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Definition of journeyman

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The journey in journeyman refers to a sense of the familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of journey was first used in the 14th century. When journeyman appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, journeyman picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, journeyman has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.

Examples of journeyman in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'journeyman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from journey journey, a day's labor + man

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Cite this Entry

“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 5 Jul. 2024.

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jour·ney·man

Jour•ney•man.

• animal stuffer
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Journeyman Definition

Other word forms of journeyman, origin of journeyman.

Middle English journeiman journei a day's work journey man man man

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Old French jornee (“a day's work, a journey”) +‎ -man

From Wiktionary

Journeyman Sentence Examples

He learned how to set type, and as a journeyman printer he wandered widely, going even as far east as New York.

Also living in the house are five journeyman bakers (ranging in age from 15 to 24) and a female general servant.

They really looked exactly what they are - a motley bunch of journeyman footballers only suited to lower league football.

A journeyman goldsmith who later started his own business.

She was born in 1857 in Bootle, Lancashire, the daughter of Ben THORPE, a journeyman stonemason, and Sarah TURNER.

Journeyman Is Also Mentioned In

• ticket-holder
• Cook's tour

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Words Starting With

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• Journey into Space
• journeymanship
• journeyperson
• journeywoman
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Definition of journeyman noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• a person who has training and experience in a job and is a reliable but not a brilliant worker

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• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Translations
• 1.3.3 See also

From Middle English jorneman ; from journe (from Old French jornee ( “ a day's work, a journey ” ) ) and mon ; equivalent to journey +‎ -man .

Pronunciation

• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈd͡ʒɝnimən/
• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈd͡ʒɜːnimən/

journeyman ( plural journeymen )

• 1851 November 14, Herman Melville , “ chapter 26 ”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale , 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers ; London: Richard Bentley , →OCLC : [ … ] toiling away, calm and collected as a journeyman joiner engaged for the year.
• 2000 , Richard L. Saunders, Printing in Deseret : As the pressman returns the inkballs to the inkstone, the journeyman closes the frisket and tympan.
• A competent but undistinguished tradesman, especially one who works, and is paid by the day .
• ( sports ) A player who plays on many different teams during the course of his career . The Los Angeles Lakers added journeyman forward Bob McAdoo to their roster in hopes that he could help them win a title.

Derived terms

• journeyman's piece

Translations

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• English terms suffixed with -man
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Meaning of journeyman in English

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• a man/woman of action idiom
• cheap labor
• contract worker
• labor force
• labor market
• skeleton staff
• the shop floor
• working group
• working party

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journeyman noun

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What does the noun journeyman mean?

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun journeyman . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

journeyman has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun journeyman ?

How is the noun journeyman pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun journeyman come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun journeyman is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for journeyman is from around 1463–4, in Rolls of Parliament .

journeyman is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: journey n. III.5 , man n. 1

Nearby entries

• journally, adv. 1554–92
• journ-chopper, n. 1883–
• journey, n. ?c1225–
• journey, v. c1330–
• journey-bated, adj. 1598
• journey-book, n. 1610–
• journey cake, n. 1754–
• journeyed, adj. 1553–
• journeyer, n. 1566–
• journeying, n. c1330–
• journeyman, n. 1463–
• journey-money, n. 1883–
• journey-pride, n. 1938–
• journey-ring, n. 1877–
• journey-weight, n. 1883–
• journeywoman, n. 1733–
• journey-work, n. 1601–
• journey-workman, n. 1756–
• journo, n. 1965–
• joust, n. 1297–
• joust, v. a1325–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for journeyman, n..

journeyman, n. was first published in 1901; not yet revised.

journeyman, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into journeyman, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1901)

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Citation details

Factsheet for journeyman, n., browse entry.

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  Vocabulary      

What does journeyman mean?

Definitions for journeyman ˈdʒɜr ni mən jour·ney·man, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word journeyman ., princeton's wordnet rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes.

craftsman, artisan, journeyman, artificer noun

a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft

GCIDE Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

Journeyman noun

Hence: A competent and experienced worker who performs adequately but without a high level of expertise or imagination.

Formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly, one who has finished an apprenticeship and is a competent worker in a handicraft or trade, but has not received recognition as a master; -- distinguished from apprentice and from master workman.

Wiktionary Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

• journeyman noun

a tradesman who has served an apprenticeship and is employed by a master tradesman

a competent but undistinguished tradesman, especially one who works, and is paid by the day

a player who plays on many different teams during the course of his career

The Los Angeles Lakers added journeyman forward Bob McAdoo to their roster in hopes that he could help them win a title.

Wikipedia Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

A journeyman, journeywoman, or journeyperson is a worker, skilled in a given building trade or craft, who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship qualification. Journeymen are considered competent and authorized to work in that field as a fully qualified employee. They earn their license by education, supervised experience and examination. Although journeymen have completed a trade certificate and are allowed to work as employees, they may not yet work as self-employed master craftsmen.The term "journeyman" was originally used in the medieval trade guilds. Journeymen were paid daily and the word "journey" is derived from journée, meaning "whole day" in French. Each individual guild generally recognised three ranks of workers: apprentices, journeymen, and masters. A journeyman, as a qualified tradesman could become a master and run their own business, but most continued working as employees.Guidelines were put in place to promote responsible tradesmen, who were held accountable for their own work and to protect the individual trade and the general public from unskilled workers. To become a master, a journeyman has to submit a master piece of work to a guild for evaluation. Only after evaluation can a journeyman be admitted to the guild as a master. Sometimes, a journeyman was required to accomplish a three-year working trip, which may be called the journeyman years.

ChatGPT Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

A journeyman is a skilled worker who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship in a particular trade or craft, and is considered competent and fully qualified to work in that field. They are not yet a master craftsman, but they are no longer an apprentice. They are typically paid by the day and can work independently in their trade.

Webster Dictionary Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly, one who has mastered a handicraft or trade; -- distinguished from apprentice and from master workman

Wikidata Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

A journeyman is someone who has completed an apprenticeship and is fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman has to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master.

Suggested Resources Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

Song lyrics by journeyman -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by journeyman on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and Origins Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

An artisan who hires himself out to labour, conformly to the French jour , day, a day labourer.

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How to pronounce journeyman?

