Apprentice Pay by Trade (2025)
Trade apprentices earn while they learn — starting at 40-50% of journeyman wages and increasing each year. Here is the estimated annual pay progression for 48 skilled trades based on standard apprenticeship pay scales and 2025 BLS median wages.
| Trade | Journeyman | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Mechanic4yr | $103,991 | $41,596(40%) | $59,275(57%) | $75,913(73%) | $93,592(90%) | — |
| Electrical Power-Line Tech4yr | $87,867 | $35,147(40%) | $50,084(57%) | $64,143(73%) | $79,080(90%) | — |
| Power Line Installer4yr | $87,732 | $35,093(40%) | $50,007(57%) | $64,044(73%) | $78,959(90%) | — |
| Underwater Welder5yr | $80,828 | $32,331(40%) | $42,839(53%) | $52,538(65%) | $63,046(78%) | $72,745(90%) |
| Aircraft Mechanic2yr | $76,453 | $30,581(40%) | $68,808(90%) | — | — | — |
| Pile Driver Operator4yr | $73,688 | $29,475(40%) | $42,002(57%) | $53,792(73%) | $66,319(90%) | — |
| Steamfitter5yr | $70,357 | $28,143(40%) | $37,289(53%) | $45,732(65%) | $54,878(78%) | $63,321(90%) |
| Boilermaker4yr | $67,891 | $27,156(40%) | $38,698(57%) | $49,560(73%) | $61,102(90%) | — |
| Fire Sprinkler Fitter5yr | $67,639 | $27,056(40%) | $35,849(53%) | $43,965(65%) | $52,758(78%) | $60,875(90%) |
| Pipefitter5yr | $67,249 | $26,900(40%) | $35,642(53%) | $43,712(65%) | $52,454(78%) | $60,524(90%) |
| Crane Operator3yr | $67,153 | $26,861(40%) | $43,649(65%) | $60,438(90%) | — | — |
| Industrial Electrician4yr | $66,759 | $26,704(40%) | $38,053(57%) | $48,734(73%) | $60,083(90%) | — |
| Wind Turbine Technician2yr | $66,008 | $26,403(40%) | $59,407(90%) | — | — | — |
| Millwright4yr | $65,704 | $26,282(40%) | $37,451(57%) | $47,964(73%) | $59,134(90%) | — |
| Electrician4yr | $65,308 | $26,123(40%) | $37,226(57%) | $47,675(73%) | $58,777(90%) | — |
| Telecommunications Tech4yr | $65,077 | $26,031(40%) | $37,094(57%) | $47,506(73%) | $58,569(90%) | — |
| Plumber4yr | $64,109 | $25,644(40%) | $36,542(57%) | $46,800(73%) | $57,698(90%) | — |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic4yr | $63,930 | $25,572(40%) | $36,440(57%) | $46,669(73%) | $57,537(90%) | — |
| Ironworker4yr | $61,718 | $24,687(40%) | $35,179(57%) | $45,054(73%) | $55,546(90%) | — |
| Tool and Die Maker4yr | $61,514 | $24,606(40%) | $35,063(57%) | $44,905(73%) | $55,363(90%) | — |
| HVAC Technician4yr | $61,278 | $24,511(40%) | $34,928(57%) | $44,733(73%) | $55,150(90%) | — |
| Carpenter4yr | $60,859 | $24,344(40%) | $34,690(57%) | $44,427(73%) | $54,773(90%) | — |
| Sheet Metal Worker4yr | $58,967 | $23,587(40%) | $33,611(57%) | $43,046(73%) | $53,070(90%) | — |
| Diesel Mechanic3yr | $58,284 | $23,314(40%) | $37,885(65%) | $52,456(90%) | — | — |
| Refrigeration Mechanic4yr | $57,855 | $23,142(40%) | $32,977(57%) | $42,234(73%) | $52,070(90%) | — |
| Heavy Equipment Operator3yr | $56,984 | $22,794(40%) | $37,040(65%) | $51,286(90%) | — | — |
| Mason (Bricklayer)3yr | $56,904 | $22,762(40%) | $36,988(65%) | $51,214(90%) | — | — |
| Structural Welder3yr | $55,913 | $22,365(40%) | $36,343(65%) | $50,322(90%) | — | — |
| Drywall Installer3yr | $54,480 | $21,792(40%) | $35,412(65%) | $49,032(90%) | — | — |
| Environmental Engineering Tech2yr | $53,466 | $21,386(40%) | $48,119(90%) | — | — | — |
| Machinist4yr | $52,141 | $20,856(40%) | $29,720(57%) | $38,063(73%) | $46,927(90%) | — |
