### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ironworkers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			structural iron and steel workers imageIronworkers connect iron and steel with bolts, wire, or welds.							
						Quick Facts:     Ironworkers2023     Median Pay
            						$60,780     per year
										$29.22     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    ApprenticeshipNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    94,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,600What Ironworkers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support buildings, bridges, and roads.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Ironworkers perform physically demanding and dangerous work, often at great heights. Workers must wear safety equipment to reduce the risk of falls or other injuries.
            
                                                How to Become an Ironworker
                                                
                        
Most ironworkers learn through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $54,850 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers was $62,760 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of ironworkers is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 8,100 openings for ironworkers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for ironworkers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of ironworkers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about ironworkers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Ironworkers Do 
            

			Structural iron and steel workersReinforcing ironworkers install rebar to strengthen concrete walls.			
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support bridges, roads, and other structures.
Duties
Ironworkers typically do the following:
Read and follow blueprints, sketches, and other instructions
Unload and stack prefabricated iron and steel so that it can be lifted with slings
Signal crane operators who lift and position structural and reinforcing iron and steel
Use shears, rod-bending machines, torches, handtools, and welding equipment to cut, bend, and weld the structural and reinforcing iron and steel
Align structural and reinforcing iron and steel vertically and horizontally, using tag lines, plumb bobs, lasers, and levels
Connect iron and steel with bolts, wire, or welds
Install metal decking used in building constructionStructural and reinforcing iron and steel are important components of buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. Even though the primary metal involved in this work is steel, workers often are known as ironworkers or *erectors*. Most of the work involves erecting new structures, but some ironworkers also help in the demolition, decommissioning, and rehabilitation of older buildings and bridges.
***Structural iron and steel workers*** erect, place, and join steel girders, columns, and other pieces to form structural frameworks. They also may assemble precut metal buildings and the cranes and derricks that move materials and equipment around the construction site. Some ironworkers install precast walls or work with wood or composite materials.
***Reinforcing iron and rebar workers*** position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms for purposes of reinforcement. Those who work with reinforcing steel (rebar) are sometimes called *rod busters*, in reference to rods of rebar.
Structural metal fabricators and fitters manufacture metal products in shops that are usually located away from construction sites.
 Work Environment
			Structural iron and steel workersIronworkers wear safety harnesses when they work at heights.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers held about 22,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of reinforcing iron and rebar workers were as follows:
        Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
                49%Self-employed workers
                24Heavy and civil engineering construction
                6Nonresidential building construction
                5Other specialty trade contractors
                3Structural iron and steel workers held about 71,600 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of structural iron and steel workers were as follows:
        Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
                45%Nonresidential building construction
                20Manufacturing
                8Heavy and civil engineering construction
                6Building equipment contractors
                4Ironworkers usually work outside in many types of weather. Some work at great heights. Their tasks are physically demanding, as they spend much of their time moving and stooping to carry, bend, cut, and connect iron or steel at a steady pace so projects stay on schedule.
Injuries and Illnesses
The work of ironworkers can be dangerous. Common injuries include cuts, sprains, overexertion, and falls; from great heights, falls can be deadly. To reduce these risks, ironworkers must wear safety equipment such as harnesses, hard hats, boots, gloves, and safety glasses.
Work Schedules
Most ironworkers work full time. They may have to travel to jobsites.
Structural ironworkers who work at great heights do not work when conditions are wet, icy, or extremely windy. Reinforcing ironworkers may be limited by precipitation.
 How to Become an Ironworker

