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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, DPR Construction, Skanska
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Structural iron and steel workers build the skeletons of buildings, bridges, towers, and other large structures by bolting, welding, and aligning heavy steel members. The work is different from general construction because accuracy, rigging, and working at heights matter as much as strength; the tradeoff is solid pay and steady project demand, but the job is physically punishing, weather-exposed, and unforgiving of mistakes.
Also known as IronworkerStructural IronworkerStructural Steel WorkerSteel ErectorSteel Worker
Median Salary
$62,700
Mean $69,270
U.S. Workforce
~65K
5.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.4%
65.7K to 68.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Structural Iron and Steel Workers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~65K workers, with a median annual pay of $62,700 and roughly 5.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 65.7 K in 2024 to 68.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or GED plus apprenticeship, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Ironworker Apprentice and can progress toward Construction Superintendent. High-value skills usually include Coordination, Operation and Control, and Operations Monitoring, paired with soft skills such as Coordination, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Set beams and columns into position and secure them until they can be permanently fastened.
- Read blueprints and follow supervisor instructions to line up girders, holes, and connection points accurately.
- Cut, bend, or weld steel parts so they fit the structure being built.
- Attach slings, chains, cables, and hooks so cranes or hoists can move heavy pieces safely.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set beams and columns into position and secure them until they can be permanently fastened.
02 Read blueprints and follow supervisor instructions to line up girders, holes, and connection points accurately.
03 Cut, bend, or weld steel parts so they fit the structure being built.
04 Attach slings, chains, cables, and hooks so cranes or hoists can move heavy pieces safely.
05 Install steel and precast concrete components on buildings, bridges, towers, tanks, fences, and guardrails.
06 Take apart old structures or equipment and use drift pins to line up rivet holes before fastening.
Industries That Hire
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Heavy Civil & Infrastructure
Kiewit, Flatiron Dragados, The Walsh Group
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Steel Fabrication & Erection
Nucor, Schuff Steel, Cives Steel Company
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Energy & Industrial Projects
Bechtel, Fluor, Jacobs
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can earn solid pay without a college degree, with a median wage of $62,700 and a mean wage of $69,270.
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BLS says no prior work experience is required, and apprenticeship training lets you learn while you earn.
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There are about 5.5K annual openings, so job opportunities keep coming even though growth is only 4.4%.
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The work is concrete and visible: you help build buildings, bridges, towers, and other major structures.
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The skills can lead to related roles like rigging, welding support, crane signaling, or crew leadership.
Challenges
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The job is physically hard, with heavy lifting, climbing, and a lot of time spent working at heights.
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Safety mistakes can be severe, so the work is tightly controlled and often slower than people expect.
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Growth is modest at 4.4%, which means the field is steady but not rapidly expanding.
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There is a ceiling for straight line-work, so higher earnings usually require moving into foreman or superintendent roles.
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Work can be tied to weather and project schedules, so layoffs, travel, or downtime between jobs can happen.
Career Progression
Ironworker Apprentice
0-2 years
$35K-$50K
Learns safe lifting, tool handling, rigging basics, and how to work under close supervision on active job sites.
Structural Iron and Steel Worker
2-6 years
$55K-$78K
Works on beams, columns, and steel connections, following blueprints and helping crews assemble major structures.
Lead Ironworker / Foreman THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$79K-$102K
Directs a crew, checks alignment and safety, and keeps lifts, bolt-ups, and welding work moving on schedule.
Construction Superintendent
10+ years
$103K-$135K
Oversees multiple crews or an entire project, coordinating safety, scheduling, materials, and subcontractors.
Education Paths
High school diploma or GED plus apprenticeship
The most common classroom background, held by 42.11% of workers, and it usually leads into apprenticeship training on the job.
Less than a high school diploma with apprenticeship
A large share of workers, 33.66%, report less than a high school diploma and learn the trade through apprenticeship, union training, or direct crew experience.
Post-secondary certificate in welding, construction trades, or rigging
A smaller slice of workers, 19.21%, come in with a post-secondary certificate, often in a hands-on trade field that supports structural work.
Apprenticeship plus safety and rigging certifications
Some workers enter through a formal apprenticeship and add short credentials such as OSHA 10/30, rigging, or signal-person training.
Key Skills
Technical
Coordination 72%
Operation and Control 72%
Operations Monitoring 72%
Blueprint Reading & Structural Layout 70%
Rigging, Slings, Chains & Hoist Setup 70%
OSHA Fall Protection, Harnesses & Elevated Work Safety 68%
Oxy-Fuel Cutting, Welding & Metal Fabrication Tools 66%
Soft Skills
CoordinationActive ListeningCritical ThinkingJudgmentTeamworkAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+4.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 65.7K to 68.6 K over the next decade, representing 4.4% growth. Around 5.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.