OPENABCRELOCATION OK
SEMCA (Detroit area, ABC Michigan)
Sterling Heights, MI · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$16–$22/hr
Journeyman
$34–$44/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
Apprenticeships
Michigan.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
16,341
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Michigan · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 16,341 total
Electrician
4,302 apprentices$20.59/hr avg start
Laborer
4,242 apprentices$16.66/hr avg start
Carpenter
1,960 apprentices$20.31/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
1,671 apprentices$22.38/hr avg start
Other Construction
626 apprentices$26.50/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
605 apprentices$20.17/hr avg start
Plumber
507 apprentices$20.15/hr avg start
Roofer
499 apprentices$17.66/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$20.59/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$16.66/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$20.31/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$22.38/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Michigan · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$34.84/hr
~$72K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$36.76/hr
~$76K/yr
HVAC Techs
$29.21/hr
~$61K/yr
Line Installers
$50.1/hr
~$104K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 16 metro areas in Michigan. 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. Michigan has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Michigan with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LIUNA Training of Michigan Union/Labor | Perry | Laborer | 4,350 | UNION |
Michigan Statewide Carpenters & Millwrights JATF Union/Labor | Detroit | Carpenter | 2,676 | UNION |
FORD MOTOR CO. | Lincoln Park | ElectricianPipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber+1 | 1,047 | UNION |
Detroit Electrical JATC None | WARREN | Electrician | 776 | UNION |
OPERATING ENGINEERS LU 324 JATF | HOWELL | Operating EngineerHVAC Technician | 499 | UNION |
Michigan Trowel Trades Apprenticeship and Training Fund Union/Labor | Warren | Bricklayer/MasonPainter/Finisher | 490 | UNION |
Iron Workers Local 25 Training Center | WIXOM | Ironworker | 457 | UNION |
Chrysler-UAW Technology Training Center | Auburn Hills | PlumberElectricianSheet Metal Worker+1 | 418 | UNION |
Consumers Energy and Michigan State Utility Workers Council Employer | Marshall | Electrician | 378 | UNION |
Detroit Pipefitters | TROY | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 271 | UNION |
Saginaw Pipe Trades JAC Union/Labor | SAGINAW | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 244 | UNION |
ROOFING CONTRACTOR'S JAC | HOWELL | Roofer | 244 | UNION |
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union No 333 JATC Union/Labor | Lansing | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 244 | UNION |
West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters & Service Trades Union/Labor | Coopersville | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 224 | UNION |
The Finishing Trades Institute of the Great Lakes | Warren | GlazierPainter/Finisher | 224 | UNION |
(MWA) Networks Northwest City/County Agency | Traverse City | LaborerElectricianCarpenter+2 | 221 | non-union |
Lansing Area Electrical JATC Union/Labor | Lansing | Electrician | 220 | UNION |
Detroit Roofers | OAK PARK | Roofer | 202 | UNION |
SHEET METAL WORKERS LU 80 JAC | Warren | Sheet Metal Worker | 195 | UNION |
METRO DETROIT PLUMBING INDUSTRY | TROY | Plumber | 193 | UNION |
IBEW Local 17 Joint LCTT | Southfield | Other Construction | 177 | UNION |
Ann Arbor Electrical JATC Union/Labor | Chelsea | Electrician | 167 | UNION |
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 357 Union/Labor | Schoolcraft | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 159 | UNION |
(MWA) West Michigan Works! - Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Investment Board | Grand Rapids | Electrician | 152 | non-union |
(MWA) SEMCA / WIN Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan Workforce Investment Board | Taylor | Pipefitter/SteamfitterElectricianSheet Metal Worker+2 | 144 | non-union |
(MWA) West Michigan Works! - Construction Workforce Investment Board | Grand Rapids | ElectricianGlazierPainter/Finisher+4 | 137 | non-union |
Flint Plumbers JATC Union/Labor | Fenton | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 134 | UNION |
Flint Electrical JATC | FLINT | Electrician | 125 | UNION |
Feyen Zylstra Employer | Grand Rapids | Electrician | 124 | non-union |
Jackson Area Manufacturers Association (JAMA) | Jackson | ElectricianPlumberHVAC Technician | 122 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Michigan may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Michigan?
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 Michigan 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.
Michigan Licensing
Michigan LARA handles licensing for electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors, and builders. Strong union presence in southeast Michigan. Michigan repealed its right-to-work law effective February 13, 2024, becoming the first state in nearly six decades to do so.