Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship Fact Sheet 2023

Information about apprentices working in New Hampshire. Electricians and plumbers were the occupations with the most apprentices, but apprenticeships were available in 11 major occupational groups and 37 different occupations, including healthcare, production, and community and social service occupations. The average starting wage for apprentices was $19.10 per hour, increasing to $23.07 by the end of the apprenticeship, a 21 percent increase.

College not for you? Tired of working in a dead-end job? Looking for a successful career that will pay you to learn? Try a Registered Apprenticeship!

Registered Apprenticeship is a way to learn a great career while you work and get paid. There are over 1,000 career opportunities — and not just in the construction trades. Many apprentices are working in traditional building trades like plumbing, electricity, ironwork, and carpentry. But today’s apprentices are also learning trades like biotechnology, child development, health care, information technology, environmental services, food services, geospatial technologies, military, maritime, and hundreds of other fields.

Registered apprenticeship connects job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers. Apprentices benefit from a combination of hands-on and classroom training, while earning pay. Employers benefit from connecting with workers who have the knowledge, skills, and experience they need. The result is a workforce with industry-driven training and employers with a competitive edge.

What is in an apprenticeship program for me?

Earn.
Start on your path to success without racking up debt. From day one, you earn a paycheck that will increase as you improve your skills. Most apprenticeships require 2,000 to 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, depending on the occupation.

Learn.
Along with hands-on learning on the job, apprentices attend a minimum of 144 hours of classroom training to supplement their knowledge. Many apprentices apply classroom time towards college credits, even earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

Succeed.
Once you complete an apprenticeship program, you’ll have an established career with a competitive salary, and no educational debt. You’ll receive a nationally recognized certification that is valid throughout the U.S.

How can I become an apprentice?

• You must be at least 16 years old.
• You must have a high school diploma or GED.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status.
• You must be able to physically perform the required tasks.

What if I’m still in high school?
A Registered Youth Apprenticeship program allows students to begin an apprenticeship program while still in the final years of high school. Contact your school guidance counselor for help getting started.

Who do I talk to?
For more information on becoming an apprentice, contact:

• U.S. Department of Labor, Education and Training
  Office of Apprenticeship-NH
  

  (603) 225-1446
  (603) 225-1444
  Fax: (603) 226-7761
  

  • Lauren M. Smith, State Director
    Smith.Lauren.M@dol.gov
  • Wynn Young, Apprenticeship Training Representative
    Young.Wynn.B@dol.gov

  www.dol.gov/apprenticeship

  apprenticeshipnh.org

• New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Career Development at (603) 271-3893, or visit their web site at www.education.nh.gov/career/career/apprenticeship.htm.