Interested in becoming an electrician

[BoomerD]

I'd definitely recommend union over non-union. For the most part, (at least here in Kahleeforneeya) wages are better and benefits are far better.
IIRC, a journeyman electrician in the SF Bay area draws about $40-$45/hour. Not bad scratch.
Apprenticeships are the best way to learn the trade. You get paid to learn. Most of the "related training" such as class-time isn't paid, but that's a relatively small percentage of your program and is usually on Saturdays and/or Sundays.
Sure, you start at a low wage, (usually between 40 and 50% of journeyman scale) but you get raises of about 5% every 6 months. That adds up pretty quickly.
Working conditions can be bad, as much of the work can be outside, but most crews don't work in bad weather. IF they don't have an inside job they can go to, they go home. That can be a down side to any aspect of construction.
Since the OP really doesn't want to become a journeyman electrician, just "dabble in it on the side", then an apprenticeship probably isn't going to work for him.
Check your local community college. Many here in Kahleeforneeya offer some "building trades" classes including electrical. You might be able to pick up enough to get a contractor to give you a chance as a helper.

 

[Farang]

After I get my B.A. in Political Science next year I'm going to enter an electrician apprenticeship. It is either that or law school, and short term the apprenticeship is much more lucrative plus I think I'd enjoy the work more.

Question that I hope someone can answer . . . what is the job market like overseas? As an apprentice are you in demand in other countries, and will they hand you a visa easily?

 

[BoomerD]

Apprenticeships usually aren't transferrable between local unions. Once you get your journeyman book you can go almost anywhere to work, but until lthen, you're limited to working in the area where you indenture in.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Farang
After I get my B.A. in Political Science next year I'm going to enter an electrician apprenticeship. It is either that or law school, and short term the apprenticeship is much more lucrative plus I think I'd enjoy the work more.

Question that I hope someone can answer . . . what is the job market like overseas? As an apprentice are you in demand in other countries, and will they hand you a visa easily?

I spend a bit of time looking around for over sea employment, and most lucrative are power engineering & related eng. There are some electrical demand, but refrigeration/HVAC is more in demand than the latter. Control is another prospect that you might want to look into, because many large mechanical system are getting more and more into electronic/computer control for safety & as cost cutting maintenance measure.