For comparison purposes, a prior MLDS Center report showed that 2012-2013 graduates with an Associate’s Degree from a Maryland Community College with full-quarter wages had median quarterly wages five years after graduation of $10,967 – almost half the median quarterly wages of the apprenticeship program completers. (see Chart 1).
While this comparison demonstrates impressive earnings for apprentices, it must be considered in the context of the fact that apprentices represent a very
cHART 1: WAGES, FIVE YEARS AFTER PROGRAM/DEGREE COMPLETION
small and distinct population. There are only 1,019 apprenticeship completers in this cohort, of which two-thirds are White, 96% are men, and the average age at program completion is 31. In comparison, as demonstrated in Table 1 below, the Associate Degree Graduates are younger, and more diverse. Further, apprenticeship programs are restricted to training for occupations that require highly technical skills or specific industry credentials. Comparatively, Associate’s Degree programs prepare graduates for a wider range of career options, some are highly technical and may command a wage premium while others prepare graduates for entry-level positions which may result in wage growth over time.
Table 1: Comparison - Associate Degree Graduates and Apprenticeship Program Completers
Apprenticeship Information
Maryland’s Apprenticeship and Training Program (MATP) allows individuals to work on a job, receive a salary for that job (pursuant to a progressive pay scale), receive one-on-one full-time training, and receive related classroom instruction. An apprentice is sponsored by a business, joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC), or association that manages a registered apprenticeship program that has been approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship Council. There are a broad array of occupations that have registered apprenticeships. The Maryland Department of Labor maintains a searchable list of eligible occupations.
An apprenticeship program can take anywhere from one to six years to complete. It is generally required that each year of a program include 2,000 hours of on the job training and 144 hours of related instruction, though models now exist where an apprentice can advance through a series of competencies. At the completion of the apprenticeship program, all apprentices receive a Registered Apprenticeship Completion Certificate.
While individual program requirements may vary, to enter into an apprenticeship, an individual generally must be 18 years or older (though some programs will allow an apprentice to be 16 of 17 years old with parental consent), physically able to perform required tasks, and have access to transportation. In addition, most registered apprenticeship programs require a Maryland high school diploma and may also include the requirement to pass specific tests in math and English.