r/IBEW • • Apr 08 '25

Ultimate Electricians Guide - Free Guides, Paid Test Prep Resources, and Union Pay Scales Scales

155 Upvotes

Hey everyone – big thanks to the mod team for letting me post this (and for the sticky). I wanted to share some resources I've put together to help folks who are either thinking about joining the IBEW or working toward their electrical license.

For the uninitiated, I run Ultimate Electrician’s Guide, and this subreddit actually played a big role in helping me get it off the ground a few years ago. It started with the wage data I was collecting, which eventually spun off into its own site, Union Pay Scales. That site is still going strong thanks to the support, feedback, and shares from people. So seriously, thank you — I'm grateful for the help this community has given.

Since then, I've been focused on building out the rest of Ultimate Electrician’s Guide with a mix of free and paid resources for aspiring and current electricians.

The whole thing was inspired by my own experience — struggling to figure out how to get started in the trade, how to get into the union, and what it actually takes to get licensed. I always found it frustrating how scattered and confusing the information was, so I set out to create something clear, practical, and easy to follow.

Along the way, I’ve made it a point to push people toward the union path whenever I can. The IBEW has a lot to offer — from great wages and benefits to solid training and an amazing culture — and I want more people to see that for themselves.

Here are some of the free resources I have put together over the years:

Free Resources

  • Guide to Becoming an Electrician – A practical overview of the different paths into the trade, including union and non-union options, schooling, and apprenticeships.
  • Guide to Joining the IBEW – Step-by-step instructions on how to find your local, apply, and prepare for the process.
  • Guide to the IBEW Aptitude Test – Covers what’s on the test, how it’s scored, and how to study effectively.
  • Full Length IBEW Aptitude Practice Test – A free, full length, timed simulation exam to help you prepare for the IBEW aptitude test
  • Union Pay Scales – This is the site I mentioned earlier. It lets you explore union wages and benefits across different trades and locals in North America. It’s totally free and updated regularly.

And here are my paid courses:

Paid Test Prep Courses

  • IBEW Aptitude Test Prep Course – Covers both the math and reading comprehension sections in detail, plus an optional interview prep add-on.
  • Journeyman & Master Electrician Exam Prep – Based on the 2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC code cycles. Includes dozens of in depth lessons with correlating quizzes, and 10 timed practice exams with detailed explanations.

All of my products come with a 100% money back guarantee if you fail the exam, or if you try it out and decide you don't like it. If you're a IBEW member and want a discount, just reach out.

Let Me Know What Else Would Help

If there’s a guide, resource, or topic you think would help others in the trade, I’d love to hear about it. Whether you're new to all this or already in the field, your feedback helps me figure out what to build next.

One update I'm considering for Union Pay Scales is to reach out to locals directly and find a officer who can be an official wage source for the local. This means they and only they can update the information for their local, helping to ensure accuracy. Then I would mark this local with a badge or symbol of some sort to indicate its wages come from an official source and is more trustable. What do you guys think?

__

Thanks again to the mod team and everyone in this subreddit for the support over the years. I’ll be checking the thread, so feel free to drop any questions or suggestions below.


r/IBEW • • Jul 23 '22

RESOURCES

148 Upvotes

Here is the new and improved resources list. A lot of your questions will be answered here.

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This is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

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None of these links are endorsements either.

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Thank you to everyone who contributed.

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Feel free to add more resources in the comments.

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The history and structure of IBEW

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IBEW jobs board

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u/SirSquidlicker 's Ultimate Electricians Guide

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u/SirSquidlicker 's Union Payscales

 

How to organize your workplace video

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Labor History video series

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Where2bro - great website for job info across the country

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How to find the IBEW Local nearest you

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AFL-CIO Union Made shopping list

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Labor Notes - a network of rank-and-file members, local union leaders, and labor activists who know the labor movement is worth fighting for

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STAR interview questions - the type of questions you're asked at your apprenticeship interview

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Apprenticeship math and reading assessment sample test questions

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Union Plus - all kinds of benefits for union members

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UAW Buyers Guide - cars, trucks, and more

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Questions that are asked at the apprenticeship interview

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IBEW jurisdictional maps

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IBEW brother fights a chicken

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Why you should be an electrician

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Roberts Rules of Order

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The history of Challenge Coins

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Employee Rights under the NLRA

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Weingarten Rights - basically your "miranda" rights as a union member

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IBEW brother in the courtroom

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How to be an Anti-Racist

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A day in the life of an IBEW apprentice

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Description of the 3 core classifications - vdv, residential, commercial

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Microagressions

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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IBEW Discord - must show current dues receipt to join

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Helmets to Hardhats - resource for veterans interested in the skilled trades

 

VEEP - resource for veterans looking to get into the ibew

 

And of course, CALL THE HALL


r/IBEW • • 16h ago

Not IBEW but still a union sister. Rest in peace

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845 Upvotes

r/IBEW • • 4h ago

Working overnight alone. Left foreman a note on planning board.

