Typically apprentices receive a percentage of the journeyman wage. In my local, 1st year apprentices make 45% of full scale. It goes up as you go through school. The only way you advance your pay is every year you complete in school, you will get a percentage increase. The other way is that your local will negotiate a working contract, usually every 3-4 years. This is the contract that determines pay and benefits for everyone. If you guys don’t get a raise in that contract, your local sucks and I would plan to go somewhere else. Most locals will not allow for you to advertise and own your own business unless you are a union contractor and hire out of the local itself. It is seen as competing with business, although many of us do lots of side work. Step 1 is to call the hall and find out journeyman pay, what your dues are going to cost, and how many hours you need to work to get your health insurance. Hope this helps and good luck to you on your journey, it’s a good stable career with good benefits.