Ironworker Apprenticeship in Tennessee

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.

TN Median Salary
$76,920/yr
+30% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
TN Sponsors
5
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 Tennessee: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in Tennessee are $76,920/year, +30% above the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Tennessee has 5 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 — Tennessee-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Tennessee Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in Tennessee across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,120
Median
$76,920
90th pct
$85,340
Middle 50% of workers earn $49,770$80,840

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in Tennessee

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

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

Organization City County
CHATTANOOGA IRONWORKERS JAC Chattanooga Hamilton County
SOUTHERN SPEAR IRONWORKS LLC Chattanooga Hamilton County
KNOXVILLE IRONWORKERS JAC Knoxville Knox County
MEMPHIS IRONWORKERS JAC Memphis Shelby County
Nashville Ironworkers Nashville Davidson County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Tennessee

With 5 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Tennessee's Ironworker apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Ironworkers earn in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for Ironworkers in Tennessee is $76,920 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,120 at the 10th percentile to $85,340 at the 90th percentile.
How long is an Ironworker 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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Ironworkers?
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 Tennessee?
Our directory surfaces 5 Ironworker-related registered sponsors in Tennessee. 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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $38,460/yr in Tennessee). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Tennessee

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