Ironworker at Ironworkers Local 37
at Ironworkers Local 37 in East Providence, RI
About This Program
Ironworkers Local 37, based in East Providence, RI, offers a registered union ironworker apprenticeship for workers entering the trade in Rhode Island and neighboring New England states. This JATC-affiliated program provides a paid, well-organized training path leading to a lasting career in structural, reinforcing, and ornamental ironwork.
The apprenticeship runs four years and combines 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 576 hours of related technical instruction. Working on real construction projects alongside journeymen, apprentices build competency in steel erection, rebar installation, rigging operations, and welding. Technical instruction delivered through the program covers safety practices, rigging mathematics, blueprint reading, and the core principles of the ironworking trade.
Graduates of the Local 37 program become certified journeyman ironworkers, ready to take on complex assignments across New England's construction sector. Union membership provides access to negotiated wages, health insurance, pension benefits, and the professional standing that comes with representing one of the region's established building trades locals.
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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