Sheet Metal Worker at Southeastern WI Area Sheet Metal JAC
at Southeastern WI Area Sheet Metal JAC in Kenosha, WI
About This Program
The Southeastern WI Area Sheet Metal JAC offers a union sheet metal worker apprenticeship based in Kenosha, WI. This Joint Apprenticeship Committee program is employer-sponsored and serves apprentices in the southeastern Wisconsin region, providing a well-established pathway into the sheet metal trades.
The program is five years long and structured around 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 640 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work with journey-level sheet metal workers on real job sites, learning to fabricate, install, and service HVAC systems, ductwork, ventilation equipment, and architectural metalwork. Classroom instruction covers safety, print reading, math, and trade-specific codes and standards. Wages are paid throughout training and increase with each level completed.
Finishing the apprenticeship earns graduates journey-level recognition as sheet metal workers, a credential valued throughout the union construction industry. Demand for skilled sheet metal workers remains strong across commercial and industrial sectors in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest, with long-term career opportunities in field leadership and specialized 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
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
See something wrong? Help us improve this page.