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How to say journeyman in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of journeyman in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

Pythagorean Numerology

The numerical value of journeyman in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Popularity rank by frequency of use

• ^  Princeton's WordNet http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=journeyman
• ^  GCIDE https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=journeyman
• ^  Wiktionary https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Journeyman
• ^  Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journeyman
• ^  ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com
• ^  Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman
• ^  Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=journeyman
• ^  Etymology and Origins https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=journeyman

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Apprentice vs. Journeyman: What is the Difference?

• November 6, 2018

Table of Contents

Getting into construction and becoming a journeyman is the single greatest opportunity of our generation for millennials.

Forbes has reported that as of 2018 there are approximately 44 million borrowers who collectively owe $1.5 trillion in student loan debt.

If you are reading this, you were probably sold the College degree pipe dream, or maybe you are getting ready to graduate high school and trying to figure out your next step. 

The traditional college route may work for some, but make no mistake about it. The world is changing fast. Gone are the days where companies were willing to hire and invest money into someone solely for their college degree.

What were once high-paying stable careers are being replaced at the drop of a hat either by technology or cheaper overseas labor. In today’s marketplace, you have to bring tangible skills to the table.

You must deliver value and become a critical piece of someone’s business.

A lucrative career with little investment

I spent years working with tradesmen across the country helping them get licensed, set up businesses, obtain certifications, and further their careers.

 I met 25-year-old landscapers making as much as doctors, plumbers earning six figures, and electricians supporting their families very comfortably. 

Staffing firms around the country consistently report skilled trades (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding, bricklayers, masons, and more) as the hardest positions to fill.

With the construction industry set to reach $1 Trillion in 2019, investing in yourself and choosing a career in the construction trades is one of the smartest investments you can make in yourself.

A fundamental step in becoming a top earner within the construction is by becoming a journeyman. This article will break down everything you need to know about finding an apprenticeship program and becoming a journeyman in your trade.

What the term “Apprenticeship” means

Apprenticeships are training programs for someone learning a trade or vocational area of expertise. Apprenticeships exist in many different fields.

Within the construction industry, they can be official schools but also could also be an unofficial association between a master tradesman and a beginner.

Some apprenticeships are paid on the job training, while others may take place in a school setting with certifications or job placement gained at the end. 

What apprenticeship should I do?

The answer to this question depends on what you see yourself doing as a career.

Maybe you have always had an interest in taking things apart and rebuilding them, and the technical aspect of electrical work makes sense for you.

Perhaps you have a family member who is a plumber or landscaper and have some knowledge already.

There are apprenticeships in a variety of trades including:

• Electrical 
• Welding 
• Carpentry 
• Roofing 
• Landscaping
• and many more

All trades provide a high income once you reach a certain level, so choosing an apprenticeship should primarily be based on your interests and current skill set.

Official apprenticeships are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.

How long is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship programs vary in length depending on the trade. Every construction trade is different and requires a different level of competency to begin working professionally.

Generally, they can be about 2 years, but some may last up to 6 years or need a certain amount of registered hours or testing to be completed.

Age requirements and costs of apprenticeships

Most apprenticeships require you to be at least 18 years old.

However, many will accept you at 16 with permission from your parents. 

• Applicants for formal apprenticeships must hold a high school diploma or GED.
• Often there are basic math skills and physical ability standards that must be met, however, this may vary depending on the area of expertise.

In California alone, 1,400 programs are serving 73,000 apprentices, so the opportunities are there.

• The cost of a construction apprenticeship program again depends on what kind of program you are looking for. 
• One thing I can guarantee is that it is way cheaper than paying the University of fill in the blank $40,000 per year for a degree in sociology.

What is a journeyman?

“ A person who has completed an apprenticeship program or is an experienced worker, not a trainee, and is fully qualified and able to perform a specific trade without supervision ” – CSLB.GOV

Similar to an apprentice, the term journeyman is used across a variety of different professions. In the context of construction, a journeyman is pretty much someone that knows enough about their job to work on a job site without being supervised and take over operations if necessary.

Journeyman experience

Construction trades vary regarding the amount of information one may need to know to achieve journeyman level, so again this term can be relative.

For example, A journeyman landscaper may have taken a shorter time to achieve journeyman status than an electrician.

Furthermore, certain areas within the construction industry require testing to achieve journeyman level. 

In the state of California, getting a contractor license requires that you prove 4 years of journey-level experience. This experience must be confirmed by a contractor, fellow journeyman, fellow employee, or supervisor.

Journeyman exam

A journeyman exam refers to an exam that may be required of a tradesman to achieve a particular pay grade or level of licensing.

Journey exams typically are required of trades where the direct safety of the public is associated with that area of expertise.

In California, Electricians have strict standards of examinations and certification before they can be considered journeyman or contractors. 

Trades related to the foundational or structural integrity of buildings often must take journeyman exams.

Whether or not a journeyman has to complete exams often depends on the state and the level of regulation that may or may not exist there.

In some states an individual journeyman level status before issuing permits, creating plans, or becoming an instructor.

Joining the Construction Union

To join a construction union, you must be a journeyman-level tradesman. There are a variety of benefits of joining a construction union including higher wages, benefits, working conditions, and increased bargaining power.

Many journeyman-level tradesmen join unions to achieve a level of stability and continue mastering their trade in hopes of one day having their own business.​

For a deeper look at construction unions. Check out this article.

Career options for journeyman level tradesman

There are several different career paths within the construction industry.

Once a tradesman has established a certain level of expertise, the area in which they choose to work professionally depends on their personality and income goals.

Some individuals are naturally business-minded and decide to become contractors. Some tradesmen prefer the idea of earning a steady paycheck and performing their trade on a daily basis.

For a more in-depth look at the different career options and job titles for a journeyman, tradesman… check out this article.

How to get a Contractor License​

A Contractor is someone who has demonstrated a certain level of knowledge and expertise not only in their trade but also LAW and the management of money.

In California, a contractor must prove 4 years of journeyman-level experience and pass a two-part exam.

Getting a contractor license differs from state to state. In California, you must meet the following requirements before you are even allowed to take the exam

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a valid Driver's License or USA Issued Identification
• Have a Social Security or ITIN #
• Not currently be on probation or parole
• Pass the Contractor License Exam

Contractors are tested not only on their TRADE  but also  LAW , accounting, cash management, taxes, insurance, fair hiring practices, safety, and more.

