8,000 Apprenticeship Opportunities Right Here
This age-old path to training allows you to earn while you learn.
Recognizing strong demand for talent in selected industries, the US Department of Labor has organized a recruiting platform for certified apprenticeships. There are currently about 8,000 entry-level openings on this site alone.
The boom in apprenticeships — there were 667,000 registered apprentices in 2024, up from 360,000 in 2015 — is part of a broader change. The college path to jobs is in decline because of its high cost, but training and certification of skills are still needed. Here’s how apprenticeship works.
What Exactly is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a structured, industry-driven training program that blends on-the-job experience with classroom instruction, allowing individuals to “earn while they learn” in a chosen trade or profession.
These programs typically last one to six years, depending on the occupation, and culminate in a nationally portable credential, such as a journeyworker certificate, that signals proficiency to employers nationwide.
The credential is key — this isn’t just learning on the job — it’s training, working toward a valuable certification. The certification is the end goal.
Participants, known as apprentices, work full-time for an employer while attending related technical instruction — often 144 hours per year — for subjects like safety protocols, blueprint reading, or specialized software. Unlike traditional college degrees, apprenticeships emphasize practical application over theory.
Eligibility usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, being at least 16 or 18 years old (depending on the field), and passing any aptitude tests or background checks.
How Much Do You Get Paid During Training?
Bear in mind that you’re getting trained for free at the expense of your employer, so pay rates start out low. Starting pay varies widely by industry and location but typically range from $15 to $25 per hour nationally — translating to $31,200 to $52,000 annually for full-time work. In high-demand trades like electrical work in urban areas, entry rates can hit $20–$29 hourly, while rural manufacturing might start at $10–$15.
Halfway through your apprenticeship, wages typically rise 20–50% as apprentices master competencies, often tied to periodic evaluations.
Benefits like health insurance, paid leave, and retirement contributions are usually standard, enhancing total compensation, though you should confirm specifics before accepting an apprenticeship.
How Much Do You Get Paid After Training?
Upon completion of an apprenticeship, average starting salaries jump to $80,000 annually, with journeymen in construction or manufacturing earning $60,000–$100,000, and tech roles pushing $90,000–$120,000. That said, for some apprenticed jobs, like teacher aide and culinary chef, final expected pay is a lot less. Obviously pay rates vary by occupation, so make sure the occupation you’re training for earns what you need.
Most importantly, apprenticeships give you a portable credential, which will open doors to advancement for the long-term. Completing an apprenticeship not only indicates to employers that you have verified skills but also that you are capable of going the distance, sticking with an employer and a training program for an extended period of time.
Ninety-percent of those who complete apprenticeship training are given a permanent job by the employer who sponsored them.
What Kinds of Jobs Offer Apprenticeships?
Registered apprenticeships cluster in industries requiring technical expertise and manual dexterity, though they’ve expanded into white-collar fields like IT and healthcare. In fiscal year 2024, construction dominated, accounting for the lion’s share of participants. Here’s a breakdown of the most common industries, based on the current number of apprentices:
Construction: Over 451,000 apprentices, a 22% increase from five years prior. This sector leads due to chronic labor shortages in infrastructure projects. Top occupations include electricians (installing and maintaining electrical systems), plumbers and pipefitters (handling water and gas lines), carpenters (framing and finishing structures), and operating engineers (managing heavy machinery like bulldozers). These roles demand precision and safety awareness, with apprentices progressing from basic tasks to supervisory positions.
Advanced Manufacturing: Approximately 96,500 participants, up 27% over the past five years. Manufacturing apprenticeships focus on automation and precision engineering. Common occupations: machinists (operating CNC machines to fabricate parts), welders (joining metals via heat and pressure), and industrial maintenance technicians (repairing factory equipment).
Information Technology and Technology: Around 64,800 apprentices, reflecting a 29% rise in four years. Tech apprenticeships bridge the digital divide, targeting roles like software developers (coding applications), cybersecurity analysts (protecting networks from threats), and IT support specialists (troubleshooting hardware). These programs often appeal to younger demographics, with classroom components covering coding bootcamps and certifications like CompTIA.
Healthcare: 37,325 apprentices, a significant uptick driven by aging populations. Key occupations: medical assistants (administering patient care), pharmacy technicians (dispensing medications), and surgical technologists (preparing operating rooms). Apprenticeships here emphasize compliance with HIPAA and hands-on simulations.
Energy: 25,473 participants, boosted 43% in five years. Prominent roles: wind turbine technicians (maintaining renewable installations), solar photovoltaic installers, and power plant operators.
Education: Nearly 13,000 apprentices, a 425% surge, focusing on paraprofessionals like teacher aides and childcare specialists.
Hospitality: 9,942 apprentices, up 76%, in roles like culinary chefs and hotel managers.
Pluses and Minuses
Pluses: The foremost advantage is financial: zero tuition debt, immediate income, and built-in raises. Hands-on learning accelerates mastery — apprentices often outperform peers with only classroom training — while mentorship builds networks and soft skills like problem-solving.
Minuses: Duration poses a challenge — three to five years can feel protracted compared to a two-year associate degree, delaying full earning potential. Initial pay, while competitive, lags behind some salaried roles. Physical trades like construction involve risks — injuries, weather exposure — and irregular hours, leading to burnout. Limited geographic mobility ties apprentices to sponsors, and classroom commitments (evenings or weekends) strain work-life balance.
Next Steps
If this sounds like a possibility for you, take a look at the available openings. A couple of things to bear in mind. First, make sure that the apprenticeship ends in a certification. Otherwise it’s just on-the-job training, which is nice but it’s not the same as getting a credential. Second, an apprenticeship is a multi-year commitment in which you only get the credential only if you stay the course. If the job is not in your area and you’d have to move to take it, that’s fine if it’s somewhere you’d like to be anyway or if the credential is really valuable, but if you have doubts think twice because you’d be stuck there for a long time. All that said, if it’s a good fit, apply!
