First-year apprentice pay by local (2026)
Base hourly rate for a first-period inside wireman apprentice. “With benefits” adds what the employer pays per hour into health, pension and training, where the source lists it. The yearly figure assumes about 2,000 work hours.
| Local | Area | First period | With benefits | Final period | Rates good through |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 332 | Santa Clara County (San Jose) | $42.99/hrabout $86k a year | $65.44/hr | $85.98/hr | May 31, 2027 |
| Local 595 | Alameda County (East Bay) | $31.70/hrabout $63k a year | $57.22/hr | $63.40/hr | May 31, 2027 |
| Local 103 | Boston | $27.51/hrabout $55k a year | Not listed | Not listed | From Sep 1, 2026 |
| Local 48 | Portland and SW Washington | $26.20/hrabout $52k a year | Not listed | $55.68/hr | From Jan 1, 2026 |
| Local 11 | Los Angeles County | $26.00/hrabout $52k a year | $43.88/hr | $55.25/hr | June 30, 2026 (new contract pending) |
| Local 441 | Orange County | $25.10/hrabout $50k a year | $35.64/hr | $53.35/hr | Dec 27, 2026 |
| Local 569 | San Diego and Imperial counties | $23.58/hrabout $47k a year | $35.15/hr | $48.34/hr | Jan 3, 2027 |
| Local 440 | Riverside County | $22.90/hrabout $46k a year | $35.58/hr | $48.67/hr | Nov 30, 2026 |
| Local 716 | Houston | $17.33/hrabout $35k a year | Not listed | Not listed | Current posting |
California rates are the state's published rates for registered inside wireman apprentices. In Los Angeles they match Local 11's own wage sheet to the cent. Local 11's 2026–2031 agreement, if ratified, adds $2.20 an hour to the journeyman package from July 27, 2026 ($2.00 of it to wages), and apprentice rates follow as a percentage.
How apprentice pay rises
Apprentice pay is a percentage of the journeyman rate that steps up each period. Los Angeles shows the usual pattern: the first period is 40% and the second 45%, and the ten 6-month periods climb from $26.00 to $55.25 an hour, which is 85% of the $65.00 journeyman rate.
- Time-based steps: most California programs move you up every 6 months.
- Hour-based steps: Riverside moves you up after 2,000 hours in the first period, then every 1,500 hours. Portland goes 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 85% over 8,000 hours.
- School counts: raises usually require passing your classes as well as logging hours.
- Benefits jump too: in Los Angeles the package goes from $43.88 to $60.64 an hour between the second and third periods.
What you pay for
Union apprenticeships usually charge no tuition, but expect costs for books and tools. San Jose estimates about $430 a year for books and $500 for tools. Boston estimates about $1,200 a year for books and apprentice fees. Application fees run $40 to $125 at the programs we track.
Your local isn't listed?
Many locals don't post apprentice rates publicly. Ask the training center for the current inside wireman wage sheet, which lists the journeyman rate and the percentage for each period. Multiply the two to get your hourly rate. We add locals here as we verify them; see every program we track.