Industrial Electrician
Trades/Construction · $62,350 median · 208–260 weeks training · Structurally ineligible for Workforce Pell
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Entry electrician helpers $32-40K
- IBEW apprentices paid scaled progression during 4-5 year program ($18-22/hr year 1 to $32-42/hr year 4)
- Journey electricians at IBEW Locals $70-95K with pension and benefits
- Industrial control specialists and PLC/automation programmers $85-115K+
- Senior industrial electrician at petrochemical/semiconductor sites $95-130K with significant overtime
- Foreman $90-120K
- Contractor-owner highly variable but $120-300K+ for established commercial operations. IBEW union markets pay materially more than non-union (typically 25-40% wage premium plus benefits). Industrial work (manufacturing, refineries, data centers) pays more than residential. Geographic premium in HI, NY, CA, MA, IL markets.
Workforce Pell eligibility
Not eligible for Workforce Pell
Training
Ways in
Paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom hours — you get a wage from day one instead of paying tuition.
Common sponsors: IBEW, ABC, IEC
An associate degree or certificate — usually the fastest accredited credential, far cheaper than a four-year school, and often Workforce Pell–eligible.
Credentials you'll earnwith typical prep time
Journeyman Electrician License
State licensure board (varies by state)
OSHA 10 (Construction)
OSHA-authorized trainer
Cost vs. payoff
Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $0–$15,000
- Time to start earning
- ~208 weeks
- Pays for itself in
- about 3 months
- Typical debt
- ~$30,000
- Time to start earning
- ~4 years
- Pays for itself in
- varies widely
We're not anti-college — for many careers a degree is the right call. But the honest gap is real: this path starts paying while a 4-year student is still accumulating cost. Degree figures are a national reference (average borrower debt ~$29–38K; sources vary), not a guarantee for any specific school or major.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Find an apprenticeship
Apply to a registered apprenticeship — you earn a paycheck from day one while you train, instead of paying tuition.
- 2
Earn your first credential
Study for and pass the Journeyman Electrician License.
- 3
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
Apprentice Electrician
Entry$45,000Entry; 4-5 year structured program at IBEW Locals; non-union pathway via direct employer also viable
Training: IBEW Local apprenticeship application (NJATC entrance exam + interview) OR pre-apprenticeship via NCCER Core
Journey Electrician
Year 5$72,000Full journey status; IBEW Local wage scale typically $32-42/hr + pension + healthcare benefits
Training: IBEW apprenticeship completion + journey exam + state license
Industrial Control Specialist / Foreman
Year 10$95,000Industrial control specialty (PLC programming, BMS/SCADA) OR foreman supervisory track; both lead to senior positions
Training: PLC/automation specialty (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) OR leadership development + advanced electrical depth
Master Electrician / Contractor Owner
Year 15$150,000Ceiling tier; significant wealth-building via established commercial contractor operations
Training: Master electrician license + business operations + state contractor license
State licensure
Data limitations
- • Individual Local application windows not directly verified
- • BLS OEWS May 2025 data not yet integrated into this record
- • Per-state licensure board URLs not populated
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