			Structural iron and steel workersMany ironworkers learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship.			
Most ironworkers learn through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Education
A high school diploma or equivalent is generally required to enter an apprenticeship. Workers learning through on-the-job training may not need a high school diploma or equivalent. Courses in math, as well as training in vocational subjects such as blueprint reading and welding, are useful.
Training
Many ironworkers learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. Sponsors of apprenticeship programs, nearly all of which teach both reinforcing and structural ironworking, include unions and contractor associations. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. Ironworkers who complete an apprenticeship program are considered journey-level workers and may perform tasks without direct supervision.
Other ironworkers receive on-the-job training that varies in length and is provided by their employer.
On the job, apprentices and trainees learn to use the tools and equipment of the trade; handle, measure, cut, and lay rebar; and construct metal frameworks. They also learn about topics such as blueprint reading and sketching, general construction techniques, safety practices, and first aid.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certifications in welding, rigging, and crane signaling may make ironworkers more attractive to prospective employers. Several organizations provide certifications for different aspects of the work. For example, the American Welding Society offers welding certification, and several organizations offer rigging certifications, including the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, and the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
Advancement
After gaining experience, ironworkers may advance to become a supervisor or a manager, a position in which they have more responsibilities and are tasked with directing other ironworkers.
Important Qualities
***Ability to work at heights.*** Ironworkers must not be afraid to work at great heights. For example, workers connecting girders during skyscraper construction may have to walk on narrow beams that are 50 stories or higher.
***Balance*.** Ironworkers often walk on narrow beams, so a good sense of balance is important to keep them from falling.
***Critical thinking.*** Ironworkers need to identify problems, monitor and assess potential risks, and evaluate the best courses of action. They must use logic and reasoning when finding alternatives so that they safely accomplish their tasks
***Depth perception.*** Ironworkers often signal crane operators who move beams and bundles of rebar, so they must be able to judge the distance between objects.
***Hand-eye coordination*.** Ironworkers must be able to tie rebar together quickly and precisely.
***Physical stamina*.** Ironworkers must have physical endurance because they spend many hours each day performing physically demanding tasks, such as moving rebar.
***Physical strength*.** Ironworkers must be strong enough to guide heavy beams into place and tighten bolts.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        IronworkersMedian annual wages, May 2023Structural iron and steel workers$62,760  Ironworkers$60,780  Reinforcing iron and rebar workers$54,850  Construction trades workers$52,000  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $54,850 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,370.The median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers was $62,760 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,010.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for reinforcing iron and rebar workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Nonresidential building construction
                $57,750Heavy and civil engineering construction
                56,300Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
                54,800Other specialty trade contractors
                46,290In May 2023, the median annual wages for structural iron and steel workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Heavy and civil engineering construction
                $71,550Building equipment contractors
                70,960Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
                62,280Nonresidential building construction
                59,220Manufacturing
                59,220The starting pay for apprentices is usually about 50 percent of what journey-level ironworkers make. They receive pay increases as they learn to do more.
Most ironworkers work full time. Structural ironworkers who work at great heights do not work when conditions are wet, icy, or extremely windy. Reinforcing ironworkers may be limited by precipitation.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                      IronworkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Construction trades workers3%  Ironworkers2%  Structural iron and steel workers2%  Reinforcing iron and rebar workers1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of ironworkers is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 8,100 openings for ironworkers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Steel and reinforced concrete are important parts of commercial and industrial buildings. Future construction of these structures is expected to require ironworkers. The need to fix, maintain, or replace an increasing number of older highways and bridges also is expected to lead to some employment growth.
			

                        Employment projections data for     ironworkers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Ironworkers**
			—
			94,400
			95,900
			2
			1,600
			—**Reinforcing iron and rebar workers**
			47-2171
			22,800
			23,100
			1
			300
			Get data**Structural iron and steel workers**
			47-2221
			71,600
			72,900
			2
			1,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
					Structural iron and steel workers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of ironworkers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Assemblers and Fabricators**
            Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,720**Boilermakers**
            Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $71,140**Carpenters**
            Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $56,350**Construction Laborers and Helpers**
            Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites.
            See How to Become One
            $44,310**Masonry Workers**
            Masonry workers use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build structures.
            See How to Become One
            $53,010**Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers**
            Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,940
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about apprenticeships or job opportunities as an ironworker, contact local structural and reinforcing iron and steel construction contractors, a local joint union–management apprenticeship committee, or the nearest office of your state employment service or apprenticeship agency. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.govto search for apprenticeship opportunities.
For ironworker and apprenticeship information, visit
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
For more information about ironworkers, visit
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors of America
National Center for Construction Education and Research
For more information about certification, visit
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators
American Welding Society

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Reinforcing Iron and Rebar WorkersStructural Iron and Steel Workers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Ironworkers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/structural-iron-and-steel-workers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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