Our last kid who is 20 wants to learn and become an electrician..he is smart as can be and made great grades..but like other kids didn't want to go to college after school. He's a hard worker and has a steady job but wants to go into the electrical field..he loves fixing things and builds a lot of gaming computers etc.. what's the best route to get him going..possible college or are there any electrical companies that may take him on and let him work while training? any suggestions would be appreciated

He could look up the Local IBEW for whatever area ya'll are in. They'll do a 4 or 5 year paid apprenticeship. Once he become a Journeyman he would probably be in the 35+ range with as much work as he would want, maybe more money depending on where he ends up. The IBEW guys that work with me here at Googles data center are all making very, very good money. The Best benefits that a man could ask for too, While still working for the man.

Everyone has their opinions on Unions and etc, but at some point you just have to decide if it's worth the "being in a Union" bashing that you'll take from the "anti-union" crowd.

The IBEW guys that I work with are the sharpest electricians that I've ever been around. Chattanooga has a strong IBEW local, though. I'm not familiar with others.

I used to work for an industrial/commercial company.

Hard work and time on the job will get you most of the way. He would start as a helper (gopher) and they will abuse him. After a while, they’ll respect him and he will become trainable (apprentice), more training and time - journeyman and if he wants to make money - master.

He should be prepared to make very little money and work his butt off for a while, BUT - there is money to be made. You can look it up - but I think a technical school certificate reduces the amount of time/hands on.

Most electrical contractors will be more than willing to take him on if he’s serious about learning the trade.

Also, plenty of avenues that he can go into in that field. Some of our Guys are Sub-Station guys, Some have worked with Controls all of their careers. Two different ends of the spectrum, So there's plenty in between. If he's into gaming type of electrical "stuff", he may be interested in the Controls portion of electrical world. Guys that know how to write code for controls systems and etc can do really well for themselves..and it isn't physically hard work at all.

I'll second looking into the IBEW. I've been a member for 18 years. Like jbatey1 said, the money and benefits are excellent. It is a 5 year program with 4000 hours of OJT. Doesn't cost but a couple hundred a year for books and unlike college, you're working getting the required OJT while you go. Just like any job, you have your good workers and you have your bad ones. The ones that bash the unions don't fully understand them. Every contract is negotiated by a mix of union officials and management of the company. Negotiated being the key word. There are some things management doesn't like and some that IBEW doesn't like, but is agreed on. When there are problems is when management wants to do things their own way and deviate from the agreement. That's when the unions start their processes (grievances) to make them do what the agreement says. People can call them whiners and crybabies all they want, but the workers have a say in the way things go.

I’ll second what Batey said. I’m around electricians every day I’m at work and the industrial/controls folks do very well for themselves. I know guys in commercial/residential that do well but it seems like they work a whole lot harder for their money. If there are any tech schools around that specialize in electrical drives and automation, that’s the direction Id point him in.

I spent 32 years in the electrical industry. I worked in transmission line construction, distribution and substation design.
I was a construction electrician in the Navy SeaBees and instructor at Gulfport CBC.
If this guy is young and in good shape I'd highly recommend the SeaBees as a great place to learn. But I'll also recommend the IBEW. They have very professional training and apprentice programs.

Get a class a cdl...by some tools(hooks,supersqueeze,channel locks, good made in usa klein dikes, good 3lb-5lb hammer...good gloves) start applyin for every powerline contractor he can...somebody will pick him up..i went to school...was a waste of money..we hired more dudes with a cdl and could drive than anything..youll learn everything else from the ground up...when you buildem a little while..then consider an apprentice program...i been there an dunnit already...biggest deal is...dont be affraid to travel,have a good vehicle, THICK SKIN!!!!

Here ya go IBEW apprenticeship

There was no schools when I started. No CDL either. The only way to learn was hard knocks. Still the best way in my opinion.

IBEW Birmingham local #136
IBEW Shoals area #558

Gradfather retired as IBEW electrician and my dad did it for about 10+ years before going back to school to become a minister. Union always treated them well. If you polled them, they would vote die hard conservative libertarian or republican.

Thanks for all the info..

Big money in being able to troubleshoot VFD and PLCs. Even bigger if he can actually write programming for them.

I have a son that it 16 (10th grade) and I'm kinda hoping he decides to go the trade route. What does the average union electrician make? I have 3 college degrees, but am leaning towards trades as my advice for him.

Another vote for the IBEW.

35 or 40 bucks an hour for a Journeyman.

I made over 100k annually. But a good electrician can practically write his own check. I'm a big fan of the trades.
I don't advocate spending 300,000 on a college party unless you've already spent a few years in a real world job and then get an engineering degree.

^^^This^^^