OPENUNION JATC
IBEW Local 5 JATC (Pittsburgh)
IBEW Local 5
Pittsburgh, PA · Inside Wireman / Commercial Electrician
Year 1 wage
$18–$22/hr
Journeyman
$38–$48/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $25 fee
Apprenticeships
Pennsylvania.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
10,272
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
2
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Pennsylvania · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 10,272 total
Electrician
2,961 apprentices$18.01/hr avg start
Carpenter
2,221 apprentices$21.21/hr avg start
Plumber
973 apprentices$20.05/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
835 apprentices$22.83/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
465 apprentices$22.74/hr avg start
Other Construction
446 apprentices$22.05/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
444 apprentices$23.23/hr avg start
Bricklayer/Mason
398 apprentices$24.37/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$18.01/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$21.21/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$20.05/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$22.83/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Pennsylvania · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$30.99/hr
~$64K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$30.54/hr
~$64K/yr
HVAC Techs
$29.09/hr
~$61K/yr
Line Installers
$48.22/hr
~$100K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 15 metro areas in Pennsylvania. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENS SOONNON-UNIONRELOCATION OK
IEC Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$15–$20/hr
Journeyman
$30–$42/hr
Deadline: 15 days (Jun 5, 2026)
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $100 fee
2 manually verified. Pennsylvania has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
KML Carpenters' Apprenticeship & Training Fund Union/Labor | PITTSBURGH | Carpenter | 1,314 | UNION |
Northeastern Joint Apprenticeship and Training | DOUGLASVILLE | Other Construction | 962 | UNION |
Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers | PHILADELPHIA | Carpenter | 924 | UNION |
(PITTS) ELECTRICIANS LOCAL 5 JATC | PITTSBURGH | Electrician | 556 | UNION |
KEYSTONE CHAPTER ABC, INC Business Association | MANHEIM | PlumberBricklayer/MasonLaborer+9 | 548 | non-union |
Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry Union/Labor | Philadelphia | Electrician | 469 | UNION |
Steamfitters Local Union No 449 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. Business Association | Harmony | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 401 | UNION |
(PITTS) WESTERN PA OPERATING ENGINEERS | NEW ALEXANDRIA | Operating Engineer | 314 | UNION |
Steamfitters Local Union 420 - JPATC | PHILADELPHIA | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 311 | UNION |
PA Assoc. of Plmbng Htg & Cooling Cntrctrs (PHCC) Business Association | Aston | Plumber | 307 | non-union |
CARPENTERS JATC OF GREATER PA-LEBANON CENTER | LEBANON | Carpenter | 297 | UNION |
(PHL) Roofers JAC (LU 30) | Philadelphia | Roofer | 275 | UNION |
THE FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE - MID ATLANTIC REGION | PHILADELPHIA | Painter/FinisherGlazier | 269 | UNION |
CENTRAL PA CHAPTER INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL CONTRACT | Harrisburg | Electrician | 240 | non-union |
Steamfitters Local Union 420 - JCB | PHILADELPHIA | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 239 | UNION |
FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE OF WESTERN PA (DC 57) J | CARNEGIE | Painter/FinisherGlazier | 222 | UNION |
(PHL) Elevator Constructors JAC (LU 5) Union/Labor | PHILADELPHIA | Elevator Constructor | 220 | UNION |
ABC of Western PA Business Association | Gibsonia | CarpenterElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter+6 | 203 | non-union |
EASTERN PA CHAPTER ABC (EAST NORRITON, PA) Other | HARLEYSVILLE | CarpenterRooferBricklayer/Mason+7 | 198 | non-union |
(PITTSBURGH) SHEET METAL WORKS | PITTSBURGH | Sheet Metal Worker | 191 | UNION |
SHEET METAL WRKRS JATF LU 19 OF PHL & VICINITY Union/Labor | PHILADELPHIA | Sheet Metal Worker | 183 | UNION |
(PITTS) IRON WORKERS LOCAL 3 JATC Union/Labor | Pittsburgh | Ironworker | 177 | UNION |
Bricklayers Local 9 JATC | PITTSBURGH | Bricklayer/Mason | 167 | UNION |
HARRISBURG PLUMBERS | HARRISBURG | Plumber | 157 | UNION |
(PHL) Bricklayers & Allied Crafts JAC (LU1) | PHILADELPHIA | Bricklayer/Mason | 153 | UNION |
(PHL) PLUMBERS | PHILADELPHIA | Plumber | 148 | UNION |
(PITTSBURGH) HEAVY HIGHWAY CARPENTERS JATC | Pittsburgh | Carpenter | 144 | UNION |
WILKES BARRE ELECTRICIANS Union/Labor | Nanticoke | Electrician | 133 | UNION |
(PITTSBURGH) PLUMBERS LOCAL 27 JATC | CORAOPOLIS | Plumber | 129 | UNION |
Western PA Boilermakers | PITTSBURGH | Boilermaker | 128 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Pennsylvania may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania Licensing
Pennsylvania has limited state-level trade licensing — most regulation happens at the municipal level. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have city licenses.