Why Electrical?
The world runs on wire. Learn to run the wire.
Skilled trades are retiring faster than they're being replaced. If you like working with your hands and figuring out how things work, this is one of the smartest career bets in the West.
3-5
Years to graduate
$45+
Per hour, top CA apprentice wages*
$0
Apprentice tuition — employer paid
100%
In-demand, everywhere
Is this you?
Do you like working with your hands, enjoy working with tools, and can figure out how things work? Then the electrician or low voltage tech path may be an excellent fit — a respected, needed profession in an increasingly electrified world.
Electricians and low voltage technicians earn good salaries for their skill. Many work for contractors; plenty go on to own contracting businesses themselves, employing and training the next generation.
How you get there
Two paths, both through WECA:
- Apprenticeship — get hired by a member contractor, earn wages on the job, and attend two-week class intensives. Tuition is paid by your employer. 3-5 years depending on program.
- Electrician Trainee program — California's flexible entry path. Evening webcasts or self-paced online classes while you independently gain on-the-job hours. About $1,513/year.
Either way, you finish qualified to sit for the state certification exam.
What training costs, compared
- WECA Apprenticeship$0 (employer paid)
- WECA Electrician Trainee~$1,513/yr
- CA community college~$1,500/yr
- In-state university$5,472–$13,456/yr
- Private college~$30,131/yr
Tuition comparison figures from WECA's career resources. *Wages vary by program, work type, and location.
Women in WECA Apprenticeship
More and more women are entering the trade through a WECA apprenticeship — and rising to the top of their classes.
Where the career can take you
An electrical education is a trunk with a lot of branches:
Journeyperson Electrician
Certified, in demand, well paid
Foreman / Supervisor
Lead crews and jobsites
Project Manager / Estimator
Run the business side of builds
Contractor / Owner
Build your own shop
Career advisors: pointing students toward the trades? We're glad to help with materials, tours, and our student referral service. Get in touch.