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IEC Oregon (Portland)
Portland, OR · Inside Electrical / Limited Energy (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$32–$44/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
Apprenticeships
Oregon.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
4,100
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Oregon · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 4,100 total
Electrician
2,014 apprentices$22.85/hr avg start
Plumber
708 apprentices$21.86/hr avg start
Carpenter
370 apprentices$30.15/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
217 apprentices$26.32/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
195 apprentices$25.77/hr avg start
Ironworker
116 apprentices$33.94/hr avg start
Other Construction
100 apprentices$29.72/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
76 apprentices$35.39/hr avg start
+9 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$22.85/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$21.86/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$30.15/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$26.32/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Oregon · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$46.79/hr
~$97K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$41.37/hr
~$86K/yr
HVAC Techs
$28.97/hr
~$60K/yr
Line Installers
$64.01/hr
~$133K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 8 metro areas in Oregon. 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. Oregon has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Oregon with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WESTERN STATES CARPENTERS TRAINING JATC | PORTLAND | CarpenterPainter/Finisher | 803 | UNION |
NECA-IBEW ELECTRICAL JATC | PORTLAND | Electrician | 761 | UNION |
OR SW-WA NW-CA PLMBR & STMFITTR JATC | TUALATIN | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumberHVAC Technician | 639 | UNION |
AREA II INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | TIGARD | Electrician | 544 | UNION |
AREA I INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | PORTLAND | Electrician | 522 | UNION |
CENTRAL ELECTRICAL JATC | TANGENT | Electrician | 330 | UNION |
AREA I PLUMBERS JATC | LAKE OSWEGO | Plumber | 326 | UNION |
PORTLAND SHEET METAL WORKER JATC | PORTLAND | Sheet Metal Worker | 251 | UNION |
AREA II PLUMBERS JATC | SALEM | Plumber | 215 | UNION |
PACIFIC NW IRONWORKER & EMPLOYER JATC | PORTLAND | Ironworker | 208 | UNION |
OREGON LABORERS JATC | PORTLAND | Laborer | 175 | UNION |
OR/SW-WA ROOFERS & WATERPROOFERS JATC | PORTLAND | Roofer | 156 | UNION |
AREA VII INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | TIGARD | Electrician | 142 | UNION |
OREGON/COLUMBIA CARPENTERS JATC | PORTLAND | Carpenter | 125 | UNION |
OR SW-WA IUOE LOCAL #701 & AGC JATC | GLADSTONE | Operating Engineer | 125 | UNION |
AREA III INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | SPRINGFIELD | Electrician | 110 | UNION |
MID-WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIAL TATC | ALBANY | ElectricianCarpenter | 107 | UNION |
OREGON COLUMBIA LABORERS JATC | PORTLAND | Laborer | 106 | UNION |
LTD ENERGY TECHNICIANS JATC | PORTLAND | Electrician | 96 | UNION |
METRO LTD MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN JATC | PORTLAND | Electrician | 95 | UNION |
AREA VII PLUMBERS JATC | SPRINGFIELD | Plumber | 93 | UNION |
AREA V INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | WHITE CITY | Electrician | 89 | UNION |
OREGON SW-WA ELEVATOR INDUSTRY JATC | PORTLAND | Elevator Constructor | 86 | UNION |
COLUMBIA GORGE TATC | SALEM | HVAC TechnicianElectricianPainter/Finisher+1 | 83 | UNION |
OREGON & SW WASHINGTON PAINTERS JATC | PORTLAND | Painter/Finisher | 80 | UNION |
AREA VI INSIDE ELECTRICAL JATC | PENDLETON | Electrician | 79 | UNION |
AREA III PLUMBERS JATC | EUGENE | Plumber | 76 | UNION |
NORTH COAST MECH &ELECTRICAL TRADES JATC | SPRINGFIELD | Electrician | 68 | UNION |
BLUE MOUNTAIN JATC | PENDLETON | CarpenterPlumber | 68 | UNION |
SHEET METAL JATC | PORTLAND | Sheet Metal Worker | 61 | UNION |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Oregon may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Oregon?
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 Oregon 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.
Oregon Licensing
Oregon is an SAA state and is not right-to-work — it has strong union density in construction. The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) registers all contractors; electrical licensing is administered through the Dept. of Consumer and Business Services Building Codes Division separately. Oregon uses the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Electrician / Plumber (individual license lookup)
Oregon Building Codes Division — License Holder Search
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