I make $43,000 a year as an electrician — and I couldn't be happier

In 2023, Zen Stewart decided to pivot from white‑collar work to becoming an electrician. She’s now a member of the electricians union, earning $21 an hour as an entry-level employee. She’s working to be accepted into the union’s apprenticeship program as she moves toward becoming a fully licensed electrician — a role that can pay nearly $100 an hour in some parts of the U.S.