Learn more about Contractor License LAW!

Opportunities in Construction

As I stated earlier. The world is changing fast and the only people that are going to survive economically in the next 50 years are people who possess skills that people are willing to pay for.

Construction has been going on since the dawn of time. We will always need skilled tradesmen.

Civilization depends on people who can work with wood, build roofs, fabricate electrical systems, weld iron, and pave roads.

If you are graduating high school, do yourself a favor and take a serious look at joining an apprenticeship program and learning a trade.

Getting into the construction field is an excellent option for ex-felons and even people who are looking to transition careers.

The Construction sector will continue to grow, and the demand for skilled tradesmen will continue to increase. Invest in yourself and take advantage of this lucrative opportunity.

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• Should You Go To A Contractor License School?
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• How To Get an Electrical Certification
• How To Get a Louisiana General Contractor License!

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Definition of 'journeyman'

journeyman in American English

Journeyman in british english, examples of 'journeyman' in a sentence journeyman, trends of journeyman.

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What They Do

What does a Journeyman do?

A journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around performing manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical tasks, and other forms of trade. Furthermore, a journeyman can choose whether to work independently or to be part of a business entity. They can also recruit and train an apprentice, or even pursue to become a master in their preferred field.

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Journeyman responsibilities

A journeyman plays a crucial role in various construction projects. They operate, maintain, and repair small equipment such as air compressors, pneumatic hammers, and saws. They also install shingles on residential and commercial developments and coordinate calibration of operational and facility equipment. In addition, they manage and dispatch teams, ensuring safety standards are met. Their responsibilities also extend to performing routine maintenance on production equipment and providing advanced troubleshooting of pneumatic systems.

Here are examples of responsibilities from real journeyman resumes:

• Manage 22 active duty hydraulic technicians in support of 32 of USAF's 59 KC-10A aircraft.
• Serve as the hoisting specialist for critical glass lifts in order to achieve proper install while mitigating any risk for loss.
• Implement and manage training program for incoming and/or replacement facility managers enhancing overall knowledge of CE maintenance and repair operations.
• Install EMT to rigid including PVC.
• Perform arc welding of steel clips for curtain wall installation.
• Repair the electrical systems of various engineering equipment utilizing soldering irons, resistors, relays, switches, and hand tools.
• Read and interpret blueprints and specifications to determine location of framing, installation procedures, staging and scaffolding materials require.
• Review and advise on projects associate with electrical power generating and control systems, automatic transfer switches, and associate equipment.
• Experience in swing stage and scaffolding
• Read schematics and blueprints and run conduit as specified.
• Secure waste generate for EPA approval and stage for future shipping.
• Erect scaffolding and work from high reach ladders and mobile platforms.
• Wire temperature transmitters, pressure transmitters, vibration sensors, grind fault circuits.
• Perform welding, soldering, brazing, and mechanical joint procedures on process piping.
• Participate in broad range of construction projects, involving waterproofing, caulking and restoration.

Journeyman skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21 % of Journeymen are proficient in Hand Tools , Work Ethic , and HVAC . They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills , Problem-solving skills , and Business skills .

We break down the percentage of Journeymen that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Operate construction hand tools and other specialized equipment safely, efficiently and effectively.

Recognized by upper management for tremendous work ethic and team spirit.

Performed preventative maintenance, troubleshot breakdowns and repaired malfunctioning HVAC systems and components, utilized measuring and testing instruments.

Ensured safety procedures were followed, exposure and contamination control procedures are established, coordinated, and distributed.

Worked independently as a journeyman plumber following all building codes along with plumbing safety and regulations.

Operated heavy machinery per OSHA standard in order to complete assignments properly and effectively.

Common skills that a journeyman uses to do their job include "hand tools," "work ethic," and "hvac." You can find details on the most important journeyman responsibilities below.

Math skills. The most essential soft skill for a journeyman to carry out their responsibilities is math skills. This skill is important for the role because "carpenters frequently use math skills, including basic trigonometry, to calculate the area, size, and amount of material needed for the job. ." Additionally, a journeyman resume shows how their duties depend on math skills: "utilize shop mathematics and operate precision measuring or test equipment. "

Problem-solving skills. Many journeyman duties rely on problem-solving skills. "carpenters may work independently with little guidance," so a journeyman will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways journeyman responsibilities rely on problem-solving skills: "supported obtaining/coordinating net data and training program impacts; resolved routine technical problems or recommended corrective actions concerning new equipment training. "

Business skills. This is an important skill for journeymen to perform their duties. For an example of how journeyman responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "self-employed carpenters must conduct activities such as bidding on new jobs, tracking inventory, and directing workers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a journeyman: "created powerpoint presentations used for business development. ".

Detail oriented. For certain journeyman responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a journeyman rely on this skill, as "carpenters must be able to precisely cut, measure, and modify the materials they work with." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what journeymen do: "conducted law enforcement and security details while defending air baseresources. "

Dexterity. Another common skill required for journeyman responsibilities is "dexterity." This skill comes up in the duties of journeymen all the time, as "carpenters use many tools and need hand-eye coordination to avoid injuring themselves or damaging materials." An excerpt from a real journeyman resume shows how this skill is central to what a journeyman does: "install assemblies in supportive framework according to blueprints, using hand tools, power tools, and lifting and handling devices. "

All journeyman skills

The three companies that hire the most journeymans are:

• Constellation Energy Partners 30 journeymen jobs
• ABM Industries 11 journeymen jobs
• UPS 10 journeymen jobs

Choose from 10+ customizable journeyman resume templates

Compare different journeymen

Journeyman vs. pipe fitter.

A pipefitter specializes in pipe systems. They are mostly responsible for cutting, assembling, installing, and maintaining the pipes' condition within homes or establishments. There are also instances when a pipe fitter has to visit sites, investigate problems, and conduct tests and repairs when necessary. Most pipefitters work in a group setting and are required to communicate and coordinate with co-workers, all while adhering to a company's standards and safety policies.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a journeyman are more likely to require skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "plumbing," and "osha." On the other hand, a job as a pipe fitter requires skills like "isometric drawings," "hot water," "pipe supports," and "pneumatic equipment." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Journeyman vs. Electrician helper

An electrician helper is responsible for performing electrical maintenance duties under the supervision of a senior electrician. Electrician helpers conduct electrical and system installations, following protocols for the safeness of the process and components. They also inspect electrical tools and equipment before use, request supplies, and ensure the adequacy of materials during electrical operations. An electrician helper must have comprehensive knowledge of the electrical industry, be a fast learner, and have excellent time-management skills , especially when following instructions from the senior electrician on making the project successful.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that journeyman responsibilities requires skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "safety procedures," and "plumbing." But an electrician helper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "run conduit," "receptacles," "ladders," and "switches."

