Structural Iron and Steel Workers: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of structural iron and steel workers include:
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
- Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
- Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
- Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
- Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
Skills and Knowledge
Top structural iron and steel workers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Structural Iron and Steel Workers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Assembler
- Awnings Mechanic
- Billboard Erector
- Billboard Installer
- Billboard Mechanic
- Bolter
- Bridge Ironworker
- Bridge Maintainer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 389,038 structural iron and steel workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.1% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,092 |
| Hourly median | $28.41 |
| 10th percentile | $39,720 |
| 25th percentile | $49,406 |
| 75th percentile | $68,777 |
| 90th percentile | $78,463 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $116,630 |
| New Jersey | $111,800 |
| Washington | $105,970 |
| Illinois | $101,030 |
| Hawaii | $99,370 |
| Rhode Island | $95,800 |
| New York | $95,370 |
| Minnesota | $93,240 |
| Wisconsin | $91,920 |
| Oregon | $90,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,420 |
| Alaska | $81,290 |
| Connecticut | $80,430 |
| North Dakota | $79,480 |
| New Mexico | $76,240 |
| West Virginia | $75,360 |
| Indiana | $74,210 |
| California | $72,050 |
| Ohio | $71,820 |
| Kentucky | $68,540 |
| Maryland | $67,700 |
| Louisiana | $67,010 |
| Iowa | $66,170 |
| Michigan | $63,910 |
| Nevada | $62,990 |
| Maine | $62,730 |
| Idaho | $62,190 |
| Nebraska | $62,000 |
| District of Columbia | $61,920 |
| New Hampshire | $61,280 |
| Vermont | $61,220 |
| Colorado | $61,020 |
| Missouri | $60,240 |
| Arizona | $60,030 |
| Delaware | $58,330 |
| Virginia | $58,170 |
| Georgia | $57,110 |
| Montana | $56,140 |
| Tennessee | $55,750 |
| Florida | $53,780 |
| South Dakota | $51,930 |
| Alabama | $51,410 |
| South Carolina | $50,650 |
| North Carolina | $50,040 |
| Texas | $49,410 |
| Arkansas | $49,110 |
| Kansas | $48,680 |
| Utah | $47,840 |
| Oklahoma | $47,840 |
| Wyoming | $44,370 |
| Mississippi | $39,370 |
| Guam | $32,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,890 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for structural iron and steel workers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $96,680 | 6.0% | 1.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $90,970 | 10.5% | 0.71 |
| Great Lakes | $81,354 | 16.0% | 1.26 |
| Far Western US | $76,367 | 15.3% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $67,213 | 6.5% | 1.10 |
| Southeast | $55,604 | 19.0% | 1.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $55,011 | 4.4% | 1.23 |
| Southwest | $51,850 | 21.6% | 1.82 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $116,900 | 1,450 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $111,800 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $110,660 | 210 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $108,730 | 70 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $108,700 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $108,050 | 690 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $107,920 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $104,850 | 3,100 |
Top Industries Employing Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Most structural iron and steel workers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 54,840 | $62,870 |
| Manufacturing | 6,950 | $60,870 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 860 | $46,310 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 420 | $58,210 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 280 | $67,570 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 270 | $58,900 |
| Wholesale Trade | 240 | $44,860 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 140 | $64,260 |
Below are examples of industries where structural iron and steel workers work:
Software Structural Iron and Steel Workers Use
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of structural iron and steel workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to High Places
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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Where to Study
Future structural iron and steel workers commonly pursue programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers).
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