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IEC Central Alabama (Birmingham)
Birmingham, AL · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$18–$18/hr
Journeyman
$30–$42/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
Alabama.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
3,175
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Alabama · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 3,175 total
Electrician
1,574 apprentices$17.07/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
375 apprentices$18.69/hr avg start
Ironworker
210 apprentices$20.18/hr avg start
Carpenter
201 apprentices$22.56/hr avg start
Boilermaker
193 apprentices$21.31/hr avg start
Other Construction
144 apprentices$20.63/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
132 apprentices$17.25/hr avg start
Elevator Constructor
88 apprentices$23.58/hr avg start
+8 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$17.07/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$18.69/hr
avg starting wage
Ironworker
$20.18/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$22.56/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Alabama · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$26.34/hr
~$55K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$26.77/hr
~$56K/yr
HVAC Techs
$23.08/hr
~$48K/yr
Line Installers
$43.9/hr
~$91K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 13 metro areas in Alabama. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
1 manually verified. Alabama has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Alabama with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Midsouth Carpenters JATC (Birmingham) Union/Labor | Pelham | Carpenter | 340 | UNION |
North Alabama Electrical Training Alliance Union/Labor | SHEFFIELD | Electrician | 280 | UNION |
North Alabama Craft Training Foundation Foundation | Huntsville | Pipefitter/SteamfitterRooferCarpenter+9 | 227 | non-union |
Austal USA Employer | Mobile | Pipefitter/SteamfitterElectrician | 187 | non-union |
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 760 JAC Union/Labor | MUSCLE SHOALS | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 145 | UNION |
Birmingham Electrical JATC | Birmingham | Electrician | 137 | UNION |
Marathon Electrical Contractors | Irondale | Electrician | 137 | non-union |
Mobile Electricians JATC Union/Labor | Mobile | Electrician | 132 | UNION |
Southland Training Solutions, LLC. | Kimberly | Electrician | 114 | non-union |
Coastal Alabama Community College Community College/University | Fairhope | Laborer | 108 | non-union |
Birmingham Ironworker Training Program Trust | Birmingham | Ironworker | 108 | UNION |
Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council Training Trust Fund w/ N AL Carpenters (Florence) LU 1209 JATC | FLORENCE | Carpenter | 103 | UNION |
Independent Electrical Contractors | Birmingham | Electrician | 97 | non-union |
Sheet Metal Workers, Local Union 441 Union/Labor | MOBILE | Sheet Metal Worker | 93 | UNION |
Wallace State Community College Hanceville Community College/University | Hanceville | Operating Engineer | 90 | non-union |
Skilled Trades of West Alabama Business Association | Tuscaloosa | ElectricianPlumberHVAC Technician | 80 | non-union |
Jefferson County Joint Apprenticeship Committee Union/Labor | Birmingham | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 76 | UNION |
Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air Employer | Montgomery | Electrician | 70 | non-union |
International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 24 Union/Labor | BIRMINGHAM | Elevator Constructor | 64 | UNION |
Huntsville Utilities Water, Gas and Electric City/County Agency | Huntsville | Operating EngineerElectrician | 63 | non-union |
Montgomery Electrical JATC Union/Labor | MONTGOMERY | Electrician | 60 | UNION |
Tuscaloosa JAC | Duncanville | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 54 | UNION |
Sheet Metal Workers | Birmingham | Sheet Metal Worker | 48 | UNION |
BASIC IAMAW-711 Union/Labor | Sheffield | Other Construction | 46 | UNION |
Iron Workers Local 477 JATC Union/Labor | Sheffield | Ironworker | 45 | UNION |
Mobile Plumbing and Pipefitting, Local 119 JATC Union/Labor | Mobile | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumberHVAC Technician | 40 | non-union |
Airbus Americas, Inc. | Mobile | Electrician | 39 | non-union |
Northeast Alabama Community College Community College/University | RAINSVILLE | Carpenter | 35 | non-union |
Montgomery Plumbers JATC | Montgomery | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 32 | UNION |
Operating Engineers | BESSEMER | Operating Engineer | 27 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Alabama may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Alabama?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Alabama free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Alabama Licensing
Alabama is a right-to-work state. Trade licensing is split across several boards: the Electrical Contractors Board for electricians, the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board for plumbing, and the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors for HVAC. The Licensing Board for General Contractors handles larger commercial work.