Sheet Metal Worker at Sheet Metal Workers Lu 80 Jac
at Sheet Metal Workers Lu 80 Jac in Warren, MI
About This Program
Sheet Metal Workers LU 80 JAC, located in Warren, MI, sponsors this union Sheet Metal Worker apprenticeship through its Joint Apprenticeship Committee. Local Union 80 serves the Metro Detroit area and provides apprentices with union-backed training, progressive wages, and access to benefits from the beginning of the program.
The apprenticeship is 5 years long and includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 640 hours of related technical instruction. Working on commercial and industrial job sites across the region, apprentices learn to fabricate, assemble, and install sheet metal systems including HVAC ductwork, exhaust and ventilation systems, and architectural metalwork. Technical coursework covers trade mathematics, blueprint reading, welding, sheet metal layout, and OSHA safety compliance.
Graduates earn journeyworker status with Local Union 80 — a union credential that carries significant weight with sheet metal contractors throughout southeast Michigan and the Metro Detroit market. Union journeyworkers benefit from collectively bargained wages, health benefits, and pension plans.
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.
How to Apply
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 Michigan
Sheet Metal Workers in Michigan are required to hold a license. Licensing is issued by Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes.
View full Michiganlicensing requirements →Reviews
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