Becoming an electrician takes time, money and hard work, but it’s worth it! I worked for many years as a journeyman before ever becoming a full-fledged Union electrician. I know that when I’m on the job site or talking shop with another electrician, these are the things someone looks for in order to see if you have what it takes to be chosen for their projects:
Becoming a union electrician can be difficult. In this post we’ll cover how to become a union electrician, the tips and tricks you need to know to make it, and how to avoid becoming “union-ejected.”
How to become an electrician. No longer barred from non member work, today’s electricians find themselves in high demand. Union or non-union, if you’re thinking about a career in electrical work, learn the tips and tricks of how to become an electrician right here.
When people think of electrical power, many different thoughts race through their minds. However, until now you may not have given much thought to how the power you use every day is generated and maintained. That is where a career as an electrician can be of great value to the world, your community and your career goals.
How To Become A Union Electrician
Many career fields present professionals with the choice between joining a labor union or seeking employment with non-union organizations. This is certainly the case in the U.S. electrical industry where local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have become a popular choice for electricians seeking union employment. Whether you’re a prospective electrical professional looking to jumpstart your career or you’re an experienced electrician seeking a shift in your employment terms, you should consider the differences between union and non-union electricians. In this article, we outline what union and non-union electricians are and explain their key differences.
Related: What Is a Union?
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What is a union electrician?
A union electrician is a construction professional who belongs to a local chapter of a national or international labor or trade union, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The IBEW is the organization which oversees most local electrical unions within the United States. Unions like the IBEW typically train their electricians using professional and predetermined standards outlined by the National Electrical contractor’s Association (NECA) within apprenticeship programs. The IBEW union is a part of the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which is the largest federation of union organizations across the entire United States.
Unions are generally responsible for training and developing a highly skilled pool of electrical professionals, which are then employed by a variety of industry contractors. Like non-union electricians, union electricians are typically responsible for designing, installing and maintaining electrical wiring systems, but they may also specialize in certain areas of electrical work. Due to these industry specializations, there may be various locals within a single geographic region which focus on providing any of the following electrical services:
Telecommunications wiring
Residential electrical wiring
Industrial and commercial electrical installation
Related: 7 Types of Unions and How they Work
What is a non-union electrician?
A non-union electrician is a construction professional who is employed by a non-union shop, serves as an independent contractor or owns a non-union electrical business. Typically, non-union electricians are trained by external formal vocational institutions, like trade schools, or apprenticeships within specific contracting companies. In addition, they may seek training through apprenticeship programs with Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) or Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), the foremost non-union trade association groups in the United States. Both the ABC and the IEC sponsor apprenticeship programs for non-union electrical contracting companies and shops, which they work alongside.
The qualifications and skills of non-union electricians can vary widely as they may receive their training from multiple different trade associations and educational sources. Even so, non-union electricians are typically responsible for the same duties as union electricians, and their day-to-day duties may be nearly identical. With this, though, non-union electricians may have access to opportunities outside of those which unions offer to their professionals. This is especially the case in certain geographic regions where the IBEW doesn’t host local chapters, such as the southern U.S. where few unions have contracts.
Related: How to Become an Electrician
Differences between union and non-union electricians
There are a variety of factors which differentiate union electricians and non-union electricians from one another. Most electrical professionals take such factors into account when deciding whether they’d like to join their local union chapter or seek employment with a non-union shop. Here are the key differences between union and non-union electricians explained:
Salary
The national average salary for both union and non-union electricians is $55,122 per year, with the potential to earn approximately $8,109 in overtime. It is important to note, though, that this figure is the average of all salaries and may not accurately reflect the specific salaries of both union and non-union electricians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) 2020 news release about union members, non-union professionals typically have median weekly earnings that equate to only 84% of earnings that union members make (i.e. $958 per week vs. $1,144 per week).
This 16% difference is significant and means that, on average, union electricians may earn higher salaries than non-union electricians. This may be attributed to the fact that union representatives commonly negotiate pay rates which are then enforced by the AFL-CIO, creating an industry standard wage. This difference in salary can be particularly important for apprentices and lower-ranked journeyman electricians who may not ordinarily receive high salaries due to their limited training or experience. Non-union shops, comparatively, may vary widely in terms of their salaries as the general labor market and competition influence the standard rate of pay.
Related: How Much Does an Electrician Make? and Other Frequently Asked Questions
Job outlook and stability
According to the BLS, the job outlook for electricians is generally positive, with a projected increase in employment of 8% over the next 10 years from 2019 to 2029. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all occupations and can be applied to both union and non-union electricians. With this in mind, though, the job stability of union and non-union electricians can differ depending on your location, specialization and the economy. Since unions typically possess timeworn working relationships and have a majority presence in certain industries, they can sometimes offer more work to their members than non-union shops can.
This is particularly important during lulls in electrical work that often take place seasonally. While union electricians may not always have access to work, they usually have the ability to relocate and work in a different city or state when such lulls occur. Comparatively, non-union electricians may be more heavily impacted by seasonal slow downs, meaning they can sometimes experience challenges with temporary furlough while their employers attempt to secure more work opportunities.
Related: What Is an Electrician’s Journeyman?
Training and education
Both union and non-union electricians must undergo apprenticeship programs to develop the skills and competencies necessary to perform electrical roles. These apprenticeships typically combine classroom hours and on-the-job training so that professionals may earn their electrical journeyman license. Union apprenticeships, as mentioned above, are offered through a partnership with the IBEW and the NECA within the Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC). These apprenticeships are often cited as high-quality, rigorous development opportunities in which the union compensates professionals with standard wages.
It’s important to note, though, that it can be challenging to gain admission to union apprenticeship programs since unions have rigorous hiring expectations that can make the process competitive. Comparatively, non-union electricians may complete their apprenticeships through trade groups like the ABC or IEC. Many non-union shops may cover the costs of such training programs for professionals with limited education and experience, but to qualify for such opportunities, you may need to first pursue some formal technical training by earning a certificate or attending a trade school.
Related: 5 Ways To Secure a Union Job
Benefits
The benefits which union and non-union electricians receive as a part of their employment may differ. Union membership typically comes with a robust set of benefits, including guaranteed pensions, which allow union electricians to retire and collect regular monthly installments after completing a certain amount of time in their role. This is a very competitive benefit, as many employers have phased out pensions systematically across the U.S. workforce in recent years. In addition to a pension, union electricians can commonly expect to receive medical and dental benefits for themselves and their families.
Non-union electricians may be offered benefits plans through the shops which employ them, and such benefits may differ from employer to employer. Some non-union shops offer retirement plans where they match up to 10% of contributions that professionals make from their paychecks to 401K or Individual Retirement Account (IRA) plans. This gives non-union electricians more freedom to manage their retirement funds, but may offer less stability than pensions. Even so, non-union electricians are also typically offered some form of medical benefits, especially if they work for a shop with 50 or more employees.
