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Structural Iron or Steel Worker

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Life As a Structural Iron or Steel Worker

Occupation Description Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. May erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings.

Daily Life Of a Structural Iron or Steel Worker

  • Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
  • Hold rivets while riveters use air hammers to form heads on rivets.
  • Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them or use rope to guide them into position.
  • Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
  • Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
  • Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting as needed.

Skills Needed to be a Structural Iron or Steel Worker

Structural Iron and Steel Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Types of Structural Iron or Steel Worker

  • Bolter
  • Ornamental Iron Erector
  • Fitter
  • Steel Erector
  • Iron Setter

Structural Iron or Steel Worker Job Outlook

There were about 70,200 jobs for Structural Iron or Steel Worker in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,000 new jobs for Structural Iron or Steel Worker by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Structural Iron or Steel Worker are Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Louisiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary

The typical yearly salary for Structural Iron and Steel Workers is somewhere between $32,240 and $93,760.

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Structural Iron and Steel Workers who work in New Jersey, New York, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.

How much do Structural Iron and Steel Workers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $48,590
Alaska $71,080
Arizona $47,930
Arkansas $40,760
California $67,130
Colorado $52,620
Connecticut $68,550
Delaware $50,450
District of Columbia $58,650
Florida $43,880
Georgia $41,760
Hawaii $74,110
Idaho $39,230
Illinois $83,580
Indiana $56,830
Iowa $54,850
Kansas $42,810
Kentucky $46,640
Louisiana $50,690
Maine $50,570
Maryland $53,200
Massachusetts $76,810
Michigan $55,200
Minnesota $65,800
Mississippi $41,860
Missouri $55,770
Montana $49,600
Nebraska $40,320
Nevada $39,840
New Hampshire $45,880
New Jersey $86,340
New Mexico $51,860
New York $85,410
North Carolina $41,040
North Dakota $50,500
Ohio $59,900
Oklahoma $42,760
Oregon $70,540
Pennsylvania $60,100
Rhode Island $74,540
South Carolina $43,640
South Dakota $42,070
Tennessee $47,860
Texas $44,370
Utah $47,430
Vermont $47,570
Virginia $51,220
Washington $75,020
West Virginia $54,830
Wisconsin $58,470
Wyoming $56,760

What Tools do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Structural Iron and Steel Workers may use on a daily basis:

  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
  • Cost estimating software
  • Project scheduling software

Becoming a Structural Iron or Steel Worker

What kind of Structural Iron or Steel Worker requirements are there?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Structural Iron and Steel Workers Are Employed

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The table below shows the approximate number of Structural Iron and Steel Workers employed by various industries.

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Career changers with experience as a Structural Iron or Steel Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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