OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
Raleigh-Durham JATC (IBEW 553)
IBEW Local 553
Raleigh, NC · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$19–$20/hr
Journeyman
$33–$42/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
North Carolina.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
1,792
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
North Carolina · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 1,792 total
Electrician
880 apprentices$15.66/hr avg start
Laborer
193 apprentices$19.80/hr avg start
Other Construction
115 apprentices$16.30/hr avg start
Plumber
110 apprentices$16.02/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
98 apprentices$18.01/hr avg start
Carpenter
92 apprentices$18.28/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
66 apprentices$17.76/hr avg start
Elevator Constructor
61 apprentices$21.97/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$15.66/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$19.80/hr
avg starting wage
Other Construction
$16.30/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$16.02/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in North Carolina · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$26.52/hr
~$55K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$26.73/hr
~$56K/yr
HVAC Techs
$26.44/hr
~$55K/yr
Line Installers
$35.87/hr
~$75K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 16 metro areas in North Carolina. 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. North Carolina has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in North Carolina with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pike Enterprises, LLC | Mt Airy | Other Construction | 1,079 | non-union |
Fort Bragg Education Center | Fort Bragg | Bricklayer/MasonElectricianOperating Engineer+4 | 539 | non-union |
Charlotte Electrical JATC | Charlotte | Other Construction | 351 | UNION |
Mechanical Trades Carolina | Concord | HVAC TechnicianPlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 342 | UNION |
NC Association of Electrical Contractors,Inc. | Greensboro | Electrician | 182 | non-union |
CFCC Apprenticeship Program | Castle Hayne | GlazierElectricianHVAC Technician+1 | 174 | non-union |
Duke Energy Progress - Distribution | Raleigh | Other Construction | 162 | non-union |
MB Haynes Corporation | Asheville | ElectricianHVAC TechnicianPlumber+1 | 156 | non-union |
Duke Energy - Power Delivery Carolinas | Charlotte | Electrician | 151 | non-union |
(Skilled Trade) Wake Tech Community College | Raleigh | ElectricianHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 149 | non-union |
Apprenticeship Blue Ridge | Flat Rock | ElectricianLaborer | 136 | non-union |
ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc. | Raleigh | Line Worker | 135 | non-union |
Nutrien | Aurora | Operating EngineerElectrician | 115 | non-union |
Gaston College-Apprenticeship 321 | Gastonia | Electrician | 114 | non-union |
Carolinas Electrical JATC | Greensboro | Electrician | 112 | UNION |
Work for Warriors NC | Raleigh | HVAC TechnicianOperating EngineerPlumber+1 | 111 | non-union |
Local 80 Elevator Constructors JAC | Garner | Elevator Constructor | 105 | UNION |
Carolina Power and Signalization, LLC | Fayetteville | Electrician | 104 | non-union |
Lee Electrical Construction, LLC | Aberdeen | Electrician | 94 | non-union |
Surry-Yadkin Works | Dobson | HVAC Technician | 88 | non-union |
Southeastern Solar Contractors Association | Monroe | Other Construction | 87 | non-union |
City of Charlotte | Charlotte | PlumberElectricianHVAC Technician+1 | 72 | non-union |
Spec Personnel, LLC. | Chapel Hill | Laborer | 71 | non-union |
Evergreen Innovation Group (EIG) | Durham | Electrician | 70 | non-union |
RALEIGH DURHAM ELECTRICAL JATC | RTP | Electrician | 66 | UNION |
NCMCA | Mt. Pleasant | Bricklayer/Mason | 61 | UNION |
Fountain Electric Services, LLC | Spindale | Electrician | 61 | non-union |
ABC of the Carolinas, Inc. | Charlotte | PlumberElectricianSprinkler Fitter+4 | 59 | non-union |
Machine Specialties Inc. | Whitsett | Other Construction | 58 | non-union |
Starr Electric Company, Inc. | Greensboro | Electrician | 58 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in North Carolina may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina 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.
North Carolina Licensing
North Carolina has separate boards for electricians (NCBEEC), plumbing/HVAC (NCBEEC for plumbing, NCBEC for HVAC), and general contractors. Multiple license tiers per trade.
Plumbing/Heating/Fire Sprinkler
NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
Board website →