Omaha Steve's Labor Group

I work for an electric utility with various apprenticeship programs (lineman, substations, meters, etc.). They still want apprentices to start at $16 an hour for the first year AND have a CDL drivers license. Granted after about 8 years they’ll be topped out on the payscale at around $45 an hour but still, it’s a big ask to get someone to come onboard for almost nothing to start.

$18 an hour is basically minimum wage in my area of Florida judging by the fast food and convenience store hiring signs.