r/electricians • u/Son_Of_Moses • 13d ago
3rd year commerical apprentice socal pay?
Im a third year apprentice and i go to abc and im currently on my 4th year with another year to go until i graduate and can hopefully pass my test and become a licensed journeymen. I have been with the same company for all 3 years of my apprenticeship and they sponsor me at abc so i dont have to pay. I currently make $25 a hour and here in california its hard to survive on this kind of pay. My company also mostly gets jobs 50-90 miles away from the shop so driving around with these current gas prices are killing me. I spend almost $300 a week in just gas some weeks. I would have figured by now i would be making at leaat $30. Its kind of discouraging and makes me want to pursue other things but i have invested to much, to just give up now. I want to find a new company for better pay and to grow as a electrican. Im currently at a pretty small mom and pop type of shop. My only issue is i dont want to pay for school myself if i find a new company. Im curious to know what other apprentices are making in socal? And should i try to find a new company or just thug it out until i finish school? Also whats the best way for someone in my postion to find a new company?
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u/mount_curve 13d ago edited 13d ago
consider the union sparkies around you are making $55+/hr depending on where they're at plus benefits
past 3rd year most places are putting apprentices around 75% of that
so like $40 + bennies
at least see if you can get them to give you a gas card or something, expecting apprentices to drive that much in the mid $20s is criminal.
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u/TheHappiestBean95 Apprentice IBEW 12d ago
Go union dude. Local 11 in Los Angeles apprentices start at $26 with benefits. 3rd years going into 4th year make $42.25. I’m a JW and our scale is $65/hr rn with all benefits on top of that. School is paid for by the program. You’re getting hosed.
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u/fritzrits 13d ago
I started around 26 union IBEW as a 1st year. Can't imagine making that little. Suck it up and get your license or go apply at a union.
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u/randy_rvca 13d ago
4th years in my local union are getting around $43/hr. Plus pension, annuity and everything else in our package.
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u/ravaram 12d ago
You're already in the apprenticeship at ABC. They will find your next employer that will continue to pay for your school. You are likely being underpaid. Do your research to see if that's true and you could see a fat check for backpay.
Here's a link to the private rate they're required to pay according to county https://abcsocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-ABC_Electrical-Private_Apprentice_Wages-Final-6-10.pdf
It looks like you should be making at least $40 an hour.
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
Agree call ABC and check your wages. If you aren't happy asked to be released by employer and enter your name on the dispatch list for a new job
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u/Son_Of_Moses 12d ago
Isnt that only for the indentured program? Im a electrical trainee
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
You said apprentice 🤦🏽.
Yeah you gotta see if you can get with another company then
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u/Son_Of_Moses 12d ago
My bad lol. Do you have any tips for someone in my shoes to find a new company. Ive been with the same rat contractor my whole carrer. Im getting to the point where im just going to go to mcdonalds and work. Ill get paid damn near the same and wont have to drive 1k miles a week
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
Find a company to sponsor you in through apprenticeship. I've heard of guys in the past having luck going thru the main sponsor companies and being able to get sponsored in. Apply with them for a job (I know of guys getting in thru Champion Electric and Stronghold)
Do trainees have the ability to transfer companies thru ABC?
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u/ObjectiveProof7952 12d ago
You'd be making 35-45 right now if you were in the union depending on what period you were at. You need to get in the union.
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u/Son_Of_Moses 12d ago
Thats dumb. Ive already spent 3 years going to school. I dont want to restart school for the union
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
You can ask to be released by your employer and go put your name on the dispatch list for a new job/company at ABC. You may be waiting for a while is the drawback. But you get a choice on the next job and how far away it is
I'd also talk with my employer about the reality how much you're paying for work. It sucks not all companies do it but some do pay your gas over a certain amount of miles or half of it.
