Sheet Metal Worker at Milwaukee Area Sheet Metal JAC
at Milwaukee Area Sheet Metal JAC in Waukesha, WI
About This Program
The Milwaukee Area Sheet Metal JAC offers a union sheet metal worker apprenticeship based in Waukesha, WI. This Joint Apprenticeship Committee program is employer-sponsored and serves the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area, connecting apprentices with union contractors across one of Wisconsin's most active construction markets.
The program is five years in duration and structured around 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 640 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop hands-on skills in the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of HVAC ductwork, ventilation systems, and architectural sheet metal products. Classroom instruction covers safety, blueprint interpretation, trade mathematics, and welding. Apprentices are paid throughout the program, with wage rates increasing as they advance.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level sheet metal workers, a union credential recognized across the construction industry. Milwaukee's large commercial and industrial construction base provides strong employment demand for qualified journey workers, along with advancement opportunities in supervision, estimating, and specialty sheet metal fabrication.
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
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