Ironworker at Ironworkers, Local 11
at Ironworkers, Local 11 in Springfield, NJ
About This Program
Ironworkers Local 11 sponsors a registered union ironworker apprenticeship based in Springfield, NJ. This JATC-affiliated program trains apprentices to journeyman level through a combination of supervised field experience and classroom-based technical instruction. Apprentices are paid from the start of the program.
The four-year apprenticeship includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work alongside journeymen on active construction projects, learning structural steel erection, rigging and hoisting, reinforcing iron installation, welding, and metal decking. Classroom work covers blueprint reading, safety regulations, ironworking math, and trade theory.
Completing the program earns graduates journeyman ironworker status and full union membership in Local 11. New Jersey's active construction market — including commercial, infrastructure, and industrial projects — provides strong ongoing employment opportunities for qualified ironworkers with union credentials.
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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