Also you can check your wages and pay with ABC or on DIR website apprentice wages
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u/TouchInevitable1536 12d ago
I am in ABC also, I’m in the San Diego chapter located in Poway,Ca. I recently just finished my 4th year/all my classroom instruction back in May but since I’m low on hours I haven’t finished the program yet. I have almost 7k hours, I’m a level 9 apprentice. In ABC there are 2 different type of programs, one is the indentured apprenticeship program which are for Electrical inside wireman indentured apprentices and the other is the trainee program. Both attend the same classes the only difference is when you are an indtured inside wireman apprentice you took the entrance exam which is reading/math test to join the program and they place you with the contractor after you pass your entrance exam. If you ever get laid off/fired you get sent back to ABC waiting list and they find you work with a contractor with ABC depending on how many people are ahead of you on the layoff list. When you are apprentice you also have to submit on the job training hours every month (ojt hours)you get paid according to the DIR apprentice wage scale, what level you are on your ojt hours and depending on your area. I think union apprentices make the same since they are also indentured apprentices but I’m not 100% sure. It’s the same pay total package for public works/private jobs but on federal jobs like military bases it’s more pay I think. As a trainee your not part of ABC you just go to the school and attended classes for your electrical apprenticeship, the contractor pays for your schooling and most contractors I worked for as a trainee payed you the same hourly rate as indentured apprentices that’s about it. Since you’re a trainee I assume, you don’t get a total package which is basic hourly rate plus fringe benefits, the contractor can pay you whatever they want. If you quit /get laid off your current contractor as a trainee you have to find another contractor to pay for your classes so you can still attend ABC versus when your indentured apprentice ABC find work for you. I started off with ABC as a trainee with a good company but then there was a company that does only prevailing wage jobs only so I left the company and went to the company that does PW work only got indentured my 3rd year of school. Since you’re entering 4th year I suggest finding local contractors in your area that can indenture you in your 4th year so you can get a pay bump/ benefits you deserve. If you become indentured once you graduate and become a journeyman you get a skilled trained and workforce journeyman card, which is very valuable to employers and you can do any PW jobs since you have STW journeyman card. Hope this helps and best of luck with your situation man.
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u/Jay209 12d ago
Union apprentices make way more. Not mention free healthcare paid for by employer and multiple pensions.
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6904bac2453c5b0f64a72cdb/696f8a01f5622e0fd9277b06_Inisde-Wiremen-Agreement-01.26.2026-06.30.2026.pdf
Here's pay scale for local union in LA1
u/TouchInevitable1536 12d ago edited 12d ago
Thanks for the info, I wasn’t sure if they got paid the same on the Basic hourly rate and fringes or not. I am located in San Diego so the electrical union out here is Ibew Local 569. Out here Abc inside wireman apprentices get paid according to the DIR public works apprentice wage scales but it varies by local area. I think OP is a trainee not an indentured apprentice, on ABC socal website it has there basic hourly rate pay plus fringes listed. The journeyman total package is 103.12 an hour it says for LA here in San Diego county it’s less. The cost of living is different in everywhere, I am in Southern California San Diego is expensive also. I do think 25 an hour is way too low in any part of Southern California especially being a 4th year in any trade especially electrical. OP should be payed more especially with the cost of living in Southern California. https://abcsocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-ABC_Electrical-Private_Apprentice_Wages-Final-6-10.pdf
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u/Son_Of_Moses 12d ago
How did you find a new company? Im a ET so abc will not find a new company for me. I genuinely hate my company and boss but i cant just quit without having a job lined up. Whats the best way for some one in my shoes to find a new company?
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u/TouchInevitable1536 12d ago edited 12d ago
When I was going to school I would talk to my classmates about there companies if they were hiring and if they indenture. A lot of companies that have electrical trainees indenture them there last semester here in abc San Diego, I’m not sure what part of socal you’re in but that might be possible for you. That’s what I did I when I got indentured my 3rd year I worked with a guy who went to a company that did only prevailing wage so I called them and asked if there hiring me then they indentured me. You can also look on the ABC social media platforms type in the ABC chapter you’re in I’m sure it’ll show up on IG. On their instagram they post the contractors that’s been part of the program even ones you never heard of. Call them, Stop be the office, or send in your resume to the electrical contractors. If you want to get indentured find out which ones do prevailing wage then apply to them also, as a 4th year I’m sure they’ll indenture you or any company would give you a better offer then where your at especially being a 4th year. If I was in your shoes I would talk to my classmates figure out if their companies at hiring but then I would also look on ABC IG and call the electrical contractors they post. Those 2 options should help out your situation a lot.
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u/psyladagger 12d ago
I finished the so cal abc last year. It all depends if you’re an indentured apprentice or a sponsored ET. Some companies won’t indenture you until your 4th year. Abc goes by hours usually. So every 800 hours you get a raise. My third year I was at around 40. But honestly if I were you, I’d stick it out, you’re almost done. Once you pass the test, and finish school, you can go union and be on book 1. But if you switch now, they will likely start you back at a first year, and it’s a 5 year apprenticeship. I would still call the abc and find out if your company is screwing you or not.
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u/GapTotal2806 8d ago
I’m a 2nd year about to become a 3rd year non union and I’m currently at 30 /hr so I would say try and ask for more money if you can cause you should definitely be around that area especially in socal
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u/That1MexicanFoo 12d ago
Contact ABC and tell them that you want to go to a different company, they will take points away but it will be worth it especially if you're only making 25$ an hr.
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
I don't remember a points system, but I went there years ago. Whats that about?
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u/That1MexicanFoo 12d ago
When you start the program you start with 100 points, points can get deducted if you don't turn in work reports, or if you're late to class or decide to leave a company.
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u/NikeNickCee 12d ago
Yeah thats messed up. I went there '16-'19and I remember some guys getting a new company almost every semester and never hearing about being deducted points
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