Warning. The amount you receive from closing your 401k is likely not the amount you should be rolling over. When you take a distribution from your 401k plan, the plan has to withhold 20 percent of the distribution for taxes. For example, if you take out $60,000, you're only going to get a check for $48,000.
Arkansas State University offers a four-year electrical apprenticeship program for $260 per year, which covers 2,000 hours of job training. Electrical apprenticeships may last longer than other programs, but students have the ability to earn an income while they work. Licensing for electricians costs $15-$150 per year, with an exam fee of $30-$75.
In 2014, the average pay of a fully trained electrician in the U.S. was $26.21 per hour.** So a lot of apprentices probably earned about $13.11 per hour, which is the equivalent of $27,260 for a year of full-time work.