OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
CETA 776 (Charleston, SC)
IBEW Local 776
North Charleston, SC · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$34–$44/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
Apprenticeships
South Carolina.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
1,390
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
South Carolina · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 1,390 total
Electrician
748 apprentices$18.51/hr avg start
Laborer
99 apprentices$18.53/hr avg start
Plumber
89 apprentices$16.25/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
78 apprentices$19.43/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
74 apprentices$21.57/hr avg start
Operating Engineer
63 apprentices$21.13/hr avg start
Boilermaker
58 apprentices$21.90/hr avg start
Carpenter
57 apprentices$17.71/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$18.51/hr
avg starting wage
Laborer
$18.53/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$16.25/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$19.43/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in South Carolina · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$28/hr
~$58K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$25.8/hr
~$54K/yr
HVAC Techs
$27.04/hr
~$56K/yr
Line Installers
$37.22/hr
~$77K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 10 metro areas in South Carolina. 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. South Carolina has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in South Carolina with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SUMTER UTILITIES | SUMTER | Electrician | 410 | non-union |
University of South Carolina | Columbia | Bricklayer/MasonPlumberElectrician+1 | 282 | non-union |
CECA of South Carolina | North Charleston | Electrician | 244 | non-union |
GROVES ELECTRICAL SERVICES A QUANTA ELECTRIC POWER SERVICES, LLC COMPANY | York | LaborerElectrician | 208 | non-union |
Trident Technical College | North Charleston | ElectricianLaborerHVAC Technician | 188 | non-union |
County of Lexington Dept. of Emergency Services City/County Agency | Lexington | Operating Engineer | 152 | non-union |
Charleston Electrical Training Alliance Union/Labor | CHARLESTON | Electrician | 126 | UNION |
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC Employer | Aiken | Electrician | 114 | non-union |
Williamsburg County School District | Kingstree | CarpenterPlumberElectrician | 74 | non-union |
Walker White Inc. | Columbia | PlumberSheet Metal WorkerPipefitter/Steamfitter | 74 | non-union |
Stoll Industries | Abbeville | Painter/Finisher | 55 | non-union |
GREGORY ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. Employer | COLUMBIA | ElectricianLaborer | 54 | non-union |
New-Indy Containerboard Employer | Catawba | HVAC Technician | 48 | UNION |
CHAS SHEET MTL JAC | NORTH CHARLESTON | Sheet Metal Worker | 48 | UNION |
MEETZE PLUMBING CO., INC | Irmo | Plumber | 46 | non-union |
Thompson Construction Group, Inc. Employer | Sumter | ElectricianPipefitter/SteamfitterLaborer | 45 | non-union |
Prisma Health Midlands Employer | COLUMBIA | PlumberElectrician | 42 | non-union |
Electricities of North Carolina, Inc | Newberry | Other Construction | 42 | non-union |
Clemson University Facilities Community College/University | Clemson | PlumberPainter/FinisherBricklayer/Mason+3 | 41 | non-union |
SANTEE COOPER | Moncks Corner | Electrician | 37 | non-union |
Schaeffler Group USA INC INA | CHERAW | Electrician | 37 | non-union |
LOCAL 470 APPRENTICESHIP FUND | Graniteville | Operating Engineer | 37 | UNION |
City of Columbia Water Distribution and Maintenance Division City/County Agency | Columbia | Other Construction | 35 | non-union |
The Atlantic Group, Inc. DBA Day & Zimmermann | Greenville | Painter/FinisherElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter+1 | 34 | non-union |
EnviroSep Employer | Georgetown | ElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter | 32 | non-union |
Carolina Power | Irmo | Electrician | 31 | non-union |
IRONWORKERS LOCAL 848 JATC | North Charleston | Ironworker | 30 | UNION |
Berkeley Electrical Cooperative Employer | Moncks Corner | Electrician | 28 | non-union |
Selectric LLC Employer | Beaufort | Electrician | 22 | non-union |
Moorhead Brothers, Inc. | Blacksburg | Other Construction | 21 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in South Carolina may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina 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.
South Carolina Licensing
South Carolina is a right-to-work state. The Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) oversees two relevant boards: the Contractor's Licensing Board for commercial mechanical and specialty contractors, and the Residential Builders Commission for residential electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work.