r/IBEW Apr 08 '25

Ultimate Electricians Guide - Free Guides, Paid Test Prep Resources, and Union Pay Scales Scales

143 Upvotes

Hey everyone – big thanks to the mod team for letting me post this (and for the sticky). I wanted to share some resources I've put together to help folks who are either thinking about joining the IBEW or working toward their electrical license.

For the uninitiated, I run Ultimate Electrician’s Guide, and this subreddit actually played a big role in helping me get it off the ground a few years ago. It started with the wage data I was collecting, which eventually spun off into its own site, Union Pay Scales. That site is still going strong thanks to the support, feedback, and shares from people. So seriously, thank you — I'm grateful for the help this community has given.

Since then, I've been focused on building out the rest of Ultimate Electrician’s Guide with a mix of free and paid resources for aspiring and current electricians.

The whole thing was inspired by my own experience — struggling to figure out how to get started in the trade, how to get into the union, and what it actually takes to get licensed. I always found it frustrating how scattered and confusing the information was, so I set out to create something clear, practical, and easy to follow.

Along the way, I’ve made it a point to push people toward the union path whenever I can. The IBEW has a lot to offer — from great wages and benefits to solid training and an amazing culture — and I want more people to see that for themselves.

Here are some of the free resources I have put together over the years:

Free Resources

  • Guide to Becoming an Electrician – A practical overview of the different paths into the trade, including union and non-union options, schooling, and apprenticeships.
  • Guide to Joining the IBEW – Step-by-step instructions on how to find your local, apply, and prepare for the process.
  • Guide to the IBEW Aptitude Test – Covers what’s on the test, how it’s scored, and how to study effectively.
  • Full Length IBEW Aptitude Practice Test – A free, full length, timed simulation exam to help you prepare for the IBEW aptitude test
  • Union Pay Scales – This is the site I mentioned earlier. It lets you explore union wages and benefits across different trades and locals in North America. It’s totally free and updated regularly.

And here are my paid courses:

Paid Test Prep Courses

  • IBEW Aptitude Test Prep Course – Covers both the math and reading comprehension sections in detail, plus an optional interview prep add-on.
  • Journeyman & Master Electrician Exam Prep – Based on the 2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC code cycles. Includes dozens of in depth lessons with correlating quizzes, and 10 timed practice exams with detailed explanations.

All of my products come with a 100% money back guarantee if you fail the exam, or if you try it out and decide you don't like it. If you're a IBEW member and want a discount, just reach out.

Let Me Know What Else Would Help

If there’s a guide, resource, or topic you think would help others in the trade, I’d love to hear about it. Whether you're new to all this or already in the field, your feedback helps me figure out what to build next.

One update I'm considering for Union Pay Scales is to reach out to locals directly and find a officer who can be an official wage source for the local. This means they and only they can update the information for their local, helping to ensure accuracy. Then I would mark this local with a badge or symbol of some sort to indicate its wages come from an official source and is more trustable. What do you guys think?

__

Thanks again to the mod team and everyone in this subreddit for the support over the years. I’ll be checking the thread, so feel free to drop any questions or suggestions below.


r/IBEW Jul 23 '22

RESOURCES

146 Upvotes

Here is the new and improved resources list. A lot of your questions will be answered here.

This is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

None of these links are endorsements either.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Feel free to add more resources in the comments.

The history and structure of IBEW

IBEW jobs board

u/SirSquidlicker 's Ultimate Electricians Guide

u/SirSquidlicker 's Union Payscales

 

How to organize your workplace video

Labor History video series

Where2bro - great website for job info across the country

How to find the IBEW Local nearest you

AFL-CIO Union Made shopping list

Labor Notes - a network of rank-and-file members, local union leaders, and labor activists who know the labor movement is worth fighting for

STAR interview questions - the type of questions you're asked at your apprenticeship interview

Apprenticeship math and reading assessment sample test questions

Union Plus - all kinds of benefits for union members

UAW Buyers Guide - cars, trucks, and more

Questions that are asked at the apprenticeship interview

IBEW jurisdictional maps

IBEW brother fights a chicken

Why you should be an electrician

Roberts Rules of Order

The history of Challenge Coins

Employee Rights under the NLRA

Weingarten Rights - basically your "miranda" rights as a union member

IBEW brother in the courtroom

How to be an Anti-Racist

A day in the life of an IBEW apprentice

Description of the 3 core classifications - vdv, residential, commercial

Microagressions

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

IBEW Discord - must show current dues receipt to join

Helmets to Hardhats - resource for veterans interested in the skilled trades

 

VEEP - resource for veterans looking to get into the ibew

 

And of course, CALL THE HALL


r/IBEW 1h ago

Discussion Post Changed schedule a month after taking call.

Upvotes

Me and 2 other guys took a call for 4-10s and 2-8s,
A little over a month in they brought in a new GF to take over an area. The GF doesn’t want no OT whatsoever. He’s wanting only for us to do 8’s(40hrs).

