Ironworker at Ashland Ironworkers, J.A.T. T.F.
at Ashland Ironworkers, J.A.T. T.F. in Ashland, KY
About This Program
Ashland Ironworkers J.A.T. T.F. in Ashland, KY sponsors a registered ironworker apprenticeship that provides paid, structured training for individuals entering the structural, reinforcing, and ornamental ironwork trades. This employer-sponsored program follows a time-based training model over four years.
Apprentices complete 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction throughout the program. Field work includes structural steel erection, rebar placement, rigging, welding, and safe work practices on construction sites. Classroom instruction addresses ironworking mathematics, print reading, welding theory, rigging principles, and occupational safety and health regulations.
Graduates of the program earn journeyman ironworker credentials, qualifying them for skilled employment on a variety of construction projects in eastern Kentucky and the surrounding tri-state region. The Ashland area's industrial and infrastructure construction activity provides a steady base of work for qualified ironworkers.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$29
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
576
Duration
4 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Ironworker Career Outlook
National Median
$28.82/hr
~$59,945.6/yr
Apprentice Start
$18/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Ironworker employment is tied to large-scale construction activity including commercial buildings, bridges, and infrastructure. Federal infrastructure investment and urban development continue to drive demand. The trade has a relatively small workforce, so retirements create proportionally more openings. Ironworkers with welding and rigging certifications are in highest demand.
What to Expect as an Ironworker Apprentice
Duration
4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~30 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
576 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Ironworker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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