Construction & Extraction
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Also called: Field Iron Worker, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Steel Erector
US median pay
$62,780
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.1%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
5,900
68,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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 they do day to day
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
- 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.
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.
- Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
- Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
- Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting, as needed.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.5/5
- Operation and Control3.5/5
- Coordination3.4/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Service Orientation2.8/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction4.9/5
- Public Safety and Security4.3/5
- Production and Processing4.2/5
- Mechanical4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.