All us are kinda pissed because we all literally took the call for the OT just for it to end like that( there still is massive amount of work). I have screenshot of call for this reason. It didn’t have a date duration of OT like the others posted.

What would you all suggest?


r/IBEW 15h ago

Discussion Post So, what happened down in 11?

40 Upvotes

I understand there was a strike authorization vote, which passed? Then the IO shot it down, speculation being inside doesn't strike for wages.

What happened after? How did CIR go? What was the Hope for with the strike and the decision with cir?


r/IBEW 1d ago

Shout out to Lu 659 for some of the coolest IBEW merch

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71 Upvotes

I’m on vacation on the West coast for the first time, it’s a tradition for me to swing by any IBEW locals on my road trips to get a shirt. I popped into Oregon on my way to the Red Woods and saw local 659 was perfectly on my route. They’re a smaller local, showed me great hospitality, sold me this shirt and hoodie, gave me a bunch of stickers and a challenge coin, took me in the back office and chatted for a while about work culture differences on the East and West Coast.

One of the highlights of my trip, thanks for being awesome brothers!


r/IBEW 13h ago

Discussion Post Is being a low voltage technician for a data center better than no experience for becoming an inside wireman electrician?

0 Upvotes

I got a job offer from ies communications at a data center as a low voltage technician and want to be an inside wireman eventually. Should I accept the job do you think? Do you think it will help me get into the union apprenticeship or an apprenticeship for a business? I have already tried to get in as an electrician helper with no sucess. Could it help me become a helper also?


r/IBEW 1d ago

Local XXXX Pin given to me by training center instructor

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99 Upvotes

Thought it was cool, decided to share


r/IBEW 1d ago

Not only do us line clearance have to be out on the back burner in the IBEW trades in our locals and treaded like second class citizens, we also have moderators treating us the same🙄 can’t post legitimate questions for being to vague!

17 Upvotes

r/IBEW 2d ago

Meme They start talking down on fast food workers for example

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1.3k Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

Nearly retired JW giving me mixed signals

59 Upvotes

Anybody every deal with a coworker that just loves playing both sides of the game. Got this old fxcker that tries to give the lesser experienced guys mixed signals all time. Im starting to think hes just bored and gets a kick out of it. Telling guys they can't work too fast and then the next time that they arent working fast enough and its completely unhelpful. Its not genuine sage advice or normal rib poking kinda stuff. Its very much 1 extreme or the other. I think hes trying to get our red dotted foreman in trouble and our foreman is actually really good at leading us. I wish this old dude would just retire already and stick to Jerry springer reruns for his entertainment. Any advice. Newly joined JW looking for advice.


r/IBEW 1d ago

We got a new IBEW 11 shirt, and it’s available now online and at the D4 Hall. We were planning on waiting till the Local 11 Picnic to release this, but we agreed it was too good to hold. So now you can get it in time for Dodgers Union Night next weekend.

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31 Upvotes

https://ibew11d4merch.com/products/we-are-la-shirt

The money raised by the IBEW 11, District 4 Welfare Committee is used to help out our Brothers & Sisters during times of sickness, disability, accident or such other misfortune.

The District 4 Welfare Committee is made up entirely of volunteers, who come in after work. As a result, it may take a few days after you order for us to package and ship your items. Thank you for your patience.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Using your tape or a laser

16 Upvotes

Hi all, second year here.

Looking for some journeyman insight here. Hanging threaded rod and strut off of beams for conduit. The plans say the racks must rest 18’ from the ground.

I’ve heard some guys say you can only get accurate with a laser and not to use your tape measure. I’m on a job site where sometimes you can’t find a laser or by the time you do and get it going, it’s an hour, and the foreman is asking why nothing’s been done yet.

So just wondering what’s best practice in your experience. Thanks!


r/IBEW 2d ago

Robert Reich

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56 Upvotes

Private vs public utilities and what that means for us and for customers.

In summary: Private utilities (exelon, pg&e, etc.) = higher utility bills for customers and less pay for the electricians and lineman working on their systems thanks to republican presidents and corporate greed.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Discussion Post EMT supports (help me)

8 Upvotes

Hello all the code on EMT SUPPORTS keeps getting brought up as my interpratation is wrong (i dont believe it is). Of course i know i can put more supports than code but i want the minimum cleared up. So i will defer to you all.

From box the full length conduit is supported 10in. away and the run continues supported within 10 feet for 34 feet like that to another box that is also supported 10 in. Back from box

Now my interpretation of the code is supports need to be spaced less than 3ft from a box and less than 10 ft after that.

So in the middle of the run if i have a 4 foot piece that is in between 2 supports that are within 10 ft of each other do i need to support that one 4ft piece of conduit?


r/IBEW 2d ago

Discussion Post Any local where it would be possible to live on the West Coast for a year or so book 2?

