Ironworker Apprenticeship in South Carolina

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.

SC Median Salary
$47,050/yr
-21% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
SC Employment
90
Ironworkers employed
SC Sponsors
3
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 South Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in South Carolina 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.

South Carolina pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in South Carolina are $47,050/year, -21% below the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Carolina has 3 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 — South Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in South Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$35,300
Median
$47,050
90th pct
$73,600
Middle 50% of workers earn $37,150$59,380

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in South Carolina

No ironworker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Carolina. 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 South Carolina

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

Organization City County
Owen Steel Company Inc. Columbia Lexington County
Specialized Riggers & Erectors Gaffney Cherokee County
IRONWORKERS LOCAL 848 JATC North Charleston Charleston County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in South Carolina

South Carolina has only 3 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

How much do Ironworkers make in South Carolina?
The median annual wage for Ironworkers in South Carolina is $47,050 as of May 2024. Wages range from $35,300 at the 10th percentile to $73,600 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become an Ironworker through apprenticeship?
A typical Ironworker apprenticeship lasts approximately 3 years (6,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between an Ironworker apprenticeship and trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 3 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find an Ironworker apprenticeship in South Carolina?
Contact one of the 3 Ironworker-adjacent registered sponsors in South Carolina (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Ironworker apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In South Carolina, a first-year Ironworker apprentice might earn around $23,525/yr (roughly half the $47,050 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Carolina

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