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What is a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?
Job Description: 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.
List of Structural Iron or Steel Worker Job Duties
- Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
- Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them or use rope to guide them into position.
- Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
- Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled.
- Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
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Skills Needed to be a Structural Iron or Steel Worker
When polled, Structural Iron and Steel Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Types of Structural Iron or Steel Worker Jobs
- Sign Hanger
- Steel Hanger
- Steel Rigger
- Metalsmith
- Iron Erector
Are There Job Opportunities for Structural Iron and Steel Workers?
In the United States, there were 70,200 jobs for Structural Iron or Steel Worker in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,000 new jobs for Structural Iron or Steel Worker by 2026. There will be an estimated 8,700 positions for Structural Iron or Steel Worker per year.
The states with the most job growth for Structural Iron or Steel Worker are Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Louisiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Structural Iron or Steel Worker Average Salary
The salary for Structural Iron and Steel Workers ranges between about $32,240 and $93,760 a year.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers who work in New Jersey, New York, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
How much do Structural Iron and Steel Workers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,590 |
| Alaska | $71,080 |
| Arizona | $47,930 |
| Arkansas | $40,760 |
| California | $67,130 |
| Colorado | $52,620 |
| Connecticut | $68,550 |
| Delaware | $50,450 |
| District of Columbia | $58,650 |
| Florida | $43,880 |
| Georgia | $41,760 |
| Hawaii | $74,110 |
| Idaho | $39,230 |
| Illinois | $83,580 |
| Indiana | $56,830 |
| Iowa | $54,850 |
| Kansas | $42,810 |
| Kentucky | $46,640 |
| Louisiana | $50,690 |
| Maine | $50,570 |
| Maryland | $53,200 |
| Massachusetts | $76,810 |
| Michigan | $55,200 |
| Minnesota | $65,800 |
| Mississippi | $41,860 |
| Missouri | $55,770 |
| Montana | $49,600 |
| Nebraska | $40,320 |
| Nevada | $39,840 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 |
| New Jersey | $86,340 |
| New Mexico | $51,860 |
| New York | $85,410 |
| North Carolina | $41,040 |
| North Dakota | $50,500 |
| Ohio | $59,900 |
| Oklahoma | $42,760 |
| Oregon | $70,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,100 |
| Rhode Island | $74,540 |
| South Carolina | $43,640 |
| South Dakota | $42,070 |
| Tennessee | $47,860 |
| Texas | $44,370 |
| Utah | $47,430 |
| Vermont | $47,570 |
| Virginia | $51,220 |
| Washington | $75,020 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 |
| Wisconsin | $58,470 |
| Wyoming | $56,760 |
What Tools & Technology do Structural Iron and Steel Workers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Structural Iron and Steel Workers:
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Inventory tracking software
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Cost estimating software
- Project scheduling software
How do I Become a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?
Learn what Structural Iron or Steel Worker education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Structural Iron or Steel Worker?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Structural Iron or Steel Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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