Both are legitimate paid ways into the trades, and neither is automatically better. A union apprenticeship (a JATC) usually gives you standardized wage tiers, a pension, and a hiring hall that finds you work, but entry is a competitive application that can be waitlisted. An open-shop or merit-shop apprenticeship (through a group like ABC or IEC) usually ties your pay to how fast you prove yourself, gives you a 401(k) instead of a pension, and hands you a portable NCCER credential. Here is the real difference, and then exactly how to get into a union program, because that is the one with a front door you have to knock on.
What a JATC actually is
A JATC is a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, co-sponsored by a union local and the contractors who work with it. In electrical it is the IBEW and NECA; for plumbers and pipefitters it is the UA (United Association). The committee runs the apprenticeship: it sets the wage steps, provides the classroom instruction, and refers you out to work through the union's hiring hall.
The appeal is that almost everything is standardized and negotiated for you. The wage tiers are the same for every apprentice at your level in that local, the benefits are baked into the contract, and when one job ends the hall sends you to the next one.
What open-shop (merit shop) actually is
An open-shop or merit-shop apprenticeship is sponsored by a contractor or an employer association like the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) or the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC). You are hired directly by an employer, and your pay is tied to demonstrated performance rather than a single negotiated scale. Benefits vary by employer, commonly a 401(k) match and a company medical plan. The credential you earn is usually NCCER, which is nationally recognized and travels with you.
The appeal is speed of advancement for people who are good and fast: if you prove yourself, your pay can move on merit rather than waiting for the next contract step.
The real differences, side by side
- Pay. Union pay follows uniform contract tiers inside the local. Open-shop pay is merit-based and negotiated employer by employer. Both start apprentices low (commonly 40 to 50% of the journeyman scale) and step up as you log hours.
- Retirement. Union work typically comes with a defined-benefit pension or annuity. Open-shop typically gives you a 401(k) with an employer match, which varies.
- Healthcare. Union healthcare is negotiated into the contract and has historically been strong. Open-shop healthcare is whatever your employer offers and varies widely.
- Getting work. Union locals run a hiring hall that refers you to jobs. Open-shop, you are hired directly and you keep your own job to the next.
- Portability. Union credentials travel best inside the union network. The NCCER credential helps an open-shop worker move, but recognition varies by employer and state.
- Getting in. Union entry is a centralized, competitive application and can be waitlisted. Open-shop entry depends on a contractor hiring you, which can be faster.
Neither list is a scorecard. Union tends to mean stronger baked-in benefits and a system that finds you work. Open-shop tends to mean pay that tracks how fast you prove yourself and more variation from one employer to the next.
How to get into a union apprenticeship
The union route has an actual application process, and knowing the steps ahead of time is most of the battle:
- Find the local and its JATC. Search Apprenticeship.gov for registered programs near you, then find the training center for your trade's local (for example the electrical JATC or the plumbers and pipefitters local). Each local runs its own intake.
- Check the basic entry requirements. Most JATCs want you to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have passed about one year of algebra. Some ask for a valid driver's license and a clean drug test. These are minimums, not the whole bar.
- Apply during the intake window. Many locals only accept applications at certain times of year, so get on their list and watch the dates. Missing the window means waiting for the next one.
- Sit the aptitude test. Most programs use a written aptitude test that leans on math (algebra) and reading comprehension. It is passable with a little brush-up, and it is the single thing most applicants underprepare for. Study before you sit it.
- Do the interview and get ranked. Applicants who pass the test are usually interviewed and then ranked. Programs accept people off that ranked list as slots open, which is why strong math scores, a real reason for wanting the trade, and showing up prepared matter.
- Wait your turn on the list. Because entry is competitive, there can be a waitlist. Staying reachable, taking any pre-apprenticeship offered, and reapplying if needed all improve your odds.
The exact steps, dates, and how a local weights the test versus the interview are set by that program, so confirm them with the JATC directly.
What to expect once you are in
Whichever route you take, a registered apprenticeship is a real paid job from day one that pairs on-the-job hours under a journey-level mentor with classroom instruction (commonly 144 to 288 hours a year). You step up in pay as you log hours, and you finish with a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion. The five things every registered program must give you (paid work, structured mentorship, related instruction, wage progression, and a portable credential) apply to union and open-shop programs alike.
How to pick
If steady benefits and a system that refers you to work matter most, and you are willing to compete for a slot and maybe wait, chase the union JATC. If you would rather get hired quickly and let your pay track how fast you prove yourself, open-shop is a fair route. Plenty of good tradespeople have gone either way, and some switch later. Apply to more than one program, of either type, because the best move is the one that gets you earning and logging hours soonest.
Common questions
Is a union apprenticeship harder to get into than open-shop?
Usually yes, because union entry is a competitive, centralized application that can be waitlisted, while open-shop entry mainly needs a contractor to hire you. The union route has an aptitude test, an interview, and a ranked list, so it can take longer to get in. Open-shop can be faster because you are hired directly. Neither is a comment on quality; they are just different front doors. Program specifics vary by local, so confirm with the JATC or employer near you.
Do union apprentices get paid more than open-shop apprentices?
Not necessarily as an apprentice, since both usually start around 40 to 50% of the journeyman scale, but the pay structure is different. Union pay follows uniform contract tiers that step up on a set schedule, while open-shop pay is merit-based and negotiated with your employer, so a fast learner can move up on performance. Union work also tends to carry a pension and negotiated healthcare. Actual wage schedules are local, so check Apprenticeship.gov and Working in Your State.
Can I switch from open-shop to union later, or the other way?
Often yes, because the hours and skills you log are real either way, but it is not automatic and the credentials do not always transfer cleanly. A union local may want you to test in or complete its own steps, and an open-shop employer will judge your experience directly. Your documented on-the-job hours are your leverage in either direction. How a specific local treats outside hours is set by that program, so ask before you assume your time carries over.
What is a pre-apprenticeship, and does it help me get into a JATC?
A pre-apprenticeship is a short program that builds the math, safety, and hands-on basics you need to compete for a real apprenticeship slot, and yes, it can improve your ranking. It is not the apprenticeship itself and usually is not paid the same way, but many union programs look favorably on applicants who completed one, and some give direct-entry credit. Local groups, community colleges, and trade organizations run them. Availability varies by area, so check what exists near you.
The honest bit
- Wage schedules, waitlist lengths, intake dates, and exactly how each program ranks applicants all vary by trade, by local, and by state. Get current specifics from Apprenticeship.gov and Working in Your State.
- The wage percentages and entry requirements here reflect the federal Registered Apprenticeship structure current for 2026. Individual programs differ.
- This is general guidance, not career or legal advice.
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