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Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,970 Median per year · $28.35/hr Most earn $43,310–$104,540

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
  • Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
  • Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
  • Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
  • Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
  • Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)17.6%
  • Nonresidential building construction8.0%
  • Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors7.4%
  • Highway, street, and bridge construction5.1%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing3.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Reinforcing rebar work is an entry-level job. You can start with a high school diploma, and people usually spend about 6 months to 1 year on construction sites before they are doing rebar work on their own.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic math, reading, and shop skills, including measuring and working with tools. Those skills make it easier to learn the trade on a job site.

  2. Construction Laborer

    6 months to 1 year

    Start on a construction crew doing general site work such as moving materials, cleaning up, and helping other trades. You learn job site safety and how a crew operates, and you can watch rebar crews at work.

  3. Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker

    Ongoing

    Bend, cut, tie, and place steel bars or mesh in concrete forms, using hand tools, rod-bending machines, and fasteners. Your skills grow with experience, and you can learn to read blueprints.

Where it can lead

  1. Structural Iron and Steel Worker

    1-3 years of experience first

    You move from reinforcing concrete to erecting the steel frames of buildings and bridges. This job usually involves more height, heavier loads, and more welding and bolting.

  2. Construction Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a crew, schedule work, check quality, and keep the job safe. Moving up usually means showing you can run work reliably and communicate well with others on site.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, woodworking, or metal classesHands-on practice with tools and measurements builds the skills rebar work depends on.
  • Take geometry or basic mathMeasuring spacing, angles, and lengths is a daily part of reinforcing work.
  • Get a summer or part-time job doing yard work, moving, or helping on a job siteAny steady physical job shows employers you can handle hard work and follow directions.
  • Join a skills club such as a trade or vocational clubClubs like these often teach teamwork, safety basics, and practical skills.
  • Ask a family member or neighbor who works in construction about their jobHearing from people in the trade helps you decide whether this path fits you.

In college

  • Take a construction technology or building trades courseCourses in construction methods and blueprint reading give you a head start on how job sites work.
  • Look for a summer job or internship with a construction companyReal site experience is the most direct way to learn the trade and make contacts.
  • Earn a job site safety certification if your school or town offers oneSafety training is valued by employers and helps you get on crews faster.
  • Join a student trade or construction clubClubs offer hands-on projects, teamwork, and connections with local contractors.
  • Volunteer on a community building project, such as a Habitat for Humanity buildVolunteering gives you practical experience with tools, concrete, and building teams.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local construction company or union hall whether they take on helpers or laborers, and show up on time and ready to work. Reliability is often what gets people hired.
  • Take a basic first aid or job site safety course if your school or community offers one. Knowing safety rules makes you more attractive to employers.
  • Get comfortable with physical work now, like lifting, walking, and working outdoors, and learn to read simple drawings or measurements.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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