OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
INTECH / IBEW Local 134 (Chicago)
IBEW Local 134
Alsip, IL · Inside Wireman / Electrical Construction
Year 1 wage
$20–$26/hr
Journeyman
$48–$58/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $50 fee
Apprenticeships
Illinois.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
16,860
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Illinois · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 16,860 total
Electrician
3,661 apprentices$21.15/hr avg start
Carpenter
2,532 apprentices$21.22/hr avg start
Laborer
2,247 apprentices$27.90/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
1,882 apprentices$22.70/hr avg start
Plumber
1,161 apprentices$20.92/hr avg start
Other Construction
1,115 apprentices$23.58/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
1,007 apprentices$27.59/hr avg start
Bricklayer/Mason
690 apprentices$28.59/hr avg start
+9 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$21.15/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$21.22/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$27.90/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$22.70/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Illinois · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$40.66/hr
~$85K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$40.44/hr
~$84K/yr
HVAC Techs
$32.6/hr
~$68K/yr
Line Installers
$48.87/hr
~$102K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 12 metro areas in Illinois. 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. Illinois has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Illinois with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program Union/Labor | Elk Grove Village | RooferCarpenterPainter/Finisher | 2,265 | UNION |
IBEW-NECA ELECTRICIANS #134 JATF | ALSIP | Electrician | 1,606 | UNION |
PIPE FITTER'S TRAINING FUND #597 | MOKENA | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 1,427 | UNION |
Chicagoland Laborers | CAROL STREAM | Laborer | 1,147 | UNION |
IL Laborers & Contractors JATP Union/Labor | MOUNT STERLING | Laborer | 1,010 | UNION |
OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Op Eng. JATF Union/Labor | WILMINGTON | Operating Engineer | 842 | UNION |
Plumbers' Joint Apprenticeship Committee Local 130, UA | Chicago | Plumber | 654 | UNION |
Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program Pekin Campus | Pekin | Carpenter | 574 | UNION |
Mid-America Carpenters R C Apprentice & Training Program Southern Illinois Campus | Belleville | Carpenter | 482 | UNION |
Chicagoland Roofers' Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee Union/Labor | Indian Head Park | Roofer | 403 | UNION |
IUEC LOCAL #2 JAC Union/Labor | Chicago Ridge | Elevator Constructor | 372 | UNION |
ILLINOIS DISTRICT COUNCIL #1 BRICKLAYERS' D.C.T.C. | Addison | Bricklayer/MasonPainter/Finisher | 346 | UNION |
SPRINKLER FITTTERS AND APPRENTICE UNION LOCAL 281 | Alsip | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 280 | UNION |
PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS JATC OF EASTERN IA & WESTERN IL LOCAL 25 | ROCK ISLAND | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 266 | UNION |
IBEW-NECA LOCAL #176 JATC | JOLIET | Electrician | 237 | UNION |
IBEW LOCAL #9 MIDDLE STATES | University Park | Electrician | 219 | UNION |
DuPage County 701 JATC Union/Labor | Warrenville | Electrician | 213 | UNION |
SEIU LOCAL #1 TRAINING FUND Union/Labor | Chicago | Other Construction | 207 | UNION |
Electricians Local #34 JATC Union/Labor | Bartonville | Electrician | 201 | UNION |
Internatl Assoc of SMART LU 265 Union/Labor | CAROL STREAM | Sheet Metal Worker | 197 | UNION |
Assoc. Builders & Contractors Inc Other | Elk Grove Village | CarpenterPipefitter/SteamfitterLaborer+10 | 195 | non-union |
SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL #73 JATC | Bellwood | Sheet Metal Worker | 193 | UNION |
QUAD CITY ELECTRICAL JATC LU 145 | MOLINE | Electrician | 186 | UNION |
Pointers, Cleaners And Caulkers Local #52 JAC Union/Labor | Addison | Bricklayer/Mason | 169 | UNION |
MidAmerica Millwright Training Center Union/Labor | East Moline | Other Construction | 168 | UNION |
HEAT & FROST INSULATORS LOCAL 17 Training Trust | Tinley Park | Other Construction | 166 | UNION |
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 647 | Oak Lawn | Boilermaker | 163 | UNION |
ILLOWA SHEET METAL JATC LU 91 Union/Labor | ROCK ISLAND | Sheet Metal Worker | 158 | UNION |
Midstate Electrical Training Center Other | Decatur | Electrician | 147 | UNION |
Finishing Trades Institute of DC 14 Chicago Union/Labor | Berkeley | Painter/Finisher | 143 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Illinois may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Illinois?
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 Illinois 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.
Illinois Licensing
Illinois IDPH handles plumbing licensing. Electricians are licensed at the city/county level (no state license). Strong union presence in Chicago metro.