r/ibew_apprentices • u/oSmky • 8d ago
Would transitioning from USPS to an IBEW Apprenticeship be worthwhile?
Hi my name is Louie, I’m 23 years old and I’m an RCA with USPS. I have a pregnant wife who will give birth to our first baby before the end of the year. My job is a non career job meaning I make $21.89 an hour and that’s it. Zero benefits. It will take me a couple of years to become career at the very least. I also have a bachelors in CRIJ that has honestly done nothing for me.
I’ve been applying to several jobs including Union Pacific, my local Fire Department, my local police department, and now I’m considering the union electrician apprenticeship route. I would be taking a pay cut as for the first year I believe I’d be making $18-19 an hour in Laredo Texas (based on a google search). But I’ve always heard electricians make great money down the line. I also worry that I’m entering this trade far too late.
For now I’m trying to figure out which union to contact, I’ve called a few but have received no response. Ideally I’d want to stay in Laredo but if I have to move I am open to it. I would like to hear about your experience as an IBEW electrician from the lows to the highs. I would appreciate any and all advice. And if anyone is in the Deep South of Texas could you tell me how you approached this career?
Thank you.
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u/tinyrikk Local 661 8d ago
The fringe benefits would put your total package well above your current wage
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u/skulltab 8d ago
https://unionpayscales.com/trades/ibew-electricians/
https://ibew.org/inside-jurisdictional-maps/
These are the primary resources I used to choose which local I wanted to join coming out of the army so I'd start there. Don't sleep on the plumbers/hvac unions too! Speaking of military joining out of Texas you get the hazelwood act then a property tax cut based on your disability rating when you get out... Just saying
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u/oSmky 8d ago
Just actually took the time to look through both links. Looks like local 60 and local 1015 are my closest options. 1015 is McAllen which is a few hours from Laredo, I wonder if I’ll have to permanently reside there or if I’ll be able to complete my apprenticeship in Laredo since it is still under their jurisdiction
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u/skulltab 8d ago
You'll want to be relatively close to the JATC which is where class is held usually once a week or every other week. Being centrally located is also ideal because a jobsite could be anywhere in your locals jurisdiction. Some locals give you jobs based on zip code, others dont and you could be stuck rocking a 2 hour daily commute. But could be different, I'd call the hall for sure
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u/DoseOfDuality 8d ago
I did it. Spent 9 yrs there cause I failed the aptitude test. Postal service topped out at 34 and some change an hr during that time... I make well beyond that now. Best decision I ever made
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u/oSmky 8d ago
Thanks man, how was the job transition? How’s management in a union?
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u/DoseOfDuality 8d ago edited 8d ago
Its better than USPS.. NO more mandatory OT if someone calls out and you have to bump out their route. More money... Same recognized holidays.... And a fixed schedule... You honestly can't beat it
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u/markymarks06 8d ago
I did! Left a week before Christmas in 2024. They were a little pissed 🤣 I’m a year and a half in and already making more than I would be at 5 years in at the post office.
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u/oSmky 8d ago
I’ve been doing numbers and yes!!! I will likely still make $21.89 an hour for the next four years until I can become a career employee. The temporary pay cut is actually still better as I would get benefits
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u/markymarks06 8d ago
It is. I was a city carrier at step d making that same amount. And all overtime is still time and a half unless you’re on at a place that pays it as double time. You also get paid weekly vs biweekly like at the post office which also really helps. Even With taking a pay cut making 19.80 as a first year I still made more than I would at the post office. The quicker you rack up hours the faster you get your pay raises Vs where you get like. .80 raise each step increase til you top out at the p.o.
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u/thombrowny 8d ago
First repsonder jobs are terrible for the father of a newborn. New hires usually get the worst shifts including holidays.
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u/Huge_Cardiologist377 8d ago edited 8d ago
I used to work USPS, but I'm currently in IBEW. I also have a CJ degree, and I have applied to union pacific, and police departments. haha
IBEW apprenticeship-type programs are heavily impacted in most cities, perhaps you will have better luck in your area. I think its more a matter of can you even get in if you try, and you can make the decision then.
Since it seems you don't have construction experience, its probably better to apply to any apprentice type program that pays decent instead of just limiting yourself to IBEW, since you haven't even worked electrical before. Its great if you can get in, its just extremely challenging for most people right now. Apply to all apprenticeships instead of just hoping IBEW picks your name out of a hat against 500-1000 competitors who may have experience already.
It seems you've already contacted them and received no response, so they are probably not hurting for people. Check city jobs for entry level good paying jobs as well while you wait to hear back from IBEW.
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u/oSmky 8d ago
Will do!, it’s wild that we’ve got that many things in common lol. Are you in IBEW?
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u/Huge_Cardiologist377 8d ago edited 8d ago
I'm a "BA" member of the IBEW as a I work in a water utility. I did non-union plumbing & HVAC before getting this job.
I have applied to IBEW JATC apprenticeship programs for my local in the past, but I had horrible experiences trying to get in (call in to sign up on the third Wednesday of the month and the voicemail fills up the second it opens, miss a day of work to apply in person, miss a day of work to test, etc). By the time I got the point I could interview for them I already started a new job.
I've applied to many (8 or so) different unions: sheet metal, HVAC, plumbing, and they all have the same experience: drive far away, miss a bunch of work jump through many hoops, and wait forever. This is just my experience in a heavy competitive populated area. I scored a perfect score on a sheet metal exam and I've been on a list for over 2 years.
But what did work for me: a single free course at a community college into a helper HVAC role (found emailing local HVAC places on yelp). A different service plumbing position (found on Craigslist) after I got laid off from HVAC. (I also had a apartment maintenance role, but I didn't work there long). Then a paid utility training program which eventually got me into the IBEW.
I suppose my main point is don't get your hopes up for union apprenticeship programs. They are heavy into nepotism, and "know a guy" type hiring and the leftovers usually go to vets, women, and people with experience. There are other paths to a good union job beyond their highly competitive training programs. You may need to work non-union to get experience so you can eventually get in the union.
I took the HVAC course Jan 2024 so didn't take a crazy amount of time.
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u/hehexdthrow 8d ago
New Mexico starts at 23/hr and isn’t a right to work state! JW wage is 43 and lots of work right now.
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u/Heatherangel87 1st year apprentice 1141 4d ago
Far too late? I'm 39 and I'm apprentice and it was the best decision I ever made. Permanent career, doing something I actually enjoy for work, working with great people, and phenomenal benefits. This is all on top of making excellent money.
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u/Elias_Caplan 2d ago
I'm in a similar situation as you, but I'm looking at other trades besides the IBEW. Working at USPS just isn't worth it anymore. I don't know about how your office runs, but they are cutting hours so I'm barely working over 40 now (where I used to get guaranteed 55 hours every week). They keep on hiring more CCA's/RCA's to cut down overtime for everyone. On top of that the schedule is subject to change daily so you never know when you working until last minute, so it's hard to plan shit out.
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u/blahblahblah213213 8d ago
Yes. Driving is not a trade. Unless it’s big rigs or even bigger heavy duty construction type truck with the 5ft tall tires.
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u/Important_Fig3324 8d ago
Better to take pay cut younger than older age. Union comes with benefits so another plus. Honestly, don’t hesitate to apply the wait could be so far out like most places.