Electrician apprenticeship, union vs non-union electricians, and the career change to trades — a story for anyone wondering if it’s too late to start over.
Host Andrew Brown sits down with Brandon McKane, a former Trader Joe’s manager who walked away from corporate life at 36 to begin an electrician apprenticeship and rebuild his life in the skilled trades industry.
With over 80,000 electricians needed every year through 2030, Brandon’s journey offers a real-world look at why so many people are leaving their desks behind for hands-on work — and how a career change to trades can bring purpose, stability, and pride.
They talk about the emotional and financial leap of starting over, the reality of apprentice pay, what it’s like to explain the shift to your family, and how the right mentors can change everything. Brandon also shares the unfiltered truth about the union vs non-union electrician experience, and what it takes to go from shop helper to journeyman.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- 00:00 – The electrician shortage: why 80,000 are needed every year
- 02:35 – Meet Brandon McKane: from Trader Joe’s to trades
- 07:10 – The pay cut, the leap, and family conversations
- 12:42 – Apprenticeship reality: pay, training, and safety
- 19:18 – Union vs non-union: pros, cons, and real numbers
- 25:36 – Mentorship and learning from journeymen
- 32:10 – Social media’s impact on the new generation of tradespeople
- 38:20 – Why it’s never too late to start over
- 44:55 – The future of electrification and opportunity
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Why America needs 80,000 electricians a year — and where that demand is coming from
- How Brandon left a 15-year corporate career to start over at 36
- The truth about apprentice pay vs. long-term earnings
- Union vs non-union electricians: what he learned on both sides
- How tradespeople often earn more than many white-collar careers
- The mindset shift: finding purpose, progress, and pride in hands-on work
- Why mentorship and the right foreman can change your life
- How the trades can become more welcoming to everyone
- Why it’s never too late for a career change to trades
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Brandon McKane is a non-union apprentice electrician at Sunlight & Power (Berkeley, CA). After 15+ years in retail management, he made a career change to trades, attends night classes, and works on prevailing-wage solar projects. He’s passionate about safety, mentorship, craftsmanship, and helping others navigate how to become an electrician through the electrician apprenticeship route—union or non-union.
KEYWORDS:
electrician apprenticeship, skilled trades careers, electrician shortage 2030, union vs non-union electricians, career change to trades, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Andrew Brown, Brandon McKane, Toolfetch, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Craftsmanship, Problem-solving, Creativity, Tradespeople, Advocacy, Trades Careers, Industry Experts, Contractors, Education, Skilled Trades Advisory Council
RESOURCE LINKS:
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjmckane/overlay/photo/
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