Journeyman vs. Carpenter helper

A carpenter helper is responsible for assisting carpenters with the construction duties, performing construction tasks as needed, and ensuring the completion of the project timely and efficiently. Carpenter helpers maintain the construction tools and equipment, including cleaning the materials before and after every use and inspecting for any possible defects. They also help with measuring surfaces to establish reference points for the installment of systems and other construction materials. A carpenter helper must have excellent communication and organizational skills , having the initiative to perform heavy-duty tasks under minimal supervision.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, journeymen are more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "hvac," and "safety procedures." But a carpenter helper is more likely to have skills like "ladders," "safety rules," "scaffolding," and "door frames."

Journeyman vs. Finish carpenter

Finish carpenters are skilled professionals who perform the final touches on homes after the structure is fully built. These carpenters must carry out various tasks such as installing doors, building bookshelves, and adding designs to window and door trims. They are required to follow work from sketches and drawings to complete the job to the right specifications as well as collecting the correct materials before beginning a job. Finish carpenters must also dismantle and demolish before carrying out repairs or installing new materials.

Types of journeyman

• Journeyman Electrician
• Electrician Helper

Pipe Fitter

• Apprentice Carpenter

Updated June 25, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

What Similar Roles Do

• What an Apprentice Carpenter Does
• What a Carpenter Does
• What a Carpenter Foreman Does
• What a Carpenter Helper Does
• What a Commercial And Industrial Electrician Does
• What a Construction Foreman Does
• What an Electrical Foreman Does
• What an Electrician Helper Does
• What a Finish Carpenter Does
• What a Journeyman Carpenter Does
• What a Journeyman Electrician Does
• What a Journeyman Painter Does
• What a Journeyman Plumber Does
• What a Lead Carpenter Does
• What a Mason Does

Journeyman Related Careers

• Carpenter Foreman
• Carpenter Helper
• Commercial And Industrial Electrician
• Construction Foreman
• Electrical Foreman
• Finish Carpenter
• Journeyman Carpenter
• Journeyman Ironworker
• Journeyman Painter
• Journeyman Plumber
• Lead Carpenter

Journeyman Related Jobs

Journeyman jobs by location.

• Buffalo Journeyman
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• Grand Prairie Journeyman
• Hanover Journeyman
• Highland Journeyman
• Lincoln Journeyman
• Quincy Journeyman
• Rancho Cordova Journeyman
• Rock Springs Journeyman
• Santa Ana Journeyman
• Washington Journeyman
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• Zippia Careers
• Construction and Extraction Industry
• What Does A Journeyman Do

Browse construction and extraction jobs

What Is the Difference Between a Journeyman & a Lineman?

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• Frustrations at Work
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Roofers' Apprenticeship Training

What is the difference between a construction electrician & a construction wireman, steamfitter job duties.

• How Much Do Union Painters Make?
• The Average Salary of a Master Plumber

Many people confuse the terms of lineman vs. electrician vs. journeyman. If you're considering training to be an electrician, you'll need to understand that a lineman is an electrician who works installing wiring outside, while an inside electrician is called a wireman, according to electricianschooledu.org . The electrician you see perched in a truck-mounted bucket or climbing a telephone pole to install outside wiring is a lineman, while the electrician who repairs wiring in your office is a wireman. A journeyman, Merriam-Webster explains, is a worker who has the training and experience to do the job well, but isn't yet a master.

A journeyman is a competent lineman (outside electrician) or wireman (inside electrician) who has completed an apprenticeship but hasn't yet become a master electrician.

Lineman vs. Electrician Descriptions

An electrician may tell you it's a great job and then advise you to become a lineman, leaving you confused. That's because a lineman is a type of electrician, one who works installing outside wires or lines. Linemen – also called line workers or linemen electricians, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on linemen – install, test, troubleshoot and repair all types of outside wiring. Some climb up poles or ride up in buckets to string wire between poles or make repairs on telephone and electrical lines, while others install wiring underground.

Electricians who work inside, in residential and commercial buildings, are technically called inside wiremen to differentiate from outside wiremen, though they are often referred to just as electricians. They may work in new construction, laying the original wiring, or in finished buildings that need wiring repairs, according to the BLS electrician's report. Electricians refer to blueprints with technical drawings to identify the locations of power equipment. They may work individually or confer with engineers and architects to design the wiring for new construction.

Electrician Education Requirements

The route to becoming an electrician is through an apprenticeship that typically lasts four or five years. A high school diploma or GED is the only educational requirement; however, inside wiremen sometimes complete a technical program – like a two-year course of study at a community college – before entering an apprenticeship, and usually receive credit toward some of their apprenticeship. Since outside linemen often work for companies like utilities or cable television providers, the companies may provide a sort of lineman school to teach them the skills of the job.

It's important to decide whether you want to be an inside or outside electrician because the training for each is different. The National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee is a clearinghouse for apprenticeships, according to electricianschooledu.org. Electrical unions and nonprofit cooperative organizations administer most of the apprenticeships. As an apprentice, you'll learn about the job by assisting experienced electricians, with your responsibilities increasing as you gain skills.

After completing your apprenticeship, you'll need to pass tests required by your state or locality to become a licensed electrician. Once you pass the tests you become a journeyman, which means you have the skills to perform the job but are not yet a master of it. Becoming a master electrician can take about seven years or so. The BLS gives wireman vs. lineman salary data: the median salary for wiremen was $56,180 in May 2019 and $96,580 or more as master electricians, while the median for linemen was $72,520 and $103,500 or more as master electricians. A median salary is one where half earn more and half earn less.

