Short answer: In the four big Texas metros, electrician helpers earned about $15 to $22 an hour in May 2025, from the 10th percentile to the median, and the lowest-paid electricians about $18 to $19. Published first-year apprentice rates run from $16.25 (IEC Fort Worth) to $21.07 an hour (Austin JATC), and union scales rise by set steps.
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Two kinds of numbers
- Federal wage data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys employers for its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). We use the May 2025 estimates for electrician helpers (code 47-3013) and electricians (code 47-2111). A new apprentice is usually paid like a helper or like the lowest-paid electricians.
- Published program rates. Some apprenticeship programs post their first-year pay. These are real rates, and they apply to apprentices in those programs.
How to read a percentile: the 10th percentile is the pay that 10% of workers earn less than. The median is the middle.
Federal wage data by metro (May 2025)
| Metro | Helpers: 10th percentile to median | Electricians: 10th to 25th percentile | Helpers employed | Electricians employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $17.36 to $21.56 | $18.66 to $22.71 | 1,810 | 19,730 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $17.32 to $21.39 | $18.63 to $22.85 | 2,200 | 20,930 |
| Austin | Not published | $18.87 to $22.97 | Not published | 7,340 |
| San Antonio | $15.34 to $19.55 | $18.01 to $21.78 | 500 | 6,660 |
| Texas statewide | $16.78 to $21.33 | $18.23 to $22.44 | 7,320 | 76,770 |
Hourly pay. Metro means the federal metropolitan area. BLS does not publish Austin helper figures for this period (BLS OEWS, read through the BLS Public Data API).
Published first-year apprentice rates
| Metro | Program | First-year pay | How it grows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Houston Electrical JATC (union) | $17.33 an hour | A raise after each year you complete (source) |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | North Texas Electrical JATC (union) | $20.33 an hour | 50% of the journeyman rate ($40.65) at the start, rising to 80% in the last year (source) |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | IEC Fort Worth | $16.25 an hour | Raises about every 1,000 hours (source) |
| Austin | Austin JATC (union) | $21.07 an hour | 55% of journeyman pay at the start, $38.30 at journeyman (2026 scale) (source) |
| San Antonio | South Texas Electrical JATC (union) | $19.79 an hour | $23.67 in year two, $38.80 at journeyman (source) |
| Beaumont area | Beaumont Electrical Training Center (union) | 50% of the journeyman rate, which the program says is over $32 | Steps up to 80% before completion (source) |
What this means for you
- Plan your budget on the low end. Use the 10th percentile for your metro as your first-year planning number, and count raises as a bonus.
- Union pay is written down. Houston, North Texas, Austin, South Texas and Beaumont publish their steps, so you can see your raises in advance.
- Benefits count too. Houston Electrical JATC says apprentices get the same health insurance and pensions as journeymen, with health insurance starting about five months after full-time work begins. North Texas Electrical JATC lists employer-paid health insurance, a pension and an annuity that starts in the second year (Houston, North Texas).
- Ask every non-union employer what the starting rate is, when the first raise comes and whether it pays your class tuition.
For first-year costs (license, renewal, tuition and tools), see first-year costs for a Texas apprentice.
Next step on the Texas ladder
- All Texas electrician licenses and exams in one place
- All 68 TDLR-registered apprenticeship programs, by city and type
- Plan your dates with the Texas electrician license timeline
- Texas electrician license statistics
- Try 20 free Texas Journeyman practice questions
FAQ
How much does an apprentice electrician make in Texas?
Published first-year rates in Texas programs run from $16.25 an hour at IEC Fort Worth to $21.07 an hour at the Austin JATC. In federal May 2025 data, electrician helpers in the four big metros earned about $15 to $22 an hour between the 10th percentile and the median.
What is the starting pay for a union electrical apprentice in Houston?
Houston Electrical JATC lists $17.33 an hour to start, with a raise after each year you complete.
What do electrical apprentices make in Dallas-Fort Worth?
North Texas Electrical JATC starts at $20.33 an hour, 50% of its $40.65 journeyman rate, and IEC Fort Worth lists $16.25 an hour with raises about every 1,000 hours.
Do Texas electrical apprentices get benefits?
Many union apprentices do. Houston Electrical JATC says apprentices get the same health insurance and pensions as journeymen, and North Texas Electrical JATC lists employer-paid health insurance, a pension and an annuity. Ask non-union employers directly.
How fast does apprentice pay go up in Texas?
Union scales rise by set steps. North Texas goes from 50% of the journeyman rate at the start to 80% in the last year, and South Texas goes from $19.79 to $23.67 in year two.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, series for metro areas 26420 (Houston), 19100 (Dallas-Fort Worth), 12420 (Austin), 41700 (San Antonio) and Texas, read through the BLS Public Data API, checked October 2026
- Houston Electrical JATC: FAQ, checked October 2026
- North Texas Electrical Training Center: FAQ and Applicant Information, checked October 2026
- IEC Fort Worth: Apprenticeship Program, checked October 2026
- Austin Electrical Training Alliance: Apprentice Program, checked October 2026
- South Texas Electrical JATC, checked October 2026
- Electrical Training Alliance of Southeast Texas: Wages and Benefits, checked October 2026
