OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
BREJATC (Baton Rouge, LA)
IBEW Local 995
Baton Rouge, LA · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$32–$42/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
Louisiana.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
2,873
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
2
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Louisiana · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 2,873 total
Electrician
1,229 apprentices$16.24/hr avg start
Plumber
537 apprentices$16.59/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
297 apprentices$14.53/hr avg start
Carpenter
149 apprentices$20.28/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
146 apprentices$18.54/hr avg start
Laborer
104 apprentices$20.00/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
96 apprentices$17.91/hr avg start
Boilermaker
70 apprentices$21.46/hr avg start
+8 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$16.24/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$16.59/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$14.53/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$20.28/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Louisiana · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$28.28/hr
~$59K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$29.2/hr
~$61K/yr
HVAC Techs
$27.02/hr
~$56K/yr
Line Installers
$36.38/hr
~$76K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 10 metro areas in Louisiana. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENS SOONABCRELOCATION OK
ABC Pelican (Baton Rouge / Westlake, LA)
Baton Rouge, LA · Electrical, Pipefitting, Welding, Instrumentation, Millwright, Heavy Equipment
Year 1 wage
$15–$20/hr
Journeyman
$30–$42/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
2 manually verified. Louisiana has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Louisiana with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ExxonMobil Apprenticeship Program | Baton Rouge | BoilermakerElectrician | 307 | non-union |
ABC - Pelican | Baton Rouge | Pipefitter/SteamfitterCarpenterPlumber+5 | 298 | non-union |
Monroe Electrical JATC | Monroe | Electrician | 221 | UNION |
LAPHCC | Baton Rouge | Plumber | 197 | non-union |
Shreveport Electrical JATC | Bossier City | Electrician | 192 | UNION |
MMR Constructors, Inc. | Baton Rouge | Electrician | 184 | non-union |
ABC New Orleans/Bayou Chapter | St. Rose | IronworkerLaborerPlumber+5 | 158 | non-union |
Baton Rouge Sheetmetal Workers | Baton Rouge | Sheet Metal Worker | 157 | UNION |
New Orleans Electrical JATC | Metairie | Electrician | 154 | non-union |
New Orleans Pipe Trades Union/Labor | Metairie | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 131 | UNION |
Central South Carpenters & Millwrights Training Trust Fund Union/Labor | Metairie | Carpenter | 130 | UNION |
Central South Carpenters & Millwrights Training Trust Fund Union/Labor | Baton Rouge | Carpenter | 125 | UNION |
Finishing Trades Institute of DC 10 | Kenner | Painter/FinisherGlazier | 111 | UNION |
Baton Rouge Area Pipetrades | Baton Rouge | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 110 | UNION |
Acadiana Plumbers Association Business Association | Lafayette | Plumber | 92 | non-union |
Alexandria Electrical JATC Union/Labor | Alexandria | Electrician | 91 | UNION |
Shreveport Pipe Trades Union/Labor | Shreveport | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 90 | UNION |
New Orleans Sheetmetal JATC | Metairie | Sheet Metal Worker | 82 | UNION |
Baton Rouge Electrical JATC Union/Labor | Baton Rouge | Electrician | 74 | UNION |
Intl Union of Elevator Constructors Local 16 JAC | Metairie | Elevator Constructor | 60 | non-union |
Shreveport Sheet Metal Workers JATC Union/Labor | Shreveport | Sheet Metal Worker | 58 | UNION |
Alexandria Pipe Trades JATC | Alexandria | PlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 43 | UNION |
Storer Services, Ltd | Shreveport | PlumberHVAC Technician | 42 | non-union |
Bogalusa Electrical JATC Union/Labor | New Orleans | Electrician | 39 | UNION |
Baker Gulf Coast Industrial | Prairieville | Other Construction | 39 | non-union |
Monroe Pipe Trades Union/Labor | West Monroe | Plumber | 38 | UNION |
Lake Charles Electrical JATC | Lake Charles | Electrician | 38 | UNION |
Operating Engineers JATC | Loranger | Operating Engineer | 38 | UNION |
Overland Contracting Inc | Westlake | LaborerOperating EngineerElectrician | 32 | non-union |
Louisiana Plumbing Institute, LLC. Employer | Lake Charles | Plumber | 29 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Louisiana may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana 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.
Louisiana Licensing
Louisiana is a right-to-work state. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) in Baton Rouge licenses commercial mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors. Residential licenses fall under the State Licensing Board for Contractors as well. The state follows the Louisiana State Plumbing Code.
All trades (Commercial / Residential)
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
Board website →