Ironworker
Ironworkers Local 512
Raise and connect the structural steel that forms the skeleton of skyscrapers, bridges, and stadiums.
Starting Pay
$23.18/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$46.35/hr
~$93k/year
Apprenticeship
3 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$125,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Ironworkers from Local 512 are the people who erect the structural steel skeletons of buildings, bridges, and stadiums across the Twin Cities. The work divides into two main specialties: structural (setting steel columns, beams, and decking on large buildings) and reinforcing (placing the rebar that reinforces concrete). Ironworkers also do ornamental work — installing stairs, handrails, and decorative metalwork. It's physically demanding, outdoor work at heights, and it comes with a serious sense of pride.
Day One as an Apprentice
Day one typically starts with a safety briefing at the union hall or directly on a job site. You'll be paired with a journeyman and assigned to a crew. Expect to be moving iron — carrying bolts, setting decking sheets, and learning how to signal the crane operator — within your first week. The speed and physicality will surprise you.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $23.18/hr | ~$46k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $30.13/hr | ~$60k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $37.08/hr | ~$74k |
| 4 | Journeyman Ironworker | $46.35/hr | ~$93k |
Benefits Package
Health, dental, and vision coverage through the National Ironworkers fund. Pension and annuity contributions. Ironworkers who work consistently can retire with strong pension income.
Apprenticeship Program
3 years
Program Length
450 hrs
Classroom Hours
6,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Contact Local 512 directly at (952) 891-6590 or visit ironworkers512.org. Applications are taken year-round when the dispatch hall needs apprentices. You'll need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and must be willing to work at heights.
Application Windows
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis based on work availability. Call the hall to check current needs.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- 18 years of age — no exceptions (heights and rigging work)
- Pass a physical and drug screening
- Must not be afraid of heights
Physical Requirements
- Excellent physical fitness — carrying heavy steel, climbing, and hammering all day
- No fear of heights — you will work hundreds of feet in the air
- Ability to lift 75+ lbs and carry awkward loads
- Must handle extreme weather: Minnesota winters outdoors on exposed steel
Tools You'll Need
- Ironworker's spud wrench
- Connecting bar and drift pins
- Personal fall-arrest system (harness — provided by employer for training)
- Work boots with ankle support, hard hat, safety glasses
Physical Demand
5/5
Technical Level
2/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
High Demand
MN DEED projects 6% growth for structural iron and steel workers (SOC 47-2221) and 4% for reinforcing iron/rebar workers (SOC 47-2171) 2022–2032. BLS projects 4% and 5% respectively 2024–2034, driven by commercial and industrial construction and aging bridge and highway replacement.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Statewide (MN, ND, Western WI). Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with Ironworkers Local 512 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with Ironworkers Local 512.