Wiremen and Linemen Industry

Linemen work outside whether it's steamy hot or icy cold. They often work up high and sometimes must climb poles. Wiremen who work in finished buildings must sometimes wedge themselves into compact, hard-to-reach spaces or climb ladders to get to the electrical equipment. The electrician industry is highly unionized, which provides some protection. Nevertheless, wireman is No. 22 on Business Insider's list of most dangerous jobs, while lineman is No. 11. The most dangerous job: loggers.

Electrician Job Growth Trend

The BLS expects the need for linemen to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about average for all jobs. The need for wiremen should grow 10 percent, however, due to increased construction and alternative power sources.

• Merriam-Webster: Journeyman
• Electricianschooledu.org: Comparing Careers for Electrical Wiremen and Linemen
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Electricians
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Line Installers and Repairers
• Business Insider: The Most Dangerous Jobs in America

Barbara Bean-Mellinger is a freelance writer who lives in the Washington, D.C. area. She writes about business and career topics for bizfluent.com, careertrend.com, Harbor Style Magazine, the Charlotte Sun and more. Barbara holds a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and has won numerous awards in B2B and B2C marketing.

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Klay Thompson Chose Mavericks Over Lakers Because He Thought It Would’ve Been Warriors All Over Again

The 34-year-old shooting guard ended his 13-year tenure with the Warriors this year.

Before inking a deal with the Dallas Mavericks , Klay Thompson walked away from an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers .

According to a report from ESPN , contract negotiations with the 34-year-old shooting guard to remain with the Golden State Warriors weren’t successful, thus ending his 13-year tenure with the team whom he had spent his entire career with.

Despite his efforts to reconnect with the team, which included a round of golf with owner Joe Lacob , 68, at the elusive Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles in mid-May, Thompson still reportedly found the negotiations of his contract to be “miserable” and felt undervalued compared to his teammates Stephen Curry , 36, and Draymond Green , 34.

View this photo on Instagram

After rebounding from an ACL injury from the 2019 NBA Finals and suffering from an Achilles injury in 2020 , Thompson helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship but was not offered a contract extension the summer following the win.

However, Thompson reportedly felt his role was diminished with the Warriors prioritizing younger players in his absence including 25-year-old guard Jordan Poole , and swingman Andrew Wiggins , 29. Both men were extended for four years each.

Thompson allegedly had a few options on the table while looking for his fresh start—the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder , and the L.A. Lakers.

Steph Curry Bids Farewell to Klay Thompson After Mavs Signing: ‘Splash Brothers 4 Life’ https://t.co/1LFm1qdOtn — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 2, 2024

ESPN reports that the Lakers were willing to offer Thompson four years and $80 million, he ultimately went with the Dallas Mavericks for a three-year, $50 million deal instead, believing that playing with the former would apparently feel too much like playing with the Warriors.

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Joe Burrow Doesn't Believe in Top 5 Lists

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese strengthen players' union seeking larger piece of financial pie

• The WNBA is projected to bring in up to $200 million for the first time this year.
• Less than $20 million this year will go to player salaries.
• The players' association is in a new position thanks to Clark, Reese and the rest of the WNBA's rookie class.

A sellout crowd. A heart-stopping finish. A confounding fact.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helped generate bundles of money through ticket sales alone last month in Chicago for the showdown between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky . But the rookies made less than $2,000 apiece in base salary for their part in the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years .

Clark still stands to earn up to $500,000 this season, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said, mostly through team and league marketing deals that could be available to Reese, too. Both also are eligible for a $2,575 bonus awarded to players who make the All-Star team, which will be announced Tuesday night.

It's all part of a financial system that could test the power and loyalty of the emerging stars as a potential battle looms.

This year, in what would shatter a league record for revenue, the WNBA and its 12 teams are projected to bring in up to $200 million for the first time, according to Bloomberg . Less than $20 million this year will go to player salaries. With the WNBA in its 28th season, players' average base salaries are about $120,000, based on data from Spotrac , and largely have stalled as league revenue soars.

As the WNBA enjoys a surge in attendance and TV ratings, negotiates a lucrative media-rights deal and prepares to add four teams that will net tens of millions in expansion fees, the players want a larger slice of the pie.

So here's what is likely to happen: Before the Nov. 1 deadline, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) will opt out of the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to run through 2027, with added star power.

Clark and Reese will be in the fold.

'It's all about leverage'

The players' association is in a new position thanks to Clark, Reese and the rest of the WNBA's rookie class, said Gary Roberts, the former dean of the Indiana University law school whose expertise includes sports law.

"This is really the first draft class that has gotten this kind of attention that would give the union some bargaining leverage," Roberts said. "And it’s all about leverage.

"Take the first 40 years of the NBA. They didn’t make (expletive), too, because they didn’t have bargaining leverage."

The value of Clark and Reese, along with other members of the heralded rookie class, seems clear to Nneka Ogwumike, in her ninth year as president of the WNBPA.

"We’re looking forward to more young players pushing the envelope and hopefully also being engaged in negotiation,," said Ogwumike, the Seattle Storm forward and eight-time All-Star. "I mean, both with their popularity but also with their engagement on the players’ association side. And, of course, using their platforms however they can to bring history, information and facts to matter when it comes to pay equity and the WNBA.

"It can’t happen without the top players’ engagement."

'People flipped'

Already, Clark has provided a service to WNBPA. It happened after she declared for the 2024 WNBA draft and was  selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever .

"People naturally asked what she would make, and people flipped," Ogwumike said.

Clark, the all-time leading scorer in college basketball who captivated the country with her logo threes, this season is making $76,535 – the maximum rookie base salary under the WNBA's current CBA. Her four-year rookie deal is $338,056 in salary.

By comparison ,  Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, made more than $10 million as a rookie. His four-year rookie deal is $55 million in salary.

Also, the average NBA player salary last season was more than $10 million annually. The top WNBA player salary this season tops out at $252,420, for Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces .

A snapshot of one WNBA "journeyman": Lexie Brown, a guard with the Los Angeles Sparks in her seventh year in the league, is making $80,340 this season, according to Spotrac. In 2021, she played a key role in helping the Sky win the championship. This season, through 18 games, she's fifth in scoring, third in assists and tied for second in steals on the Sparks.

She also played overseas in 2018 and 2019, a common practice to boost income – top players can earn in the seven figures – in part because of the historically low WNBA salaries.

