical work carries genuine danger — arc flash, electrocution, and falls are real risks that demand constant attention to safety.
✗The work can be physically awkward — crawling through attics, working in tight crawl spaces, pulling wire through walls overhead for hours.
✗Licensing exams are demanding and require significant study of the National Electrical Code, which changes every three years.
✗Residential work can mean long drives between job sites and dealing directly with homeowners who may have unrealistic expectations.

What the Life Is Like

Most electricians work a standard 40-hour week, though overtime is common on commercial and industrial projects with tight deadlines. Your day typically starts early — 6 or 7 AM on job sites — and involves a mix of physical installation work and problem-solving. You might spend a morning running conduit and pulling wire, then spend the afternoon troubleshooting a panel issue that requires careful diagnosis.

The work environment varies hugely depending on your specialization. Residential electricians often work alone or in small crews, driving between houses and apartments. Commercial electricians work on larger crews in new construction or renovation projects — office buildings, hospitals, schools. Industrial electricians may work in factories or power plants, maintaining complex control systems and motor circuits. The culture tends to be straightforward and no-nonsense, with a strong emphasis on safety and doing things by code.

Physically, the job is moderate compared to some trades. You are not hauling concrete, but you will spend time on your feet, climbing ladders, working overhead, and occasionally muscling heavy wire or panels into place. Your hands and fingers take a beating over time. Most electricians say the mental challenge is what keeps them engaged — every building is a puzzle, and the code is always evolving.

How to Get Started

Get your high school diploma or GED

A diploma is required for virtually all apprenticeship programs. Focus on algebra, trigonometry, and physics if you are still in school — these directly apply to electrical calculations.

Research apprenticeship programs in your area

Look into your local IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) joint apprenticeship programs, as well as non-union apprenticeships through ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) or independent electrical contractors. IBEW programs are competitive but offer the best wages and benefits during training.

Apply to apprenticeship programs

Most programs accept applications once or twice a year. You will typically take an aptitude test (algebra and reading comprehension), interview with a committee, and may need to show a valid driver's license. Apply to multiple programs to improve your odds.

Consider pre-apprenticeship training

If you are not accepted immediately, community college electrical technology courses or pre-apprenticeship programs can strengthen your application. Some programs specifically recruit women and people of color into the trades.

Complete your apprenticeship (4-5 years)

You will work full-time on job sites earning increasing wages while attending classroom instruction (typically one night a week or in blocks). You will log 8,000-10,000 hours of on-the-job training and complete around 576 hours of classroom instruction.

Pass your journeyman licensing exam

After completing your apprenticeship, you will sit for a state or local licensing exam based on the National Electrical Code. Study hard — the pass rate is not 100%. Once licensed, you can work independently and eventually pursue a master electrician license.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

Electrician licensing varies widely by state. Some states conduct background checks and may deny for certain felonies. Check your state's electrical licensing board.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026