| Plasterer3yr | $52,094 | $20,838(40%) | $33,861(65%) | $46,885(90%) | — | — |
| Tile Setter3yr | $52,089 | $20,836(40%) | $33,858(65%) | $46,880(90%) | — | — |
| Well Driller2yr | $52,055 | $20,822(40%) | $46,850(90%) | — | — | — |
| Glazier4yr | $51,634 | $20,654(40%) | $29,431(57%) | $37,693(73%) | $46,471(90%) | — |
| Welder3yr | $50,902 | $20,361(40%) | $33,086(65%) | $45,812(90%) | — | — |
| Concrete Finisher3yr | $50,675 | $20,270(40%) | $32,939(65%) | $45,608(90%) | — | — |
| Auto Mechanic2yr | $50,517 | $20,207(40%) | $45,465(90%) | — | — | — |
| Maintenance Mechanic4yr | $50,342 | $20,137(40%) | $28,695(57%) | $36,750(73%) | $45,308(90%) | — |
| Solar PV Installer2yr | $50,287 | $20,115(40%) | $45,258(90%) | — | — | — |
| Insulation Worker4yr | $50,148 | $20,059(40%) | $28,584(57%) | $36,608(73%) | $45,133(90%) | — |
| Roofer2yr | $50,049 | $20,020(40%) | $45,044(90%) | — | — | — |
| Floor Layer3yr | $49,886 | $19,954(40%) | $32,426(65%) | $44,897(90%) | — | — |
| Locksmith4yr | $49,571 | $19,828(40%) | $28,255(57%) | $36,187(73%) | $44,614(90%) | — |
| Painter (Construction)3yr | $47,431 | $18,972(40%) | $30,830(65%) | $42,688(90%) | — | — |
| Septic Tank Servicer1yr | $47,006 | $18,802(40%) | — | — | — | — |
| CNC Machine Operator2yr | $45,680 | $18,272(40%) | $41,112(90%) | — | — | — |
| Scaffold Builder3yr | $44,652 | $17,861(40%) | $29,024(65%) | $40,187(90%) | — | — |
How Apprentice Pay Works
Apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades follow a structured pay scale tied to experience. Apprentices start at approximately 40-50% of the journeyman rate and receive automatic raises — typically every 6 to 12 months — as they accumulate hours and complete classroom training.
By the final year of the apprenticeship, pay reaches 85-95% of the full journeyman rate. After passing the journeyman exam or completing the required hours (usually 8,000-10,000), the apprentice becomes a journeyman and earns the full rate.
Apprenticeship vs College: The Earning Advantage
While a 4-year college student accumulates an average of $37,000 in student debt and earns $0 during school, a 4-year trade apprentice earns a cumulative $169,801 over the same period (using electrician as an example). That is a head start of over $175,000 compared to the average college graduate when you include avoided debt.
See our trade school vs college comparison for the full ROI analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trade apprentices typically start at 40-50% of journeyman pay and receive raises every 6-12 months. A first-year electrician apprentice earns approximately $26,123 per year, progressing to $58,777 in year four.
Yes. Unlike college students who pay tuition, trade apprentices earn a wage from day one. Apprentice pay increases annually as skills develop, typically reaching 90-95% of journeyman pay by the final year of the program.
The highest-paying apprenticeships are in trades with the highest journeyman wages. Elevator Mechanic apprentices start at approximately $41,596 in year one.
Apprenticeships range from 1-5 years depending on the trade. Most construction and electrical trades require 4 years. Specialized trades like pipefitter, steamfitter, and underwater welder require 5 years. Some trades like roofer and solar installer can be completed in 2 years.
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