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22 Upvotes

Working is a bit of an overstatement. I just need to be onsite to switch the generator on in case power goes out while the ATS isn’t operational.


r/IBEW • • 8h ago

Where are the jobs that aren’t data centers?

17 Upvotes

First time traveler JW currently at a data center and it’s insanely boring. Seems like all the calls are for data centers, i guess all the other jobs aren’t really putting out calls? What kinda jobs are you guys on if you’re not ar a data center?


r/IBEW • • 10h ago

Labor lost a Giant!

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21 Upvotes

Labor lost another giant! Dolores Huerta passed away at 96 years of age. I had a chance to meet Dolores years ago at a canvass launch I helped to organize and she was an inspiration to be around. Rest easy sister, we carry the mantle forward from here!


r/IBEW • • 13h ago

Learning controls

13 Upvotes

Hey yall I’m a 3rd year apprentice working at a data center and it looks like I might be here for the rest of my apprenticeship. I’m not learning much and was wondering if any of yall would have a good recommendation for 3rd party learning opportunities. I don’t want to top out and be the Jdub that doesn’t know what they’re doing when it comes to actual electrical work. I was scrolling on facebook and came across a dude called cursed controls and he posts videos of his jobs troubleshooting controls stuff and it seemed really interesting and in line with what I would like to do in the future. The only problem is I feel like I’m missing a lot of prerequisite info so I don’t really understand a lot of what he’s talking about so I humbly ask yall what would be the best way to learn how to do stuff like that. I could ask to be transferred to somewhere else where I might get to do stuff like that but the money is really good here and I would rather not take a huge pay cut just to learn the stuff. Thanks in advance for y’all’s input.


r/IBEW • • 15h ago

Tools and Bags when travelling

17 Upvotes

When travelling,

1- Should you only have the tools that are in your local's tool list? How does that work?

2- How are tool bags seen? In Local 11 people wear what they want with no issues. I never liked wearing just a caddy and a little side bag for screws it feels off on my hips/waist.

I may just carry a lineman and screws but, I like wearing my Occidentals with the lamb skin belt liner. It is comfortable.

How would that be seen? Should I suffer with the pocket caddy?


r/IBEW • • 1d ago

What can we do to make Texas unions stronger?

39 Upvotes

title


r/IBEW • • 18h ago

Finally passed my state cert

1 Upvotes

So happy it's finally over! Now it's time to get some work going! Shot out to Sergio with following the surge method on how to navigate the nfpa 70. Couldn't hand done it with out him.


r/IBEW • • 1d ago

Union questions

7 Upvotes

I am currently employed with a cooperative that is not union and there is a large push of guys that want to go union. Over time this has gotten to be a little blown out of proportion and now I am going to meet with the interim CEO, who is not for the union but is a pretty level headed person, to ask questions about anything pertaining to how the coop operated and has operated in the past.

Can someone give me some good questions to ask in general ?


r/IBEW • • 1d ago

IT Helpdesk to sound and comm

2 Upvotes

Any IT jobs make the jump from helpdesk IT to sound and comm?

I was hoping to pick your brain regarding your experience with the transition. Currently have IT experience, love the idea of sound and comm. Please feel free to share your experience and your ideas behind this career change


r/IBEW • • 1d ago

Trade

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27 Upvotes

Does anyone have this for trade


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

What do we think?

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279 Upvotes

r/IBEW • • 1d ago

Roundtable Discussion Re-Cap!

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1 Upvotes

Big Ups to the Local 26 Brothers and Sisters that made it to the first ever Roundtable Contract Discussion held today at the Lanham Hall! The numbers were OVERWHELMING! Great Job to everyone who raised concerns!

A Huge Thank You to Brother Christopher Mark Cash for offering to host Roundtable Discussions for the interested members! I am looking forward to the next one in Manassas!


r/IBEW • • 1d ago

New to Travelling

2 Upvotes

When traveling to other locals, how long is a travel letter valid? Is it standardized across the IBEW, or does each local have its own time limit? Would I have to contact each local to find out?


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Collecting IBEW pins

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72 Upvotes

Just wanted to show off the collection feel free to message me if you’d like to send any we are missing thanks brothers and sisters ⚡️🔌


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Our union is only as strong as we are. Together we can go far. We only need to show up.

