Ironworker at International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers, Local 118 JATC
at International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers, Local 118 JATC in Sacramento, CA
About This Program
The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 118 JATC offers this union apprenticeship program in Sacramento, CA. Affiliated with one of the country's most established building trades unions, Local 118's JATC program delivers rigorous, structured training for those entering the ironworking craft.
Running four years in total, the program provides 6,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work under journeyman supervision on real construction sites, learning structural steel erection, reinforcing bar installation, rigging operations, ornamental metalwork, and fall protection practices. Classroom sessions cover blueprint reading, rigging calculations, construction safety regulations, and structural steel theory.
Graduates of Local 118's JATC program earn journeyman ironworker status and gain access to union job referral networks that connect them to major projects across Northern California. Ironworkers are in consistent demand on commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure projects. With wages paid from day one, this apprenticeship offers a clear and financially sound path into a high-skill construction career.
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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