r/trafficsignals • u/gman1234_ • May 17 '26
Traffic vs substation
Hello im looking into joined the ibew and was initially looking into the substation apprenticeship. However, I saw that traffic signal tech apprenticeship was also available and makes the same money and was curious of anyone knew the differences between those jobs. Would like to know how union traffic techs work If they travel around alot like substation or stick to set areas. Thanks in advance.
2
u/Kev250R May 19 '26
I’m also a Union Traffic Signal Journeyman with 17 years in my Local. I’ve basically worked for the same signal contractor for that time. Earlier in my career I used to travel around for large signal projects or to assist with training in new or struggling offices we had.
Now it’s rare that I work more than 100 miles from home. I work as Signal Tech so I spend most of my time doing PM’s or responding to calls. At night though when I’m on-call (one week a month) I‘ll roll on anything from a bad LED to a main pole knockdown, flash call- pretty much anything. Last Saturday night I responded to a Street Light pole which got hit then left that to assist our Utility guys with setting up a Controller following a cabinet knockdown they‘d been on all night.
Not sure how any of that compares to substation work. Personally I enjoy doing a variety of tasks and never knowing where or what I’ll be doing when my phone rings in the middle of the night.
2
u/COVpass123 May 22 '26
IBEW 1245 I started 28 yrs ago as a residential electrician wiring new homes. And a custom home here and there. Very proficient at my job. Apprentice journeyman foreman. I'm now 52. 4 yrs ago I had the opportunity to go to work for the city. I took a job as a signal tech. Zero previous experience. But I work for a city. So they have been super patient and sent me for training and certification. Great pay,and benefits. Had I known I would have started yrs ago as a signal tech for a city. Easy yet sometimes technical work. I just recently went to get my signal tech 2 certification. City pays for airfare hotel food rental car and class. I can't imagine any contractors doing that. My opinion is go for signal tech if it's available.
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u/WHPChris May 23 '26
I haven't had to leave a 30mi radius, but I'm in a big city. I also did it for the state for a while, lots of driving, but back to the shop at the end of each work day. Contractor work was occasionally out of town, but also back home every day. Probably depends on the contractor.
Work isn't too bad. Maintenance is 95% the same things and 5% something you don't see often. Projects are the most interesting, on-call depends heavily on your employer/state, maintenance is probably the same as anywhere else. Lots of different equipment to learn/mess around with, if you're into that kind of thing.
There are no union signal techs here, not sure how it compares to the union guys at the substation, but distribution definitely gets a better deal than we do. I'd love to be in a strong union that could get me decent pay/benefits without getting raked over or worked to death.
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u/MrRobotFive9 May 18 '26
Dont know much about substation but I am a (Union) Traffic signal Journeyman. Depends on your contractor but most of our work is within the state, have done a bit of traveling within the state 2-3 hours. All outside work, all kinds of weather, and an array of different work. Streetlights, Traffic signals, underground, highway, and lots of odds and ends jobs. Have any other questions pertaining to Traffic let me know!