Ironworker at Nashville Ironworkers
at Nashville Ironworkers in Nashville, TN
About This Program
Nashville Ironworkers offers a registered ironworker apprenticeship in Nashville, TN. This employer-sponsored, non-union program provides a structured, paid training experience for individuals looking to enter the ironworking trade in one of the Southeast's fastest-growing construction markets. Apprentices earn wages throughout the duration of the program.
The apprenticeship lasts four years and is built around 6,000 hours of on-the-job training supplemented by 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work alongside experienced ironworkers developing practical skills in structural steel erection, reinforcing bar installation, rigging, and construction equipment safety. Technical instruction covers blueprint reading, OSHA safety standards, rigging mathematics, and the foundational knowledge required to work effectively in the trade.
Upon completing the program, apprentices achieve journeyman ironworker status, qualifying them to work on Nashville's growing portfolio of commercial, residential high-rise, and infrastructure projects. This program offers a direct route into a skilled, well-compensated trade at a time of significant construction activity across Tennessee.
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.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Ironworker
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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