Ironworker at International Assoc. of Bridge, Structrual, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local #568 JATC
at International Assoc. of Bridge, Structrual, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local #568 JATC in Cumberland, MD
About This Program
The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 568 JATC in Cumberland, MD offers a comprehensive union ironworker apprenticeship. This JATC-sponsored program covers all major branches of the ironworking trade and provides paid training for qualified applicants ready to start a construction career.
The four-year program requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn structural steel erection, bridge ironwork, rebar placement, ornamental installations, rigging, and welding under journeyman supervision. Classroom instruction includes blueprint reading, rigging theory and calculations, welding fundamentals, and OSHA safety standards.
Completion earns graduates journeyman ironworker credentials and full union membership with Local 568. Cumberland's location in western Maryland, near the Maryland-Pennsylvania-West Virginia tri-state area, provides graduates with access to commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction work with union wages and benefits.
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.
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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