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Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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.

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.

Moderate 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 $62,780 Median per year · $30.18/hr Most earn $44,580–$108,260

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.
  • Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
  • Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
  • Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.
  • Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
  • Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 5,900 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

  • Nonresidential building construction19.1%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing6.9%
  • Other specialty trade contractors3.6%
  • Other building equipment contractors3.0%

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

Experience before this job: None

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: NoneEntry-level

Structural Iron and Steel Worker is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and no prior work experience, and learn the trade on the job. You could be working in this field soon after high school.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, building strong math skills and comfort with hands-on work, since the job involves measuring, lifting, and working at heights.

  2. Structural Iron and Steel Worker

    Learned on the job, then ongoing

    Start as a new ironworker, learning to raise, place, and bolt or weld steel beams and columns under experienced crew members until you can do the work safely and reliably.

Where it can lead

  1. Ironworker Foreman

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a small crew, plan daily tasks, and make sure the work is safe and done on time. Showing strong skills, reliability, and good communication usually comes first.

  2. Construction Superintendent

    5-10 years of experience first

    You oversee the whole job site, including several crews, schedules, and subcontractors. Moving up here usually takes years of field experience plus strong planning and leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop or welding classesHands-on metal and welding classes teach you the basics of working with steel and reading plans.
  • Take math, especially geometry and trigonometryMeasuring angles, lengths, and distances is a big part of placing steel correctly.
  • Try a summer or part-time job in constructionEven a labor job shows you how a job site works and whether you like physical, outdoor work.
  • Join a skills club such as a trade or technical student groupGroups like these often offer tours, guest speakers from the trades, and hands-on projects.
  • Stay physically active and learn basic safety rulesStrength, balance, and good habits help you handle the physical demands and stay safe on the job.

In college

  • Take welding or metal fabrication courses at a community collegeCertified welding skills are valued by ironworker crews and contractors and can make you a stronger job candidate.
  • Work a construction or labor job during breaksExperience on a job site helps you learn crew work and safety habits before you start a formal apprenticeship.
  • Learn to read blueprints and structural drawingsReading plans is a core skill for placing steel, and a drafting or technical drawing class can build it.
  • Get basic safety training, such as first aid or fall-protection coursesSafety certifications show employers you take the job's risks seriously.
  • Apply to a union or contractor apprenticeshipApprenticeships are a common way into this trade, and applying while still in school gets you ready for the process.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local ironworker union or contractor how to apply for their training program, and ask what they look for in new hires. Many people enter the trade this way.
  • Get comfortable with heights and physical work early. A part-time or summer job in construction or landscaping can show you whether you enjoy outdoor, hands-on work.
  • Take safety seriously from the start. Following safety rules and wearing gear every time is one of the most important skills in this trade.

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.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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