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currently 5 years in at USPS as a carrier, and highly considering a career change into a union trade. while the job is not difficult, the pay, benefits, and work environment are just not there. management does not follow the contract, does not get reprimanded for violating it, and our union at the top level is a little disappointing. our last contract we got a 4.2% raise over 3 years.

after 5 years, I’m around $27 an hour, I don’t get full cost of living adjustments, and my insurance hardly covers anything and takes out $100+ a paycheck. currently on track to reach top pay around 39 an hour in 7 more years. coworker of mine his son is in the painters union, makes the same as me, with all of his benefits paid by employer in his first year, which sounds a lot better than what I have now.

looking for recommendations on which trades are good to look into? I’m 26 and located in southeast michigan/ metro detroit. don’t mind working in elements, but I have no trade experience outside of simple home improvement stuff

I'm looking to start a career in the electrical trade and eventually specialize in one of these four areas:

EV Charging Infrastructure Specialist

Data Center Electrician

Industrial Automation Electrician

Renewable Energy Electrician

I currently live in Iowa, but I'm open to relocating if there's a better training program, apprenticeship, or job opportunity in another state.

I don't have an associate degree or professional electrical experience, so I'm looking for a realistic path to enter one of these fields from the beginning.

I'd appreciate advice on the following:

Which of these four specialties would you recommend for someone starting from zero, considering pay, job stability, demand, and long-term career growth?

What is the best route to get there: a paid apprenticeship, trade school, community college, or starting as an electrical helper?

Are there employers that hire beginners with no electrical experience and provide paid training?

Are there affordable training programs that accept FAFSA or other financial aid?

If you were starting over today with no electrical experience, which path would you choose and why?

My goal is to start as soon as possible, earn money while gaining experience if possible, and eventually become a specialist rather than remain a general electrician indefinitely.

I'm open to opportunities across the United States, but advice about Iowa and the surrounding states would also be appreciated.

I'd especially appreciate responses from electricians, apprentices, and people currently working in these specialties. Thank you!

Hello! IBEW Local 103 (Greater Boston area) just announced that they will be accepting applications online from January 4 to 29, 2027. Sharing a quick overview of the announcement below:

Program Information:

Local 103 has two apprenticeships:

1. Electrical Program
2. Telecommunications Program (Low-Voltage)

Key Dates:

• January 4, 2027: Online applications open
• January 29, 2027: Online applications close
• March – April 2027: In-person aptitude test at the JATC in Dorchester, MA
• June 2027: Applicants must earn high school diploma, GED, or HiSET required by now
• July – August 2027: Selected apprentices start work
• August 31, 2027: You must be 18 by this date
• September 2027: Classes begin

Minimum Requirements:

• Age: 18 or older – applicants must turn 18 by August 31, 2027
• Education: High school diploma, GED or HiSET, or an associate degree or higher, by June 2027
• Residence: Live within Local 103's jurisdiction (Greater Boston area)
• Work eligibility: Legally eligible to work in the United States
• Drug test: Must pass before starting, with random testing after. Marijuana is not permitted.
• Aptitude test: Local 103 uses the GAN Aptitude Battery and does not set a minimum score. The higher your score, the better your ranking.
• Interview: None – Local 103 replaced the interview with the GAN Personal Experience Form.

I hope this is a helpful notice in case anyone in the Boston area might have missed the announcement. You have plenty of time!

I graduate from Lincoln tech in December for HVAC(with my EPA universal, osha 30, and about 580 hours of apprenticeship time), and I really have no real direction on what I want to do(I know I don’t want to do residential); how difficult is it to land commercial apprenticeship positions? (I live in Connecticut for reference)

Hello , to every trade worker in New York is hiring common in the winter time? I know a lot of trade businesses like HVAC and Electrical slow down,

I’m looking for work, I’m fresh out of college at 18 with my OSHA 30 , EPA Universal and F60. I been calling and showing up to vans for around 4 months now and was wondering what steps should I take now that its winter. I do know local 3 is taking applications aswell. Anybody willing to take me in? Im willing to learn I also did boilerwork in the past