Life As 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.
A Day in the Life of a Structural Iron or Steel Worker
- Place blocks under reinforcing bars used to reinforce floors.
- Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.
- Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
- Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.
- Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
Featured schools near , edit
Structural Iron or Steel Worker Needed Skills
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Steel Fitter
- Steel Construction Worker
- Metal Building Erector
- Sign Erector
- Bolter
Is There Job Demand for Structural Iron and Steel Workers?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,700 job openings in this field each 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
The salary for Structural Iron and Steel Workers ranges between about $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.
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 & Technology 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
How do I Become a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?
Learn what Structural Iron or Steel Worker education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Structural Iron and Steel Workers Sector

Structural Iron and Steel Workers work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |