What is a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?
Structural Iron or Steel Worker Example 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.
What Do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
- Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
- Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
- Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
- Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
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What Every Structural Iron or Steel Worker Should Know
When polled, Structural Iron and Steel Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Structural Iron or Steel Worker Job Titles
- Ornamental Ironworker
- Fitter / Welder
- Rigger
- Steel Rigger
- Structural Metal Worker
Structural Iron or Steel Worker Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 70,200 jobs for Structural Iron or Steel Worker in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 8,700 positions for Structural Iron or Steel Worker per year.

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.
Structural Iron or Steel Worker Average Salary
Structural Iron and Steel Workers make between $32,240 and $93,760 a year.

Structural Iron and Steel Workers who work in New Jersey, New York, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Structural Iron and Steel Workers in different U.S. states.
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Structural Iron and Steel Workers
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
Learn what Structural Iron or Steel Worker education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?

Where Structural Iron and Steel Workers Work

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

Related Careers
Those who work as a Structural Iron or Steel Worker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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