Ironworker Apprenticeship in Colorado

Wages, programs & career outlook

Ironworkers erect the structural steel, rebar, and precast concrete that form the skeletons of buildings, bridges, and stadiums. The work is high, physical, and schedule-driven — big crews setting thousands of tons of steel on a tight sequence.

CO Median Salary
$61,220/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
CO Employment
400
Ironworkers employed
CO Sponsors
4
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.6%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
1,500
Nationally, per yr

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Colorado: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in Colorado combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Colorado pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in Colorado are $61,220/year, +3% above the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Colorado has 4 registered apprenticeship sponsors for ironworker listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.6% job growth for ironworkers nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 1,500 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Colorado-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Colorado Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in Colorado across all experience levels.

10th pct
$45,610
Median
$61,220
90th pct
$72,270
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,550$64,150

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in Colorado

No ironworker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Colorado. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Ironworker Apprenticeship Sponsors in Colorado

4 ironworker-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Colorado. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current ironworker apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
B and C Steel Denver
Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund Denver Adams County
LPR Construction (Ironworker) Loveland Larimer County
Rumler Rebar Inc Parker Douglas County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2171 and state CO for the most relevant results.

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Colorado

Colorado has only 4 Ironworker-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Ironworkers earn in Colorado?
Ironworkers in Colorado earn a median salary of $61,220/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $59,280 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become an Ironworker through apprenticeship?
The standard Ironworker apprenticeship is 3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Ironworkers?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Ironworkers combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find an Ironworker apprenticeship in Colorado?
Our directory surfaces 4 Ironworker-related registered sponsors in Colorado. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Ironworker apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Colorado, a first-year Ironworker apprentice might earn around $30,610/yr (roughly half the $61,220 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Colorado

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.