OPENUNION JATC
UA Local 110 (Norfolk, VA)
UA Local 110
Norfolk, VA · Plumber / Pipefitter
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$34–$42/hr
Deadline: 8 days (May 29, 2026)
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 10,000 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
Virginia.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
7,267
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
3
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Virginia · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 7,267 total
Electrician
4,783 apprentices$18.27/hr avg start
Plumber
789 apprentices$16.61/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
587 apprentices$19.77/hr avg start
Other Construction
215 apprentices$17.57/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
155 apprentices$17.81/hr avg start
Laborer
140 apprentices$19.77/hr avg start
Carpenter
135 apprentices$15.81/hr avg start
Elevator Constructor
132 apprentices$24.14/hr avg start
+8 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$18.27/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$16.61/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$19.77/hr
avg starting wage
Other Construction
$17.57/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Virginia · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$29.29/hr
~$61K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$27.06/hr
~$56K/yr
HVAC Techs
$27.1/hr
~$56K/yr
Line Installers
$37.49/hr
~$78K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 10 metro areas in Virginia. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
Richmond JATC (IBEW Local 666)
IBEW Local 666
N. Chesterfield, VA · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$17–$21/hr
Journeyman
$34–$44/hr
Verified May 18, 20265 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $20 fee
OPENNON-UNIONRELOCATION OK
IEC Chesapeake (VA/MD/DC)
Dulles, VA · Electrician / Telecom (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$16–$20/hr
Journeyman
$30–$42/hr
Deadline: 55 days (Jul 15, 2026)
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs
3 manually verified. Virginia has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Virginia with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
JATC WASHINGTON D.C. ELECTRICIANS IBEW - LOCAL 26 Union/Labor | Lanham | Electrician | 1,952 | UNION |
JAC WASHINGTON DC STEAMFITTERS - LOCAL 602 Union/Labor | Hyattsville | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 1,331 | UNION |
M.C. Dean, Inc. Employer | Tysons | Electrician | 867 | non-union |
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD Employer | PORTSMOUTH | ElectricianSheet Metal WorkerCarpenter+4 | 727 | non-union |
Newport News Shipbuilding Employer | Newport News | ElectricianPipefitter/SteamfitterPainter/Finisher+2 | 722 | UNION |
JATC RICHMOND ELECTRICIANS, LOCAL 666 | North Chesterfield | Electrician | 492 | UNION |
JATC Tidewater Electrical Industry - LOCAL 80 Union/Labor | Norfolk | Electrician | 189 | UNION |
Virginia Department of Corrections, Correctional Education State Agency | Richmond | Bricklayer/MasonElectricianHVAC Technician+4 | 182 | non-union |
JAC PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING INDUSTRY - LOCAL 110 Employer | NORFOLK | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician | 136 | UNION |
JATC Plumbers and Steamfitters Richmond Virginia - Local 10 Union/Labor | Richmond | Pipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 135 | UNION |
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Employer | Virginia Beach | ElectricianCarpenter | 128 | non-union |
Davis H. Elliot Co. Inc. Employer | Roanoke | Other Construction | 114 | non-union |
Colonial Webb Contractors Employer | Henrico | HVAC TechnicianElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter+2 | 111 | non-union |
Southern Air, Inc. Employer | Lynchburg | PlumberElectricianPipefitter/Steamfitter+2 | 110 | non-union |
Atlantic Constructors Employer | North Chesterfield | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterElectrician+2 | 108 | non-union |
Augusta County Schools Employer | VERONA | Painter/FinisherPlumberElectrician+2 | 106 | non-union |
CARTER MACHINERY CO INC Employer | MECHANICSVILLE | Electrician | 100 | non-union |
C.W. Wright Construction Company LLC Employer | S Chesterfield | Other Construction | 98 | non-union |
Woodfin Heating Inc. / EMC Mechanical Services Employer | Richmond | ElectricianSheet Metal WorkerHVAC Technician+1 | 81 | non-union |
G.J. Hopkins Lacy Employer | Roanoke | PlumberPipefitter/SteamfitterHVAC Technician+2 | 81 | non-union |
JAC Richmond Area Ironworkers - LOCAL 28 Employer | Midlothian | Ironworker | 80 | UNION |
JATC Hampton Roads Electrical Industry - LOCAL 1340 Union/Labor | Newport News | Electrician | 76 | UNION |
JAC OPERATING ENGINEERS - LOCAL 147 Employer | Disputanta | Operating Engineer | 75 | UNION |
Moores Electrical & Mechanical Construction Employer | Altavista | HVAC TechnicianElectricianPlumber | 72 | non-union |
JAC INT UNION ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS - LOCAL 51 Employer | MECHANICSVILLE | Elevator Constructor | 70 | UNION |
Framatome, Inc. | Lynchburg | Other Construction | 70 | non-union |
BWX Technologies, Inc. Employer | Lynchburg | ElectricianHVAC Technician | 69 | non-union |
J. C. DRISKILL, INC. Employer | VIRGINIA BEACH | Electrician | 68 | non-union |
Beckstrom Electric Employer | Purcellville | Electrician | 66 | non-union |
RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Employer | Fredericksburg | Electrician | 56 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Virginia may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Virginia?
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 Virginia 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.
Virginia Licensing
Virginia is a right-to-work state and has been an SAA state since 2019. The Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses tradesman through its Tradesmen Program covering electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, and other building trades. The Board for Contractors handles contractor-level licenses.