Ironworker at Ironworkers Local 404 JATC
at Ironworkers Local 404 JATC in Harrisburg, PA
About This Program
Ironworkers Local 404 JATC offers a registered union apprenticeship for ironworkers in Harrisburg, PA. This Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee program serves the south-central Pennsylvania construction market, providing paid, structured training for individuals entering the ironworking trade. Apprentices work on real job sites from the beginning of the program.
The four-year apprenticeship combines 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 576 hours of related technical instruction. On the job, apprentices learn structural steel erection, rebar installation, rigging operations, welding, and the safe use of construction tools and equipment. Classroom instruction covers OSHA safety standards, blueprint reading, rigging and load mathematics, and core iron trade concepts.
Graduates of the Local 404 JATC program achieve journeyman ironworker status and are qualified to work on a wide range of commercial, industrial, and public construction projects across the Harrisburg area and throughout Pennsylvania. Union membership provides negotiated wages, benefits, and long-term career stability in the trade.
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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