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Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council
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Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council
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Careers

Building Trades

Explore each trade and find out how to start your career journey with valuable apprenticeship guidance from our local experts. Together, we’ll help you build a strong future!

Apprenticeship and Journeyman Opportunities are Available in the Skilled Trades!

Build Your Career

The Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council is made up of 16 unions representing more than 15,000 highly skilled workers who perform building and construction work across Central Iowa.

Our debt-free registered apprenticeship and training programs not only offer cutting-edge training in high-tech construction trades and college credit, but also a ticket to secure employment with higher earnings and great benefits. Our affiliated unions connect workers of all experience levels to the skills they need and good-paying jobs with family health insurance and retirement pension benefits!

 

  • Earn While You Learn
    Apprentices start at a good wage, and training is FREE. That means no student loans!
  • Enjoy Regular Raises
    Apprentices earn wage increases upon graduating from one program level to the next.
  • Health Care and Pension Benefits
    Provided for you, your family and your future.
  • Unlimited, Continued Upgrade Training
    Keeps you at the top of your game.
  • Great Team
    You work with men and women who are trained, experienced and down to earth.
  • Flexible Workplaces
    No boring stints behind a desk or counter. You work at many construction sites throughout the region.
  • High-Tech and Tradition
    Learn time-tested skills and master cyber tools, laser levels, computer assisted design and digital equipment.
  • Dressed to Skill
    No suits, no ties, no skirts, no heels, no polyester uniforms. Do real work in in jeans and work boots.
  • Pride
    Put your hands on it. It’s real. It’s solid. You built it. Take pride in what you do, every day!
  • Opportunity
    From apprentice, to journeyman, to foreman to supervisor to business owner. It’s up to you. There’s no stopping a trained experienced craftsman. The building trades unions will train you in some of the most advanced and challenging areas of construction today.With thousands of jobs in more than 20 different fields, it’s a wide-open playing field. You can build yourself a successful career that earns both a good paycheck and respect.
Training & skills needed for lifelong careers

Leaders in Registered Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a key pillar of the building trades. Our unions have embraced apprenticeship for hundreds of years.  
  • Our training programs equip local men and women with the skills needed for lifelong careers.
  • Registered apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training with related classroom instruction for a period of three to five years.
  • The union construction industry has privately funded Registered Apprenticeship Programs across the state.
  • These programs invest millions of dollars per year in training programs.
  • Apprentices earn-while-they-learn receiving excellent wages along with healthcare and retirement benefits.
Trade Show
Trade Show
Learn Each Trade's Role in Building Opportunities

The Trades

Boilermakers

Boilermakers are highly skilled tradespeople specializing in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of boilers, tanks, and other large industrial vessels. These systems are vital for powering industries, generating electricity, and supporting infrastructure projects. Boilermakers combine precision craftsmanship with technical expertise to create and maintain equipment that meets demanding industrial standards.

Boilermakers Local 83 Apprenticeship

Applications are available online for all Boilermaker Local Lodges in the Southeastern Apprenticeship Area and are accepted year-round.
Apply

Bricklayers

Bricklayers are the skilled professionals responsible for building the durable structures that shape our world. From schools and hospitals to homes and commercial buildings, bricklayers create walls, walkways, and architectural features with unmatched precision and craftsmanship.

Bricklayers Local 3 Apprenticeship

Apply

Carpenters

Carpenters are some of the first workers on a jobsite, and some of the last to leave. They assist in site preparation; build concrete forms and decks; frame walls and roofs; hang interior and exterior walls; install windows, doors, acoustical ceilings, cabinetry, countertops and trim; and install locks, hardware and specialty furniture.

Carpenters Local 106 Apprenticeship

JATC

Electricians

Electricians install and repair electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Lighting, power, security, telecommunications, electrical motors, transformers and building automation components all operate through electrical systems assembled, installed, and wired by electricians.

IBEW Local 347 Apprenticeship

JATC

Elevator Constructors

Elevator Constructors are the skilled professionals who install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, and other vertical transportation systems that keep our buildings running smoothly. From high-rise office buildings to hospitals, schools, and commercial facilities, their work ensures safe, reliable, and efficient movement for people and goods.