On April 17, President Biden wrote in a social media post, "It's time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve."

"I’m happy conversations are being sparked again – whether it’s charters or rookie salaries or whatever the case may be – but it’s also like, welcome," said Breanna Stewart , power forward for the New York Liberty and a two-time WNBA Finals MVP. "Welcome to the fight. Welcome to what we’ve been doing for awhile."

Kelsey Plum , a two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces , balks at comparisons of player salaries in the NBA, which generates more than $10 billion in revenue a year.

"We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid,"  Plum told Just Women's Sports  in 2022. "We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared."

'Fighting tooth and nail'

NBA players receive 51 percent of  basketball-related income . WNBA players receive between 10 percent  and  20 percent  of total revenue, according to published reports. The league policy is not to publicly share league or team financial statements.

Engelbert issues a reminder: Player salaries are collectively bargained. In other words, the WNBPA agreed to them.

"I think most people would look at the (WNBPA) and suggest that it’s not very strong," said Rodney Fort, author of "Sports Economics" and a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan’s sports management program. "So far, the owners have the upper hand."

Kym Hampton, who was the starting center for the New York Liberty during the WNBA's inaugural season, recalled the league's approach to the first negotiations with the players. At the time, Renee Brown was a top executive with the WNBA who was discussing player salaries.

"She was saying, $30,000 (a year), there’s a whole lot of people that don’t make $30,000," said Hampton, who was a team representative in the labor negotiations. "There’s a whole lot of secretaries. And I said, 'Renee, I’m sure that those secretaries aren’t the best in the world at what they do.'

"It was just really heated because it was like they were fighting tooth and nail for everything."

Brown, who left the WNBA in 2016, did not respond to a voicemail or a text message left on a phone number listed in her name.

Is a work-stoppage possible?

Ogwumike, serving her third term since first elected in 2016, said she would not rule out a work-stoppage in the next round of labor negotiations.

"I don’t see why we should settle at this point," she said.

Roberts, the sports law expert, considered the possibility.

"For a Caitlin Clark or an Angel Reese today to threaten to walk out, I think they would not be regarded that sympathetically by a large segment of the public," he said. "But that’s the kind of leverage you need to have in order to get a collective bargaining agreement that’s going to increase those salaries.

"Maybe in three or four years, especially if you have some really compelling rivalries that get a lot of attention and if Caitlin Clark can win a WNBA championship against Chicago or whatever. That's the kind of thing that gives bargaining leverage that they’ve had none of in the past."

Fort, the professor emeritus at the University of Michigan’s sports management program, expressed doubts about Clark's potential role in a fight for higher salaries. It's economics, he said. While her base pay led to outrage , she won't have trouble paying the bills considering she has endorsement deals with Gatorade, State Farm and Wilson Sporting Goods and, as Fort noted, a $24 million deal with Nike.

"It’s difficult to see how Caitlin Clark would sit down and listen to her own players' association negotiation leadership tell her she (should) put a bunch on the line so she can make a couple of hundred thousand bucks," Fort said. "How does Nike feel about endorsing a basketball player who’s helping the league strike for maybe an entire year to make another $300,000 (in salary) when they’re paying her (millions)?"

For Reese's part, during the uproar over Clark's salary she addressed her rookie salary of $73,439.

"I mean, being able to play for what, four to five months, and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I'm doing," Reese said, "I think it's a plus for me." She has endorsement deals with Reebok and Beats by Dre.

The issue of transparency

Delisha Milton-Jones, a three-time All-Star who retired after the 2015 season, said she thinks the players have been at a disadvantage during labor negotiations.

"People still have to understand that while the league has been here 25-plus years, it’s still kind of in its infancy," Milton-Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "I understand that we would have to open up the books in order for people to get a hard, in-depth look as to whether or not more money is available."

Told about the comment, Ogwumike said, "She gets it. She’s absolutely right. We still don’t have all of the books. And that's something that we’ve worked around. But it’s also something that would give us more clarity on the business for us to truly understand what we’re working with as far as salary and compensation that can be negotiated for the players of the league."

Engelbert strongly denied the assertions.

"It’s very natural for unions to think that the other side in a negotiation or bargaining aren't giving a complete picture, but it’s not happening here," she said. "There’s nothing for us to hide from our union. We want to return to the players everything we can as it relates to the economic picture we’ve been building here."

Roberts, the sports law expert, said WNBA team finances "can get jumbled" when they're owned by people or companies that own NBA teams and use the same arena. Five of the 12 WNBA teams and both teams joining the league in the next two years – Golden State in 2025 and Toronto in 2026 – are owned by NBA owners.

Roberts noted that Herb Simon owns the Indiana Pacers and Fever in saying, "It’s hard to really know what the Fever’s economic situation really is independently of the Pacers because they share the facility, they share office space, they share a lot of employees. And so it's really hard to do that kind of economic analysis to really know what percentage (of revenue) players are getting in the WNBA.

"But the bottom line is, (the players) don’t have the bargaining leverage historically."

'Dawn of this new era'

Even before Clark and Reese renewed their rivalry in the WNBA, Engelbert spoke as if she knew what the rookies were about to do for the WNBA.

"We’re just in the dawn of this new era and we’re in a huge league transformation," she said.

Part of her excitement stems from the new media-rights deal.

The current deal, which will expire after the 2025 season, is worth about $60 million a year, according to Bloomberg News . The new deal will be worth an estimated $150 million a year, said Matt Balvanz, head of analytics and innovation at Navigate, which provides research and consulting for companies in sports and entertainment.

He said the estimate is based on projections such as average viewership growing 50 percent with each of the WNBA's four partners – ABC, CBS, ION and Amazon; 20 more WNBA games included in the new package from the addition of new teams; and the fee per viewer paid by networks jumping from $1.40 to $2.30.

It would be a massive infusion of revenue for the WNBA.

"We were just surviving when I came into the league and now we’re thriving," said Engelbert, who this month will complete her fifth year as commissioner.

About the only thing that soured her mood during an interview with USA TODAY Sports was being asked about criticism over the player salaries.

