The median pay for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is $58,970 a year ($28.35/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 5.3% through 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-2171
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,970a year, or $28.35/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $43KTop 10% $105K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -5.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−5.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −5.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,00016,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202516.6K
- Projected 203515.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 16.6K Projected 2035 15.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Ironworker Journeyman, Ironworker Laborer.
Pay
How much do Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers make?
Every reinforcing iron and rebar worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,970
Middle half earn $47,990 to $77,320
- 10th
- $43,310
- 25th
- $47,990
- 75th
- $77,320
- 90th
- $104,540
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $43,310 |
| 25th | $47,990 |
| Median | $58,970 |
| 75th | $77,320 |
| 90th | $104,540 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,970
- Median hourly wage
- $28.35/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,060
- People employed
- 13,800
Versus all US occupations
At $58,970, Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers earn 16% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,990 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
The median is typical for the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $104,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $43,310, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Wisconsin pays the most at $121,620, and still leads at $129,252 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wisconsin | $121,620 | $129,252 | 50 |
| 2New Jersey | $116,110 | $106,714 | N/A |
| 3Washington | $108,970 | $101,829 | 130 |
| 4Illinois | $105,580 | $105,624 | N/A |
| 5Nevada | $102,130 | $102,151 | 460 |
| 6New York | $98,040 | $90,844 | 1,110 |
| 7Oregon | $93,490 | $90,450 | 240 |
| 8Michigan | $91,220 | $94,807 | N/A |
| 9Pennsylvania | $74,670 | $76,528 | N/A |
| 10Louisiana | $70,700 | $80,152 | 130 |
Job outlook
Is Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -5.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers | −5.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers to change -5.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 6.0% of the 16,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of ironworkers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 6,800 openings for ironworkers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most 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.
Projected employment of ironworkers varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker
Most ironworkers learn through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Apprenticeship
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker do?
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support bridges, roads, and other structures.
Day-to-day tasks
- Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
- Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
- Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
- Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
- Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
- Unload rebar from trucks.
- Bend steel rods with hand tools or rod-bending machines and weld them with arc-welding equipment.
- Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where reinforcing iron and rebar workers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors55%
- Self-employed workers18%
- Nonresidential building construction8%
- Heavy and civil engineering construction8%
- Other specialty trade contractors2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 55% |
| Self-employed workers | 18% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 8% |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | 8% |
| Other specialty trade contractors | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.6
- Active Listening2.6
- Speaking2.6
- Mathematics2.4
- Active Learning2.4
- Learning Strategies2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
| Active Listening | 2.6 |
| Speaking | 2.6 |
| Mathematics | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Operation and Control2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Quality Control Analysis2.6
- Social Perceptiveness2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.5
- Investigative2.2
- Enterprising1.3
- Social1.2
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
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Median annual pay, with reinforcing iron and rebar workers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker$58,970
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker | $58,970 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker appears on
Questions
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers make?
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers earn a median of $58,970 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.35/hr. The middle half earn between $47,990 and $77,320. The top 10% earn $104,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training.
Is Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker do?
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support bridges, roads, and other structures. A core O*NET task: position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
Which states pay Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers are Wisconsin ($121,620), New Jersey ($116,110), Washington ($108,970) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker?
O*NET scores Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.