Ironworker Apprenticeship in West 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.

WV Median Salary
$79,230/yr
+34% vs. national
National Median
$59,280/yr
WV Employment
40
Ironworkers employed
WV 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 West Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered ironworker apprenticeship in West 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.

West Virginia pay vs. national

Median ironworker wages in West Virginia are $79,230/year, +34% above the national median of $59,280. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

West 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 — West Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

West Virginia Wage Spread

Annual wages for Ironworkers in West Virginia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$76,240
Median
$79,230
90th pct
$83,480
Middle 50% of workers earn $78,310$79,230

Current Ironworker Apprenticeship Openings in West Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
PARKERSBURG IRON WORKERS JATC Parkersburg Wood County
Wheeling Iron Workers Local 549 JATC Wheeling Ohio County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Ironworker openings

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

Ironworker Apprenticeship in West Virginia

The 2 Ironworker-related registered sponsors in West Virginia mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Ironworker salary in West Virginia?
The median annual wage for Ironworkers in West Virginia is $79,230 as of May 2024. Wages range from $76,240 at the 10th percentile to $83,480 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of an Ironworker apprenticeship program?
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.
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 West Virginia?
Contact one of the 2 Ironworker-adjacent registered sponsors in West 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 $39,615/yr in West Virginia). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Ironworker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in West Virginia

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