Sheet Metal Worker at Mid-Valley Sheet Metal Workers Jac
at Mid-Valley Sheet Metal Workers Jac in Salem, OR
About This Program
Mid-Valley Sheet Metal Workers JAC in Salem, Oregon sponsors this union Sheet Metal Worker apprenticeship serving the Willamette Valley region. Operating as a Joint Apprenticeship Committee, the program is jointly managed by union contractors and the sheet metal workers' union to ensure apprentices receive both practical field experience and thorough technical education.
The apprenticeship is five years in length, structured around 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 640 hours of related technical instruction. In the field, apprentices fabricate and install ductwork, HVAC systems, and custom sheet metal components under journeyman supervision. Classroom learning covers blueprint interpretation, pattern layout, welding, applied mathematics, and safety standards.
Graduates earn journeyman Sheet Metal Worker status upon completion, qualifying them for skilled trade positions across the mid-Willamette Valley construction market. Union affiliation offers the added benefit of negotiated wages, benefits packages, and ongoing professional development resources.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$26
OJT Hours
8,000
RTI Hours
640
Duration
5 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Sheet Metal Worker Career Outlook
National Median
$26.33/hr
~$54,766.4/yr
Apprentice Start
$16/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Sheet metal worker employment is expected to grow steadily, driven by HVAC system demand in new construction and energy-efficiency retrofits. The transition to high-efficiency systems and commercial building upgrades creates ongoing need for skilled fabricators and installers. Workers with welding and CAD skills have the strongest prospects.
What to Expect as a Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice
Duration
5 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~32 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (8,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
640 hours of related technical instruction (~128 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 Sheet Metal Worker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
Licensing in Oregon
Sheet Metal Workers in Oregon are required to hold a license. Licensing is issued by Oregon Building Codes Division, Mechanical Program.
View full Oregonlicensing requirements →Reviews
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