Elevator Constructors Local 33 Apprenticeship

NEIEP

Glaziers

Glaziers are the skilled professionals who install, repair, and maintain glass in windows, doors, skylights, and curtain walls for buildings of all shapes and sizes. From towering office buildings and schools to hospitals and retail spaces, glaziers combine precision and craftsmanship to create functional, durable, and visually stunning glasswork.

Glaziers Local 1075 Apprenticeship

Insulators

Insulators are the highly skilled professionals responsible for installing and maintaining thermal, acoustic, and fireproofing systems that ensure safety, energy efficiency, and comfort in buildings and industrial facilities. Their work is critical in controlling temperatures, reducing noise, and safeguarding structures, making them an essential part of modern construction and maintenance projects.

Insulators Local 74 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Ironworkers

Ironworkers build the steel skeleton that supports every major structure. We place the rebar that gives strength to concrete roads, bridges, columns, floors and walls. We erect wind towers, dams and communication towers.

Ironworkers Local 67 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Laborers

Construction Craft Laborers work on all types of construction projects, from building roads and bridges, to demolishing and cleaning up buildings. Laborers work on solar projects, pipelines, tunnels, and concrete. They lay pipe for water and sewer systems, place, vibrate, and finish concrete, install traffic control devices, and more.

Laborers Local 177 Apprenticeship

All Laborer apprentices begin by learning the core construction skills that provide a foundation of safety and productivity across all industry sectors.
Learn More

Operating Engineers

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents over 400,000 working people across the United States and Canada. Members of the IUOE are primarily operating engineers, who work as heavy equipment and crane operators, pipeliners, mechanics, and surveyors in the construction industry, and stationary engineers.

Operators Local 234 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Painters

Painters are the skilled tradespeople responsible for applying protective and decorative coatings to a wide range of surfaces. Their work is essential in preserving the integrity of buildings and infrastructure while enhancing their appearance. From industrial facilities and commercial spaces to residential homes, painters combine technical expertise with artistic precision to deliver high-quality results.

Painters Local 246 Apprenticeship

Plasterers & Cement Masons

Plasterers and Cement Masons are the skilled tradespeople responsible for creating and finishing some of the most essential surfaces in construction. Their work is integral to both the structural integrity and visual appeal of buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces. From smooth concrete foundations to intricate plaster designs, they combine technical precision with artistic craftsmanship.

Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 538 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Plumbers & Steamfitters

Plumbers & Steamfitters are craft workers who install pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases needed for sanitation, industrial production or other uses. They also alter and repair existing pipe systems and install plumbing fixtures, appliances and heating and refrigeration units.

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 3 Apprenticeship

Providing a revolutionary approach to educating the next generation of professionals dedicated to residential and commercial building trades.
Learn More

Roofers & Waterproofers

Roofers and Waterproofers are highly skilled tradespeople responsible for installing and maintaining roofing systems and waterproofing solutions that shield buildings from the elements. Their work is crucial to the durability, safety, and energy efficiency of structures, ensuring homes, businesses, and infrastructure remain dry and protected.

Roofers Local 142 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Sheet Metal Workers

Sheet Metal Workers are the skilled hands and minds behind the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of systems that keep our buildings comfortable, efficient, and safe. From cutting and shaping sheet metal to creating HVAC systems, ductwork, and architectural metal features, these professionals play a vital role in modern construction and design. Whether it's ensuring optimal airflow, crafting intricate metalwork, or maintaining energy efficiency, Sheet Metal Workers bring precision, craftsmanship, and innovation to every project.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 45 Apprenticeship

Learn More

Sprinkler Fitters

Sprinkler Fitters are highly skilled professionals specializing in the installation, maintenance, and repair of fire protection systems. Their work is critical to ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants by providing reliable, code-compliant systems that prevent and control fires. From commercial high-rises to industrial facilities, Sprinkler Fitters play a vital role in protecting lives and property.

Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 Apprenticeship

JATC
union construction career opportunities & programs

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Apprenticeship Readiness Program

MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Readiness Program

MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship
Learn More

Women in Trades

Diversity and Inclusion in the Building Trades

Women in Trades

Diversity and Inclusion in the Building Trades
Learn More
Start Strong with Central Iowa’s Best

Build Your Career Here!

Whether you're a skilled tradesperson looking to join a dedicated team or a contractor in search of top talent for your next project, Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades is here to connect you.
Spark the Connection
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Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council

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PO Box 3312
Des Moines, IA 50316

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