Ironworker at Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program
at Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program in Saint Louis, MO
About This Program
The Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program in Saint Louis, MO offers a registered ironworker apprenticeship for individuals looking to enter the structural and reinforcing iron trades. This employer-sponsored program provides hands-on training from experienced professionals in the field, with apprentices earning wages throughout.
The program is time-based and runs four years, encompassing 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn structural steel erection, rigging and hoisting, reinforcing iron installation, metal decking, and basic welding. Classroom instruction covers safety, blueprint reading, ironworking math, and construction industry standards.
Completing the program leads to journeyman ironworker standing, equipping graduates for skilled positions on commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction projects throughout the St. Louis metro area and Missouri. This is a solid earn-while-you-learn path into one of construction's most in-demand skilled trades.
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.
How to Apply
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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