A job in the construction industry is a great career choice for young men and women and an ironworker is one of those highly-skilled positions.  To get started, an interested candidate should contact their local iron workers union about apprenticeship training programs available in the area.  You may not be aware that the Iron Workers Union actively seeks to encourage and recruit women into the field and report that they have almost 2,000 active members.

An apprenticeship is done on-the-job so you have the opportunity to work alongside journeymen ironworkers.  There is also a classroom component where an apprentice must attend approximately 160 hours of classes per year over a period of four years.  During the apprenticeship period, an ironworker’s salary starts at about half of that as a journeyman’s wage and increases with experience.  Once an apprentice successfully completes the four year program, they become a journeyman ironworker and receive full pay.

Like other construction work, ironworkers must be physically able to perform all the duties of the job.  The work can be challenging and the Iron Workers Union states that applicants must be willing to work in high places, have a good sense of balance, and be alert for potential danger to themselves and others.  Comprehensive safety training is included in the classroom portion of the program.  In addition an apprentice must be able to follow directions and work well with others.

Ironworkers are involved in many aspects of a construction project.  At Conco, workers perform all reinforcing work in connection with field fabrication, including but not limited to the pre-assembly of reinforcing cages, loading and unloading, handling, racking, sorting, cutting, bending, hoisting, and the intermittent use of forklifts.

For more information on joining the Conco team take a look at our career page.

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.