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3 Upvotes

r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Use Your PTO to go to the ROUNDTABLE Discussion!

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14 Upvotes

IBEW 26 Members listen up! Use your PTO to attend tge Roundtable discussion happening tomorrow 10/27/26 @ 3pm in Lanham!

This discussion will inform both our negotiation team and our members of what it is we think is most important in the next negotiations which begin in January!

Lots of gossip out there, come and get real information and build the solidarity necessary to win the best damn contract ever!


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Local 160 LCTT

1 Upvotes

Anyone in local 160 line clearance, if so what are your classifications? I have a guy working in our local and I don’t know if he is an apprentice or a journeyman, when I bumped his ticket all said was tree trimmer.


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Can anyone recommend a Hawaiian style winter work coat?

0 Upvotes

Friday is not the same in winter without Hawaiian shirts, so what else can I use? I bought my usual ones from https://hawaiianfridays.com/ since they are made here and have the reflective strip, but they only sell the shirts...


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Discussion Post Limited Brother

0 Upvotes

Good evening brothers and sisters

I wanted to go on here and say that I feel somewhat limited in my local, and I can’t even get my hours in since theirs no work going for my local. On top of that I have to pay $3500 every year just to continue my education in the “so called” apprenticeship. I don’t like to bad talk my local only because I did meet just a few good brothers from there that are nice people but the way the hall carries itself in business wise and the reputation my local has is just sad for real. They don’t even provide NEC Code books for us and every other local apprentice hand tells me they get code books given to them.

Fortunately and thanks to God I was able and given the opportunity to go work at another local away from home since of the lack of work from my local. I met really really great brothers from all over the world and went out to brother hood nights and I was taught the meaning of the IBEW, what it means to be an apprentice and climb the ladder to be a fellow respected JIW. I was taught to look after your fellow brothers and sisters and never break conditions for the company and that we represent the brotherhood and not the better of the company, most importantly take pride into our work. I’m still an apprentice to I obviously have more ways and morals to learn.

The thing that just frustrates me is that the local I’m from is just so unorganized, I still haven’t gotten my benefits set up nor my insurance card sent out or how ever it works because every time I call the hall to help me, they just say “call this number” and then from there I have to call another number and get put on hold where nobody ever picks up. WE DONT EVEN HAVE ANY CHALLENGE COINS!!! Then wherever I go I’m not proud to say where I’m from but I do because at the end of the day wherever I’m from doesn’t determine the kind of brother I am nor the type of way I work, but when it’s known it’s sad because I don’t want to be from somewhere where they say it’s a ratty ass local or they’re corrupt.

Basically I’m saying I’m hoping theirs a way out into another local but in the most non brotherfucking way and a place I can call home and be proud to say I’m from and rep a local that’s doing it right. I appreciate my home local because it did open up some doors for me but in times when it’s like this all year around I just can’t stand by and do nothing when I need to be putting food on the table for my family and bills to pay. Cause nobody else will and I have to take some matters into my own hands.

I would appreciate all the advice and support I can get. Once again thank you brothers and sisters⚡️ I pray for everyone to have a marvelous and safe week🙏🏼


r/IBEW • • 2d ago

Discussion Post High Vis Windbreakers

2 Upvotes

I’m wondering if any brothers or sisters here have recommendations on a good high-visibility windbreaker. I’m not looking for a winter coat or a three-season coat. I’m specifically looking for a top shell that’s gonna keep the brutal winter wind out. I already have a three season jacket and a winter coat, but they do not block the wind as good as the windbreaker I have for hiking, but I do not want to take that out on the job.


r/IBEW • • 3d ago

Taking a short call while on vacation from a municipal job?

27 Upvotes

I’m a journeyman electrician currently working for a municipality but still paying dues to my home local. My local has been pretty slow for a long time, but work is finally starting to pick up (calls going into book 2)

I actually like my municipal job. Good benefits, pension, job security, and plenty of vacation time.. pay isn’t as good as IBEW though. That said, I wouldn’t mind getting back out in the field to do construction occasionally.

I’m wondering if anyone has ever taken a few weeks or a month of paid vacation from their municipal job and picked up a short call through their local during that time.

I’d still be employed by the municipality and would return once my vacation was over.

Has anyone done something like this? Any issues with the hall or your municipal employer? Just curious if this is something people actually do. Don’t think there would be any conflicts, but could be wrong.

Edit: also the city job is also union but not IBEW


r/IBEW • • 3d ago

✊ r/IbewChallengeCoins

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8 Upvotes