OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
ETI Indianapolis (IBEW 481)
IBEW Local 481
Indianapolis, IN · Inside Wireman Electrician / Telecom
Year 1 wage
$17–$21/hr
Journeyman
$36–$46/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $35 fee
Apprenticeships
Indiana.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
17,760
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Indiana · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 17,760 total
Electrician
5,189 apprentices$19.19/hr avg start
Plumber
3,552 apprentices$21.21/hr avg start
Carpenter
2,201 apprentices$23.01/hr avg start
Laborer
1,923 apprentices$22.99/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
880 apprentices$22.86/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
866 apprentices$27.02/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
736 apprentices$21.83/hr avg start
Ironworker
626 apprentices$24.18/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$19.19/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$21.21/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$23.01/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$22.99/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Indiana · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$35.31/hr
~$73K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$37.94/hr
~$79K/yr
HVAC Techs
$29.27/hr
~$61K/yr
Line Installers
$48.44/hr
~$101K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 15 metro areas in Indiana. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
1 manually verified. Indiana has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Indiana with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC Apprenticeship Trust (Indiana/Kentucky) | Indianapolis | Bricklayer/MasonOperating EngineerPipefitter/Steamfitter+9 | 2,788 | non-union |
IN LABORERS Other | Bedford | Laborer | 1,980 | UNION |
Electrical Training Institute | Indianapolis | Electrician | 1,036 | UNION |
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters JATF-Greenwood Other | Greenwood | Carpenter | 984 | UNION |
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters JATF-Merrillville Other | Merrillville | Carpenter | 765 | UNION |
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters JATF-Grayson Other | Grayson | Carpenter | 746 | UNION |
SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 20 APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING TRUST Other | Indianapolis | Sheet Metal Worker | 715 | UNION |
INDIANAPOLIS PLUMBERS & STEAMFITTERS J.A.T.C. (UA Local 440) Other | Indianapolis | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 696 | UNION |
FTI OF DC 91 Other | INDIANAPOLIS | Painter/FinisherGlazier | 654 | UNION |
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters JATF-Newburgh | Newburgh | Carpenter | 480 | UNION |
Terre Haute Plumbers/Steamfitters Local 157 JATC Other | TERRE HAUTE | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 408 | UNION |
IEC-CENTRAL INDIANA I.E.C., INC. Business Association | Indianapolis | Electrician | 395 | non-union |
Evansville Plumbers & Steamfitters | Evansville | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 394 | UNION |
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters JATF-Warsaw Other | Warsaw | Carpenter | 380 | UNION |
South Bend & Vicinity Electrical J.A.T.C. Other | SOUTH BEND | Electrician | 359 | UNION |
Plumbers and Steamfitters 166 J.A.T.C. Other | FORT WAYNE | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 339 | UNION |
BAC 4 IN/KY APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING PROGRAM Other | Valparaiso | Bricklayer/Mason | 266 | UNION |
CENTRAL INDIANA IRONWORKERS JAC Other | Indianapolis | Ironworker | 257 | UNION |
LAKE COUNTY ELECTRICIANS J.A.T.C. Other | Merrillville | Electrician | 257 | UNION |
Evansville Electrical JATC Other | Evansville | Electrician | 237 | UNION |
Indiana Plan | Indianapolis | Laborer | 229 | non-union |
Terre Haute Electrical JATC Other | Terre Haute | Electrician | 228 | UNION |
I.U.O.E. LOCAL #103 Apprenticeship & Training Program J.A.C. Other | Anderson | Operating Engineer | 211 | UNION |
Operating Engineers Local 841 | Clinton | Operating Engineer | 195 | UNION |
South Bend & Vicinity Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 172 JATC Union/Labor | SOUTH BEND | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumberHVAC Technician | 166 | UNION |
Electrical JATC of Northern Indiana Other | MICHIGAN CITY | Electrician | 154 | UNION |
INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION | Indianapolis | Electrician | 152 | UNION |
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE A.T.C. Intermediary | Indianapolis | ElectricianOperating Engineer | 151 | non-union |
Dilling Group Inc. Employer | Logansport | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician+1 | 148 | non-union |
Amcor | Evansville | Electrician | 139 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Indiana may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Indiana?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Indiana free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Indiana Licensing
Indiana is a right-to-work state (since 2012). Plumbing is licensed at the state level through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). Electrical and HVAC licensing is primarily handled at the city and county level, with no statewide individual electrician or HVAC license.