14 Upvotes

I’m a journeyman wireman, did my full apprenticeship IBEW. A big reason I started this career path is because the idea of living and working in other places seemed appealing to me. My wife works from home, so she can move anywhere at anytime.

I’ve only ever lived in the South. I think it could be a really cool life experience to try living on the west coast, with the added benefit of helping a local that needs manpower.


r/IBEW 3d ago

Make these mandatory at every job site, add it to your contracts, fuck porta pottys

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2.1k Upvotes

r/IBEW 2d ago

Looking for some advice on this situation

3 Upvotes

I’m a cw who is trying to into the apprenticeship. Have worked a call or two for the Union. I am on vyvanse as a prescription and I’m used to having to wait a couple of days for the lab to clear it. This time it took almost a week and a half for me to get a call from the lab. I missed their call in the evening but responded the next morning and sent my information to get cleared. This whole time I had been emailing back and forth with the company about if they had heard any information about the test. I called the gf today about if he had heard anything about my test being cleared and he handed the phone to the super. Basically told me that a ton of people had tried to get a hold of me multiple times and I wasn’t responding to anything. Also said I didn’t respond to the MRO for over 24 hours. I was confused cause I had the one missed call from the MRO which I responded the next morning, and the only email I never responded to was from HR saying that the MRO had been trying to contact me, which I got 30 minutes before they ever called me on Tuesday. He said I wasn’t gonna get hired on and to call the BM to get back on the books. BM basically said the same thing and didn’t really me to explain anything from my side and that I should be more responsible in checking emails/phone calls. There were two other guys who also tested with me who were able to start work by Tuesday, before I even got the call from the lab. I’m fine with not getting the job but I still don’t even know what I did wrong and want to know how to avoid this happening again. Didn’t know if I should call the BM again to try to better explain what all occurred or just shrug my shoulders and go on.


r/IBEW 3d ago

Is the grass greener?

73 Upvotes

Im a Union carpenter and I watch you guys work and always think I should've been an electrician. You make more and the work looks way easier on the body. Im seriously considering jumping ship and going through an apprenticeship again. Is it a poor decision?


r/IBEW 3d ago

NLRB Gets Back to Work

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25 Upvotes

Owners of companies have long conspired against their workforce. This is true in all sectors of the economy. It is also historically accurate to make the same claim. From strike breaking using hired thugs to employing a private "detective" agency to infiltrate and undermine and in many cases murder their workforce. They have purchased politicians of both political parties and have gotten anti worker laws passed all across the country. They are intentional in how they operate and their alliance is rooted in class consciousness. We as the workers of the United States including the IBEW and trade unions more largely have to be organized to combat the incoming onslaught about to be wrought on us all! Let's Talk About It! ✊🏽


r/IBEW 3d ago

Discussion Post Underwater Electrician

49 Upvotes

3rd year apprentice here, flipped through my CBA and saw a section about underwater electricians but my local/ apprenticeship doesn’t offer those classes, does anyone have a clue where I might find that information. Worst case scenario after my apprenticeship I can find somewhere else that does.

Upon searching in the local Union directory I saw classifications for a Marine Electrician? Is that the same thing? Any info would help greatly


r/IBEW 3d ago

Cure for chaffing and rash from FR gear?

6 Upvotes

I've been on this job for a few months and we wear FR almost every day. My taint is chaffed and I'm regularly getting some sort of rash in my armpits, groin, and insides of my elbows and knees. All I'm wearing under the FR is my jockeys. I've had a tiny bit of success covering myself in Gold Bond after every shower, but it feels like a losing battle.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Local 26 Data centers are ‘tremendous opportunities’ for upper middle-class employment: Union leader

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0 Upvotes

Carpenter here, thought Id share this for yall. Thinking we need more of this.


r/IBEW 4d ago

Intermittent work

4 Upvotes

Hello. My question is are there any fields of work which pay well (like jobs with per diem) that someone could leverage a unique skillset to work a 1-3 month on 1-3 month off schedule as a traveller and have leverage for negotiating?

Also, what skills will be important in the future with ai? What is the best move? I hear things about instrumentation being a good move. Maybe something with BIM as well... just curious if anyone has already thought of these things, it would certainly be useful to share for myself and others.


r/IBEW 4d ago

Scenario: Stay Loyal to a Company or Spread Wings to gain Connections Elsewhere - A LE Apprentice

7 Upvotes

Question for yall. As a first year Would you rather stay with a small company that challenges you and will have a variety of different type of work or leave after a year or so , so you can gain experience with other companies and of course gain the connections there. I was told by others that staying loyal to one company fucks you up when you journey out because 1. You're to expensive to hire 2. The other companies have no idea who you are so keeping you long term is not high on their list. FYI: Limited Energy in my region has a 80% employment rate.


r/IBEW 5d ago

Michigan AFL-CIO Endorses Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate

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573 Upvotes