Ironworker at Ironworkers Local 118 JATC
at Ironworkers Local 118 JATC in Sacramento, CA
About This Program
Ironworkers Local 118 JATC sponsors this union ironworker apprenticeship in Sacramento, CA. This Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee program serves the greater Sacramento region, offering paid, structured training in structural, reinforcing, and ornamental ironwork for individuals ready to enter one of construction's most skilled and well-compensated trades. Apprentices earn wages from their first day on the job.
The program is time-based and runs four years, combining 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work on structural steel erection, rebar and post-tension installation, rigging, ornamental and architectural ironwork, and welding operations, all under the guidance of experienced journey-level ironworkers. Classroom instruction addresses structural drawings, safety regulations, rigging calculations, welding fundamentals, and trade-specific technical standards.
Graduates earn journey-level status as Ironworkers. With Local 118's union affiliation, graduates benefit from collectively bargained wages, benefits, and retirement provisions. Sacramento's active construction market — driven by state government projects, commercial development, and housing — supports strong and consistent demand for journeyman ironworkers 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.
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.
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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