Sheet Metal Worker at ELW Area Sheet Metal JAC
at ELW Area Sheet Metal JAC in Cadott, WI
About This Program
The ELW Area Sheet Metal JAC sponsors a union sheet metal worker apprenticeship based in Cadott, WI. This Joint Apprenticeship Committee program serves the Eau Claire, La Crosse, and western Wisconsin region, providing employer-backed, structured training for individuals entering the sheet metal trades.
The apprenticeship lasts five years and combines 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training with 640 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices gain hands-on experience fabricating, installing, and maintaining HVAC systems, ductwork, ventilation equipment, and custom sheet metal products while working alongside journey-level tradespeople. Related technical instruction addresses blueprint reading, trade mathematics, welding, and applicable safety codes. Apprentices earn wages from the start and receive pay increases as they progress.
Completeing this program qualifies graduates as journey-level sheet metal workers with union recognition. This credential supports employment across commercial, industrial, and residential construction markets in the region, and positions graduates for long-term career growth in field leadership, shop fabrication, and project management.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$26
OJT Hours
8,000
RTI Hours
640
Duration
5 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Sheet Metal Worker Career Outlook
National Median
$26.33/hr
~$54,766.4/yr
Apprentice Start
$16/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Sheet metal worker employment is expected to grow steadily, driven by HVAC system demand in new construction and energy-efficiency retrofits. The transition to high-efficiency systems and commercial building upgrades creates ongoing need for skilled fabricators and installers. Workers with welding and CAD skills have the strongest prospects.
What to Expect as a Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice
Duration
5 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~32 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (8,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
640 hours of related technical instruction (~128 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 Sheet Metal Worker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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