OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
Dakotas JATC (Fargo ND / Sioux Falls SD)
IBEW Local 714 (ND) / IBEW Local 426 (SD)
Fargo, ND · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$17–$21/hr
Journeyman
$34–$44/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
Apprenticeships
North Dakota.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
847
active construction apprentices
22+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
North Dakota · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 847 total
Electrician
493 apprentices$21.80/hr avg start
Laborer
79 apprentices$23.63/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
63 apprentices$22.35/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
50 apprentices$28.36/hr avg start
Plumber
45 apprentices$24.27/hr avg start
Boilermaker
38 apprentices$33.15/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
25 apprentices$25.76/hr avg start
Carpenter
25 apprentices$28.82/hr avg start
+5 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$21.80/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$23.63/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$22.35/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$28.36/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in North Dakota · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$32.25/hr
~$67K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$31.13/hr
~$65K/yr
HVAC Techs
$33.67/hr
~$70K/yr
Line Installers
$51.83/hr
~$108K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 4 metro areas in North Dakota. 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. North Dakota has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in North Dakota with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 22 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DAKOTAS & W. MINN. AREA ELECTRICAL JATC | FARGO | Electrician | 426 | UNION |
MasTec | Fargo | Laborer | 416 | non-union |
NORTH DAKOTA CONSTRUCTION CRAFT LABORERS (LiUNA) Union/Labor | LINO LAKES | Laborer | 144 | UNION |
UA LOCAL # 300 OF ND & E. SD JATC | FARGO | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 119 | UNION |
MONTANA-DAKOTA UTILITIES JATC | Bismarck | Electrician | 87 | UNION |
BERGSTROM ELECTRIC, INC. | GRAND FORKS | Electrician | 82 | non-union |
FARGO-MOORHEAD AREA CARPENTERS JATC | FARGO | Carpenter | 61 | UNION |
BISMARCK-MANDAN AREA CARPENTERS JATC | BISMARCK | Carpenter | 49 | UNION |
FARGO/GRAND FORKS SHEET METAL JATC | Bismarck | Sheet Metal Worker | 37 | UNION |
Superior Electric of Fargo, LLC Employer | Fargo | Electrician | 32 | non-union |
ABC Associated Builders & Contractors of Minnesota & North Dakota | Fargo | PlumberOperating EngineerLaborer | 20 | non-union |
ND IEC Dakotas Independant Electrical Contractors, Inc. | Sioux Falls | Electrician | 19 | non-union |
MINNKOTA POWER COOPERATIVE, INC. Employer | GRAND FORKS | Electrician | 17 | UNION |
YES, LLC Employer | DICKINSON | Electrician | 17 | non-union |
BDT Mechanical LLC Employer | Fargo | Pipefitter/SteamfitterElectricianHVAC Technician+2 | 16 | non-union |
BISMARCK-MINOT SHEET METAL JATC | Bismarck | Sheet Metal Worker | 16 | UNION |
BEPC Transmission System Maintenance (TSM) Menoken Employer | Menoken | Electrician | 15 | UNION |
JDP ELECTRIC, INC. | FARGO | Electrician | 13 | non-union |
RIGHT CHOICE ELECTRIC, INC. | GRAND FORKS | Electrician | 13 | non-union |
ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, INC. Employer | BISMARCK | Electrician | 11 | non-union |
CUSTOM AIRE INC. | GRAND FORKS | Sheet Metal Worker | 11 | non-union |
MOUNTRAIL-WILLIAMS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | WILLISTON | Electrician | 11 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in North Dakota may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota 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.
North Dakota Licensing
North Dakota is a right-to-work state. Plumbing is licensed by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board and electricians are licensed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board. There is no state-level HVAC license; HVAC contractors are regulated at the local/municipal level.