Apprenticeships
Mississippi.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
Active Apprentices by Trade
Mississippi · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 2,017 total
+6 additional trades not shown
BLS OEWS median across 4 metro areas in Mississippi. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
We haven't manually confirmed programs in Mississippi yet. See the DOL-registered programs below, or search Apprenticeship.gov.
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Mississippi with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 22 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Irby Construction Company Employer | Richland | ElectricianLaborer | 335 | non-union |
Entergy Mississippi Employer | Clinton | Other Construction | 308 | UNION |
GULFPORT ELECTRICIANS JATC | Gulfport | Electrician | 232 | UNION |
Chain Electric Company | Hattiesburg | Other Construction | 204 | non-union |
Ingalls Electrician (Ship) JATC | PASCAGOULA | Electrician | 198 | UNION |
JACKSON ELECTRICIANS JATC Union/Labor | BYRAM | Electrician | 121 | UNION |
Meridian Electricians' Area JATC Union/Labor | MERIDIAN | Electrician | 112 | UNION |
BUILD MISSISSIPPI (MCEF Mississippi Construction Education Foundation) | Pearl | ElectricianSheet Metal WorkerHVAC Technician+2 | 109 | non-union |
MDR Construction | Columbia | Electrician | 89 | non-union |
Vicksburg Plumbers and Pipe Fitters | VICKSBURG | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 86 | UNION |
Ingalls Pipefitter JATC Employer | PASCAGOULA | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 72 | UNION |
Ingalls Painter JATC Employer | PASCAGOULA | Painter/Finisher | 66 | UNION |
Southern Electric Corporation Business Association | Flowood | Electrician | 55 | non-union |
Corinth Tupelo, JATC Union/Labor | Corinth | Electrician | 51 | UNION |
Ingalls Sheetmetal JATC Employer | PASCAGOULA | Sheet Metal Worker | 51 | UNION |
East Mississippi Community College | Columbus | ElectricianLaborerOperating Engineer | 46 | non-union |
Gulfship,LLC | Gulfport | Pipefitter/SteamfitterElectrician | 38 | non-union |
INGALLS Joiner JATC Employer | PASCAGOULA | Carpenter | 33 | UNION |
Mississippi Rural Water Association Other | Pearl | Other Construction | 32 | non-union |
Shackelford Construction & Hauling LLC | Yazoo City | Operating Engineer | 27 | non-union |
Gulfport Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC | Saucier | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 26 | UNION |
Ingalls Carpenter, Ship Employer | Pascagoula | Carpenter | 15 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Mississippi may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Mississippi?
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 Mississippi 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.
Mississippi Licensing
Mississippi is a right-to-work state. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses specialty contractors including electricians, plumbers, HVACR contractors, and mechanical contractors. Both commercial and residential licensing flows through the MSBOC.