There are many paths that can lead a person to becoming an Ironworker. The brothers and sisters in Ironworkers Local #512 come from all walks of life. We have people with four-year degrees, high school dropouts, and everything in between and beyond. We even have a former medical doctor among our ranks. But regardless of race, age, gender, native language, or any other category that separates people, we are united by one thing: taking pride in doing hard work right.
Another thing that unites Ironworkers in Local 512 is our apprenticeship program. We mentioned above the many paths that can lead to Ironworking, but the apprenticeship program is how every one of us becomes an Ironworker. It’s the one door we all go through. But don’t think of it as restrictive. The apprenticeship program is, bar none, the best way to learn the trade of being an Ironworker. It’s also the least expensive. In fact, the “earn while you learn” part of our program is one of its main attractions.
First, a little bit about the apprenticeship program. It’s a four-year program, with two semesters each year. It does cost our apprentices—it’s $400 for each semester, for a total of $3,200 over the four years. That’s the total cost to you for tuition that trains you in every aspect of Ironworking. And while $400 can seem like a difficult sum, remember that this is for the “learn” part of the program. There’s also an “earn” part. While you are in the apprenticeship program, you’ll work on a jobsite with your crew, as well as other tradespeople. You don’t quite earn a journeyman’s wage, but you make 70% of it. In Region A, which covers roughly the southern half of Minnesota and a good portion of western Wisconsin, that’s $28.70 per hour in wages, plus a $33.39 per hour benefit package. Compare that to a four-year program at the University of Minnesota. You’re looking at roughly $18,000 per year in tuition (estimates vary, but that’s close enough) and maybe working part time for $15 an hour, no bennies. And when you’ve graduated, you have to find your own job.
That’s not to bash university education—different careers are great for different people. And apprenticing as an Ironworker isn’t easy. You work full days, full weeks, doing demanding work that can pose new challenges every day. And then you have to get yourself to class. The schedules run a little differently for each region, but in Region A that’s two-night classes per week, each two hours long, for sixteen weeks in the Fall and sixteen weeks in the Spring, including some Saturdays. It’s not easy! But you’ll be doing it with like-minded, determined people who lift each other up and have each other’s backs.
There are great benefits to becoming an Ironworker. You’ll be expertly trained in everything Ironworkers do, learning how to do it all safely and at high quality. You’ll make a great wage with great benefits, and lots of opportunities for success. As an Ironworker, you can go almost anywhere and make a living. This article from Forbes tells the story of Emily, a former #512 apprentice who’s now working in Los Angeles as a journeyman. This video tells Sovereign’s and Johanna’s stories. They’d had jobs in other fields but found them unsatisfying. They were looking for fulfilling, rewarding careers, and found them in Ironworking. Sovereign is now working in Milwaukee. They, like all Ironworkers, can be confident in knowing they’ll make a fair living during their careers and have a dignified retirement after their careers are over.
There are obstacles to becoming an Ironworker; the biggest one is probably that it’s hard work done in tough conditions, especially in this part of the country. Jobsites can be far from home, and you might not be able to return home every night during the work week. But for people who can envision themselves doing the work, it is a great opportunity. And it’s truly open to everyone: we’ve seen six-foot-four men popping with muscles who aren’t tough enough to do the work, while 110-pound women thrive.
If you think you have what it takes to be an Ironworker, find out how to get started in our apprenticeship program here.
