Ironworker Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$58,750/yr
-1% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
VA Employment
420
Ironworkers employed
VA Sponsors
2
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in Virginia are $58,750/year, -1% below the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia has 2 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in Virginia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$41,440
Median
$58,750
90th pct
$75,250
Middle 50% of workers earn $53,140$62,970

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
JAC Richmond Area Ironworkers - LOCAL 28 Midlothian Chesterfield County
Emerald Ironworks, INC Woodbridge
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Virginia

With 2 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Virginia'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 Virginia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $58,750/yr for Ironworkers in Virginia (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
What is the length of an Ironworker apprenticeship program?
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.
Should I do an Ironworker apprenticeship or go to 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.
How do I find an Ironworker apprenticeship in Virginia?
Contact one of the 2 Ironworker-adjacent registered sponsors in Virginia (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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $29,375/yr in Virginia). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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