I think I want to be an electrician.

[Bfrancis]

Apologies in advance, this could be long.
First, me. At 36 I am on the old side to start something from scratch, but also too young to do something I don't like for 30 more years.
I have some relevant experience, mostly in a marine based environment working with generators, electronic instruments autopilots etc. Mostly DC systems. But I have pulled and connected a lot of wires and loved learning about it as I went. This went alongside working with all other aspects of engineering on the vessels.
I have also done light electrical work as maintenance at an apartment complex. Also bought a fixer upper house. My Father in Law who is an electrician and I. Replaced old glass fuse 100 Amp service with 200 Amp panel, and added or moved numerous circuits in the house. I have a basic understanding of electricity, I am confident I am bright enough to learn.
I love hands on work, I love learning and understanding almost anything of a technical nature. Currently my career is slightly off track. I really thought I wanted to be a small business owner. And bought into a franchised cleaning company. I can't stand it. The work is mindless and in order to succeed I will need a few crews and a lot of customers. It really is a sales and marketing business, not my thing.
I have been looking at other options, I think being an electrician really could be what I'm looking for. Here are my thoughts, tell me where I am wrong.
It would take me 4 years of training whilst working to secure an invaluable skill which has a great jobs forecast and will likely be in demand for a long time into the future.
There are three routes to becoming a Journeyman.

1. Get an entry level job in the field and attend school.
2. Apprenticeship through local union.
3. Apprenticeship through local company which is affiliated with IEC

I am in Savannah GA, all the above options exist in town.
This takes 4 years ? Should be able to start around $13/hr ?
Is this wage likely to remain stagnant for 4 years or does a year 3 apprentice make more than a year 1 ?
Do I have to stay with the same company or union for the whole 4 years, or if something went wrong is it possible to get hired as a "2nd year apprentice" and keep going where I left off ?
Once journeyman status is reached, it seems to me that there is wealth of choices or areas to specialise in. Marine, industrial, residential, construction, maintenance, low voltage, work for big company, small company, self employment. My point being that if for any reason I find my self unhappy or want to change. There are jobs that are a lot different in the same industry. Given that I will likely be 41 before I become a journeyman I will need to start thinking about the areas which take less of a physical toll, electrical work seems better in this regard that other skilled trades. I'm not saying I want a desk job I like physical work.
There is potential in our future that we may move, it seems like a journeyman or apprentice who is really progressing well can find work in most states quite easily.
These are my pre conceptions from a night with google. I am wrong on any points ? Any important points I might have missed ?
All assumptions can be based on the fact that I know how to act professionally, am mentally, financially and martially stable. I fully subscribe to the show up early, leave late, be positive and work hard with ears open and mouth shut school of getting ahead.
Thanks for reading.

 

[petersonra]

construction work is tough on the body and that is what a lot of electricians do. as an apprentice, you will be expected to do whatever is needed, and that generally involves the more unpleasant tasks. at 36 YO, maybe you will not want to be doing that. the work tends to be kind of spotty as well.

these days apprentices spend a fair amount of time in school. you may find that your arithmetic skills need some serious brushing up.

i am not one to discourage you from doing what you really want to do but if you think this is a panacea, you are probably going to be disappointed. best bet is to go talk to the local IBEW business agent and see what it takes to get into their apprenticeship program. My understanding is that the requirements to get in are not all that easy to get past and that many people just don't make the cut.

i was told by one IBEW instructor that only about 10% of those who apply get into their program.

 

[K8MHZ]

I was 39 when I started as a first year apprentice in the IBEW. I finished top in my class of 40. Work was great all through the apprenticeship and then the bottom fell out.

Nonetheless, since I didn't finish college, I don't regret my decision one bit. I don't know if I would recommend what I did to everyone, but I really enjoyed the schooling and mentoring I got during my apprenticeship.

