Ironworker at Pacific Northwest Ironworkers and Employers Local #86 Apprenticeship Committee

The Pacific Northwest Ironworkers and Employers Local 86 Apprenticeship Committee sponsors a registered union ironworker apprenticeship in Tukwila, WA. As a JATC program, it unites union and employer partners to deliver structured, well-supported training for individuals pursuing a career in structural ironwork in the greater Seattle area. Apprentices are paid throughout the program.

The four-year program includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work alongside journeymen on commercial and industrial projects, building skills in structural steel erection, rebar placement, rigging, welding, and job site safety. Classroom coursework reinforces field learning through blueprint reading, mathematics, and trade theory.

Completing this apprenticeship leads to journeyman ironworker status — a credential that carries strong value in the Pacific Northwest's active construction market. Western Washington's ongoing infrastructure and commercial development ensures continued demand for skilled union ironworkers trained through Local 86.