Ironworker at Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund
at Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund in Denver, CO
About This Program
The Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund administers this ironworker apprenticeship program based in Denver, CO. This employer-sponsored, time-based program is designed to develop skilled ironworkers through a structured combination of on-the-job experience and classroom-based technical education in one of Colorado's most active construction markets.
The program spans four years and delivers 6,000 hours of paid on-the-job training alongside 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn to erect structural steel, install and tie reinforcing bars, perform rigging and signaling, and work safely on elevated structures. Related technical instruction covers blueprint reading, rigging principles, construction safety codes, and the structural and material knowledge needed for complex ironwork assignments.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level ironworkers ready to contribute to major construction and infrastructure projects across the Denver metro area and throughout Colorado. The trust fund structure reflects a strong commitment to training quality and consistency. Apprentices are paid from the start, providing income stability while they build toward a durable, skilled-trades 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.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Ironworker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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