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Just looked up the wages for IBEW Local 6, $70/hr for a journeyman electrician sounds incredible even compared to SWE salaries.

How long would it take to get to that level from zero trade experience, and how hard is it to get into the union?

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Electricians typically have a five year apprenticeship and apprentice pay is a percentage of the journeyman rate, for example I think a fifth year makes 80%. I think getting in unions can be hard, some more then others. NYC's Local #3 for example is notoriously difficult to get in.

Keep in mind that that is your average journeyman's pay. You'll have additional incentives depending on your workplace, role, and experience. For example a utility company substation technician will make journeyman's pay + extra substation pay, a substation foreman will also get additional pay, a licensed master electrician will earn even more, etc...there are definitely high paying "blue collar" jobs in the utilities industry.

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