Ironworker at Atlanta Ironworkers JATC
at Atlanta Ironworkers JATC in Atlanta, GA
About This Program
The Atlanta Ironworkers JATC administers this union ironworker apprenticeship program in Atlanta, GA. Backed by one of the building trades' most established organizations, this JATC program prepares apprentices to work on the large-scale commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction projects that define Atlanta's dynamic skyline and growing metro area.
The program runs four years and combines 6,000 hours of paid on-the-job training with 576 hours of related technical instruction. On job sites across the Atlanta region, apprentices learn structural steel erection, rebar placement and tying, crane rigging and signaling, ornamental ironwork installation, and safe elevated work practices. Classroom coursework addresses blueprint reading, rigging calculations, construction safety codes, and structural material fundamentals.
Graduates earn journeyman ironworker status recognized through the JATC system, with access to union job networks that connect them to opportunities throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Atlanta's sustained commercial and infrastructure construction activity supports strong and consistent demand for skilled ironworkers. Apprentices are compensated throughout the full four years of training.
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.
How to Apply
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.
This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Ironworker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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