Ironworker at Ironworkers JATC Ar
at Ironworkers JATC Ar in Little Rock, AR
About This Program
Ironworkers JATC AR sponsors this union ironworker apprenticeship in Little Rock, AR. This Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee program brings together union and employer resources to prepare apprentices for careers in structural, reinforcing, and ornamental ironwork across Arkansas. Apprentices are paid from day one and advance through the program with increasing wages and responsibility.
The apprenticeship is time-based, running four years with 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop skills in structural steel erection, rebar placement, rigging and hoisting operations, and welding, working alongside experienced journeymen on commercial and industrial job sites. Classroom instruction covers structural drawings and plans, rigging principles, safety regulations, and the technical foundations of the ironworking trade.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level Ironworkers. The JATC's union affiliation supports strong wages and benefits, and Arkansas's ongoing construction activity in commercial, infrastructure, and industrial sectors provides journeyman ironworkers with stable, rewarding employment throughout their careers.
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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