Most players rely almost exclusively on their salaries for income. But Engelbert said salaries fail to account for a host of other benefits and opportunities. (NBA salaries do not account for additional benefits either.) Here's what Engelbert cited:

Clark and other players can make up to $250,000 a year through league marketing deals, and the WNBA is required to spend at least $1 million a year on the program, which this year includes six players, according to ESPN . The deals begin in October during the playoffs. Players also can make $100,000 a year from team marketing deals, and teams can spend up to $150,000 a year.

On Tuesday, the league will announce its All-Star Game participants. Each will earn a $2,575 bonus with other bonuses earmarked for skills competition winners and the game's MVP. Other potential bonuses include postseason awards.

The biggest bonus is a combined $500,000 the two teams that play in the Commissioners Cup championship game (this year that will be shared by the Liberty and Lynx) and almost $100,000 in other "merit bonuses." For example, Clark would make $5,150 if she wins rookie of the year and an extra $1,500 if she's on the All-WNBA Rookie Team.

Additional benefits include a charter flight program launched the first week of the season that Engelbert said will cost the league more than $50 million over the next two years; $60,000 in fertility benefits for veteran players; fully paid parental leave; and player housing.

"Now we’ll have an opportunity to do something even more historic with the next deal," Engelbert said.

Catering to the elite

With the marketing deals and bonuses, the WNBA likely has earned goodwill by supplementing salaries of exceptional young players such as Rhyne Howard, the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft, and Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft and Clark's teammate. They did the same for veterans like Jewell Loyd, a five-time WNBA All-Star, and Arike Ogunbowale, a three-time WNBA All-Star.

By contrast, Ogwumike said, the players' association previously has focused its attention on "role players," or what Ogwumike calls "middle players" – those who comprise the majority of the league and depend largely on their salaries.

The approach is changing, according to Ogwumike.

"I think that middle player was getting overpaid so much, so that there was not enough to distinguish between how salaries were reflected between middle player, role player, and like a franchise player," she said. “I think that we have to move forward with that top player in mind because someone like Caitlin, if she’s making much more, it’s obviously going to (increase money for salaries).

"But that’s a sensitive concept, especially when talking to the majority of players who aren’t going to be earning the most, given the changes that we anticipate."

Contributing: Lindsay Schnell

Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Analysis: The easier path on the PGA Tour doesn't make it easy

J ordan Spieth returns to the John Deere Classic for the first time since he won a playoff in 2015 . Just don't get the idea this is some kind of nostalgia tour.

He needs the points.

Spieth started the year guaranteed starts in all eight of the PGA Tour's signature events and finished third at Kapalua in the first one. But he has plunged all the way to No. 59 as he works through a wrist injury and at times has played practice rounds while on the phone for one of many meetings as a PGA Tour board member.

Time is running out. Five tournament weeks remain before the postseason, and while the top 70 advance to the FedEx Cup playoffs, the magic number is 50. That guarantees a spot in next year's signature events with their $20 million purses and elevated points.

That's the easier path. It doesn't mean it's easy.

Spieth is among 15 players who started the year with the advantage of playing all the signature events and now are outside the top 50 heading into the home stretch. One of those was Tyrrell Hatton, who really took the easy path by joining Saudi-funded LIV Golf with its no-cut $20 million events.

Rickie Fowler at No. 93 is in the lowest spot of those 14 players still on the PGA Tour. He is one year and one week removed from his Rocket Mortgage Classic victory. Since then, his best finish is 16th at the Tour Championship. In the signature events, his best is a tie for 18th in the RBC Heritage.

It's a reminder that in this era of massive change on the PGA Tour — more money for fewer players — performance still matters.

There was so much hand-wringing about pandering to the stars last year that not enough attention was paid to Justin Thomas and Adam Schenk . One was a 15-time PGA Tour winner who had a stinker of a year and missed the playoffs. The other was a journeyman who cashed in at the right time and earned his way to the Tour Championship.

Thomas did well enough for so long that he didn't fall far, and his world ranking in the top 30 got him into the signature events. He had top 12s in four of those events, along with a strong finish in The American Express and the PGA Championship, so he is No. 16 in the FedEx Cup.

Fowler is this year's version of Thomas, minus the world ranking, although it's not too early to speculate whether he will get some of the exemptions that went to Webb Simpson next year if he doesn't turn it around quickly.

This year's Schenk? Eight players outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup last year have won tournaments, a list ranging from Taylor Pendrith to Stephan Jaeger. Two players currently inside the top 30 got there without winning — Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thomas Detry.

Another example is former FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel, who had no guarantee of signature events after a poor 2023 season. He won in the Dominican Republic. He had a pair of top 10s in regular PGA Tour events and a tie for eighth in the PGA Championship. Horschel got into one signature event based on his win, two others on an exemption. He took advantage only at the Memorial with a tie for 15th.

Horschel, 90th in the FedEx Cup a year ago, is at No. 46 and plans to play the final four tournaments on the schedule starting next week at the Scottish Open.

“These signature events are great for a multitude of reasons,” Horschel said. “But if you don't play well, you're behind the eight ball. And with the shorter season, we all knew it was going to be a sprint.”

Those events can go a long way, though. Sungjae Im is an example of that. The South Korean has three top 5s this year, all of them in signature events. That's 60% of his points from three of the 18 tournaments he has played this year.

The system is not perfect.

Horschel was among those who realized immediately that winning a tournament — which should include the best perks — counts toward the “swing” list of 10 and five players who get into signature events, instead of a separate entry category. A few extra players in signature events isn't going to hurt. Some tweaks are expected for next year.

His greater concern is Korn Ferry Tour graduates — the new blood each season — having enough access. None is among the top 70 at the moment, and only five are in the top 100. The further down the list of their priority ranking, the fewer the starts.

And that's an indication that top-50 players aren't just cherry-picking the signature events. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler has played four regular PGA Tour events, while PGA champion Xander Schauffele has played three.

Fewer fully exempt cards might be one solution. The PGA Tour must strike a balance of providing playing opportunities with creating tournaments with the best fields while keeping a path open for the next generation.

This isn't a finished product. What hasn't changed is good golf can go a long way.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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What Can Be Learned on Day 1 of Bears Training Camp

Gene chamberlain | jul 4, 2024.

• Chicago Bears

There are useful facts to be understood about a team from the earliest of training camp practices, which begin in just over two weeks for the Bears.

They'll start learning more about forming their 53-man roster earlier than other teams becuase of the Hall of Fame Game.