 

[K8MHZ]

construction work is tough on the body and that is what a lot of electricians do. as an apprentice, you will be expected to do whatever is needed, and that generally involves the more unpleasant tasks. at 36 YO, maybe you will not want to be doing that. the work tends to be kind of spotty as well.

these days apprentices spend a fair amount of time in school. you may find that your arithmetic skills need some serious brushing up.

i am not one to discourage you from doing what you really want to do but if you think this is a panacea, you are probably going to be disappointed. best bet is to go talk to the local IBEW business agent and see what it takes to get into their apprenticeship program. My understanding is that the requirements to get in are not all that easy to get past and that many people just don't make the cut.

i was told by one IBEW instructor that only about 10% of those who apply get into their program.

Right now the way our local works is that there are only a limited amount of openings available and more applicants than openings. So a test is given to all, and the highest grades get the open seats. I think the test is most or all math.

 

[Besoeker]

Apologies in advance, this could be long.

I've truncated your post simply because, being from a different country, I can't advise on content.
But one simple suggestion about your post if I may.
Put in some paragraph breaks. A solid block of text isn't always easy to read - especially for old duffers like me.

 

[Smart $]

...
This takes 4 years ? Should be able to start around $13/hr ?
Is this wage likely to remain stagnant for 4 years or does a year 3 apprentice make more than a year 1 ?
Do I have to stay with the same company or union for the whole 4 years, or if something went wrong is it possible to get hired as a "2nd year apprentice" and keep going where I left off ?

Can't speak for IEC, but in most union locals you will receive a pay increase each year of apprenticeship. JIW rate is about $23 in your area. Locals, in cooperation with affiliated contractors, will assign you a contractor, and likely rotate you to different contractors to broaden your experience. Unless work is slow that there is little work for the majority of local journeyman, they will keep you working full time for your entire apprenticeship.

Once journeyman status is reached, it seems to me that there is wealth of choices or areas to specialise in.

Your local has the instrument technician classification. If you can get in, shoot for it (get certified) on top of being a journeyman wireman. Expands your job possibilities exponentially, though not necessarily in your local's jurisdiction.

 

[petersonra]

Your local has the instrument technician classification. If you can get in, shoot for it (get certified) on top of being a journeyman wireman. Expands your job possibilities exponentially, though not necessarily in your local's jurisdiction.

Good instrument techs are few and far between. If that interests you and you can get good at it you will probably have it easier than your average electrician.

 

[joebell]

I can speak to the independent contractor side. As an apprentice ( at least the company I work for) yearly raises are given if........ the apprentice shows progression in his knowledge of the trade and has a good working attitude and a willingness to continue to learn. We also provide the apprentices with the schooling required to sit for their licensing exam which would cost them about $1500 a year.

No matter which path you choose your maturity should raise you head and shoulders above younger apprentices. I can honestly say being in this field for the last 30 years has been an excellent career choice. The opportunities are endless.

Good Luck and keep us posted

 

[kwired]

Good instrument techs are few and far between. If that interests you and you can get good at it you will probably have it easier than your average electrician.

exactly - even an apprentice that finds themseles in that kind of atmosphere often may have an easier job (physically anyway) then a typical general construction journeyman, could even have better pay in some instances.

My suggestion to OP is if you like the challenges and want to be less physical - at least quite a bit of the time, then maybe try to get into electrical maintenance department at some industrial plant. If you work for a general electrical construction company as an apprentice or even a newer journeyman you will see hard labor frequently, as a maintenance technician, you will have those days that there is more physical labor then others, but a lot of the time you will be troubleshooting problems and making repairs, and the general construction guys will be working for a contractor on new projects at your plant - and will be the ones pulling 500MCM conductors and handling 4 inch RMC on a more routine basis. You may still see you get more of the dirty jobs as low man on the totem pole though no matter where you go.

 

[joebell]

exactly - the general construction guys will be working for a contractor on new projects at your plant - and will be the ones pulling 500MCM conductors and handling 4 inch RMC on a more routine basis. You may still see you get more of the dirty jobs as low man on the totem pole though no matter where you go.

Amen to that.....the gentleman is correct.