Ironworker Apprenticeship in Washington

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.

WA Median Salary
$106,340/yr
+79% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
WA Employment
320
Ironworkers employed
WA 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 Washington: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in Washington 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.

Washington pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in Washington are $106,340/year, +79% above the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Washington 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 — Washington-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Washington Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in Washington across all experience levels.

10th pct
$46,000
Median
$106,340
90th pct
$118,940
Middle 50% of workers earn $78,420$117,110

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in Washington

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

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

Organization City County
Ironworkers Regional Shop Local 516 & Employers Apprenticeship and Training Committee Edmonds
Pacific Northwest Ironworkers JATC - Local 14 Spokane Spokane County
Pacific Northwest Ironworker & Employers Apprenticeship and Training Committee Local #14 Spokane Valley
Pacific Northwest Ironworkers and Employers Local #86 Apprenticeship Committee Tukwila
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in Washington

Washington 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 is the average Ironworker salary in Washington?
The median annual wage for Ironworkers in Washington is $106,340 as of May 2024. Wages range from $46,000 at the 10th percentile to $118,940 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become an Ironworker through apprenticeship?
Most Ironworker apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do an Ironworker apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Ironworkers, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for an Ironworker apprenticeship in Washington?
Contact one of the 4 Ironworker-adjacent registered sponsors in Washington (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Ironworker apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Washington, a first-year Ironworker apprentice might earn around $53,170/yr (roughly half the $106,340 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Washington

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