In many cases, everyone would know more already except coaches love the nebulous offseason, when they can hide true intent behind a fuzzy cloud of possibilities.

It would be nice to say it all comes out in the wash at that first practice but this would be a lie. There will still be secrets.

Still, there are going to be strong indications which way they are leaning at certain positions from the start. The offseason work, when experimenting goes on, is done.

Here's what can be learned from the first day the Bears hit the practice field.

Film on Nate Davis getting busy in the run game. Solid addition to the #Bears oline. 💪🏾 🐻⬇️ #NFLFreeAgency #NFL pic.twitter.com/3LHtGywcwm — Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) March 13, 2023

1. The Nate Davis Situation

When they left off at minicamp, coach Matt Eberflus was peppered with questions about Nate Davis. The starting right guard barely made an offseason appearance after a season when he struggled, was injured, went through personal tragedy and missed six total games. Instead, veteran journeyman guard/tackle Matt Pryor took the most snaps at right guard and they kept Teven Jenkins on the left side. Center candidate Ryan Bates was moved from his competition with Coleman Shelton to play right guard, too.

"I really don't know, exactly," was coach Matt Eberflus' assessment of the position. "Sure, we had Bates there. He's played there. Shelton has played at center, of course. Davis has played there. Tev has been on the other side. Pryor has been in and been out.

"The versatility there has certainly been helpful."

When Bates started at Buffalo, it was usually at right guard but he's a center, too.

"Ryan did a really good job of having those pieces in there so we don’t (end up) like last year or prior years, you know, a guy goes down and we're like, 'Oh, what are we going to do?' "  Eberflus said. "At least we have that flexibility at the O-line position."

No one is going to know what was wrong with Davis at the outset but at least they'll know if he's all right now.

Here is a random assortment of plays I thought were notable from a quick review of new #Bears C Coleman Shelton's tape: ✅Athleticism really pops as a run blocker in space, making him an excellent fit for outside zone run scheme ✅Uses good leverage, quick hands, and a strong… pic.twitter.com/d3iGfuRjic — Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) March 14, 2024

2. Center Favorite

Coaches will say the person who lines up at center first is just there because someone has to be there to start camp, as if it's a coin toss.

Whoever lines up there on the first day is the center favorite no matter what they say. Obviously it can change. It's only July. Don't foget the Bears still have Doug Kramer, too, and consider him part of this battle. Kramer is in his third year so he should be involved in such things.

Bates actually made more first-team snaps during the portions of offseason practices made visible to media, so it might appear he's the favorite. But he was moved to right guard and also the media sees less than half of offseason practice so it's always possible Shelton is actually No. 1. But they did have positive things to say about Bates.

"He's a pro, man," offensive line coach Chris Morgan said. "And he's athletic. He's smart. He's tough. We know he's versatile. And you know he's played a lot of football, so we’re excited to have him."

He just hasn't played a lot of football at center, only 200 NFL snaps but was the guy Ryan Poles tried to bring in two years ago as one of their linemen with a failed restricted free agent offer.

"At the end of the day I'm very happy to still be in Buffalo with the guys. These are my guys, I didn't want to leave them." #Bills OL Ryan Bates talks about being a restricted free agent, signing an offer sheet with the Bears and having the Bills bring him back. pic.twitter.com/niZUPKuP5H — Heather Prusak (@haprusak) August 8, 2022

3. The Cursed Cadence

Caleb Williams didn't have the cadences in sync with the offensive linemen when they broke for summer. Why this could be any different now, after vacationing in France, no one would know. They worked on it at minicamp with defensive tackle Andrew Billings trying to pull them offsides with voice interference. He was successful.

This will need to be worked on extensively at the outset unless they enjoy presnap penalties.

"The challenge right now for me I would say would be– one would be the cadence and putting it all together, because there’s a fine line for it," Williams said.

There's more to it than simply yelling out signals.

"One thing that we always try to tell him is voice louder, emphasize like that second 'hut' to make the defense draw offsides and get a free play," guard Teven Jenkins said. "Those plays we got last year."

One helped them beat Detroit but that was with a different quarterback.

#Bears rookie QB, and the NFL's first overall draft pick of 2024, Caleb Williams has been trying to perfect his cadence. pic.twitter.com/BBgxlxZl8I — Barroom Network - Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) June 6, 2024

4. Where They Work

If receiver/return man DeAndre Carter starts out working with the receivers who are in the first group, it could mean moving down with reserves for either Velus Jones, Tyler Scott or Dante Pettis.

They'll usually have five or six receivers up working with the first team for when they are in four- and five-receiver sets.

However, Cart might need more time to learn a new offense. In that case, he might be back with the third and fourth groups for him. The back of the receiver group will be a place to watch for roster battles.

The same is true with rookie tackle Kiran Amegadjie. Will they put him in with the second team at one of the tackle spots immediately, or the third team? He missed all of the offseason work. This could impact what happens to Larry Borom.

Another curiosity will be who lines up with backup or third defensive tackle group. They shuttled players around in these spots during the offseason.

The last spot is at defensive end. It wouldn't be surprising if they let Austin Booker line up as part of the regular defensive end rotation with the second group because he showed so much promise in offseason work.

They have several other veteran candidates to put in there with him if he does. Dominique Robinson, Jake Martin, Khalid Kareem and Daniel Hardy are chief among them. It's going to be a group watched closely by coaches to see if the need exists to sign a veteran free agent.

Tyler Scott enters his second season w/The #Bears hoping to get more targets and involvement in the offense. But honestly, I want to see him compete to be our returner in ‘24. Scott has wheels and solid vision that allow him to do this. 👀 pic.twitter.com/7UZK3xF10h — Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@OfficialJAYCHI) June 26, 2024

5. Happy Returns

This is going to be a daily guessing game. Whoever goes back to field punts and kickoffs is going to be closely scrutinized. DeAndre Carter and Dante Pettis, possibly even Rome Odunze, could be back on punts. Any number of players could be back for kicks. No one knows what they're thinking with the kick returns because of the rule changes. It will be this way from the outset of camp.

The Chicago #Bears have signed kick returner specialist DeAndre Carter before training camp. Love this signing. Competition for camp, and this dude is FAST pic.twitter.com/yiPEVD0fos — Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@OfficialJAYCHI) June 13, 2024

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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