What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is one of the oldest concepts used for handing down skills from the mastercraftsman to the next generation of tradesperson. It is not clear where it originated but the system became common and somewhat structured in the European Guilds. In that era the Apprentice would not be paid and may actually live in the home of the journeyman during his tenure of training.

The modern apprenticeship programs are more formalized and the apprentice actually gets a paycheck. The pay usually starts around 45 to 50% of the journeyperson's hourly wage. This is designed to allow a cost-effective method of passing on the skills of the trade. It must be remembered that not only is the beginning apprentice not capable of profitable production rates but the journeyperson must also sacrifice production time to demonstrate proper procedures to his/her trainee. Over the course of the period of apprenticeship the trainee will receive increases in the percentages of journeyperson rate. This is commonly based on specific time periods. For example, the painter/drywall finisher's apprenticeship program is a three-year period. The apprentice receives 45% of the journeyperson pay rate plus benefits such as health insurance. The second year he/she receives 60% and the third year 80%. If the journeyperson gets a pay increase, the apprentice receives the proper percentage of the increase. The glazer's program is slightly different but it operates in a similar fashion.

All apprentices must also receive classroom training that is related to the painting, drywall finishing, and pavement marking, or glazing trades. Each painter/drywall finisher apprentice must come to the training center one day every other week for 8 hours of formal technical instruction. The apprentice does not get paid for the time spent in classroom training. The remainders of the workweeks are spent working on the jobsite and the apprentice is paid for time on the job. The glazier apprentice attends school in the evenings and the pavement markers have a special schedule.


Apprentice Training Facility
2151 59th Street, St. Louis, Missouri


Apprentice Training Facility
2201 59th Street, St. Louis, Missouri


Classroom Training


Part of one of the training shops

At the end of the three-year period the apprentice becomes a journeyperson. The journeyperson is an experienced and highly skilled worker. He/she receives the highest pay rate plus benefits.

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