Welder Apprenticeships in Iowa
Iowa has 38 registered apprenticeship sponsors training welders — 3 of them union or joint labor-management programs. Apprentices earn a wage from day one and finish without tuition debt.
Registered sponsors
38
Union / joint programs
3
Median welder wage
$49,450
Iowa, all experience levels
Job growth 2022–2032
+8.4%
950 openings/yr
Largest Registered Sponsors
Union and joint labor-management programs are listed first — they typically pay the best apprentice rates and charge no tuition.
| Sponsor | City | Program type |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Falls Utilities Union / joint | CEDAR FALLS | Single Employer |
| Iowa Pipe Trades and HVAC Training Institute Union / joint | DES MOINES | Multiple Employer |
| MidAmerican Energy Company - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 499 and Local 109 Union / joint | Adel | Single Employer |
| ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND /ADM (CONSTRUCTION) | CLINTON | Single Employer |
| Atlantic Community School District | Atlantic | Multiple Employer |
| BETTENDORF HIGH SCHOOL (IHC1) | Bettendorf | Multiple Employer |
| Bondurant Farrar Community Schools | Bondurant | Multiple Employer |
| BURLINGTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BURLINGTON | Multiple Employer |
| CALAMUS-WHEATLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WHEATLAND | Multiple Employer |
| CAREER ACADEMY OF PELLA (IHC2) | PELLA | Multiple Employer |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors (apprenticeship.gov).
What Welders Earn in Iowa
Wages
- Median annual wage: $49,450
- Average annual wage: $52,280
- Welders employed statewide: 9,250
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. Apprentices typically start at 40–50% of the journeyman rate and get scheduled raises.
10-year outlook
- Projected growth 2022–2032: +8.4%
- Average openings per year: 950
- Employment: 8,670 → 9,400
Source: Projections Central / state workforce agencies.