Ironworker Apprenticeship in Illinois

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.

IL Median Salary
$102,260/yr
+73% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
IL Employment
100
Ironworkers employed
IL Sponsors
10
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 Illinois: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in Illinois 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.

Illinois pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in Illinois are $102,260/year, +73% above the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Illinois has 10 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 — Illinois-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Illinois Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in Illinois across all experience levels.

10th pct
$72,660
Median
$102,260
90th pct
$141,200
Middle 50% of workers earn $84,310$130,230

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in Illinois

No ironworker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Illinois. 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 Illinois

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

Organization City County
ARCHITECTURAL IRON WORKER LOCAL 63 Broadview Cook County
FENCE ERECTORS,DIV.OF IRONWORKER #63 Broadview Cook County
Ironworkers Local 112 Joint Apprenticeship Training East Peoria Tazewell County
Iron Workers Local 392 East Saint Louis St. Clair County
IRONWORKERS LOC #1 Forest Park Cook County
IRON WORKERS LOCAL 444 JATC Joliet Will County
QUAD CITY IRONWORKERS JATC LU 111 Rock Island Rock Island County
Ironworkers 498 JATC Rockford Winnebago County
Iron Workers Local 46 JATC Springfield Sangamon County
Iron Workers Local 380 JATC Urbana Champaign County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Illinois

Program availability in Illinois is moderate: 10 Ironworker-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Ironworkers make in Illinois?
The BLS reports a median wage of $102,260/yr for Ironworkers in Illinois (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
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.
What's the difference between an Ironworker apprenticeship and trade school?
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.
Where can I apply for an Ironworker apprenticeship in Illinois?
Our directory surfaces 10 Ironworker-related registered sponsors in Illinois. 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.
How much do Ironworker apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Illinois, a first-year Ironworker apprentice might earn around $51,130/yr (roughly half the $102,260 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Illinois

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