The median pay for Structural Iron and Steel Workers is $62,780 a year ($30.18/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.1% through 2035, with about 5,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-2221
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Structural Iron and Steel Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $62,780a year, or $30.18/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $45KTop 10% $108K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.1%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,90068,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202568.3K
- Projected 203570.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 68.3K Projected 2035 70.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Field Iron Worker, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Steel Erector, Steel Fabricator, Steel Worker.
Pay
How much do Structural Iron and Steel Workers make?
Every structural iron and steel worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$62,780
Middle half earn $49,880 to $82,660
- 10th
- $44,580
- 25th
- $49,880
- 75th
- $82,660
- 90th
- $108,260
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,580 |
| 25th | $49,880 |
| Median | $62,780 |
| 75th | $82,660 |
| 90th | $108,260 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $62,780
- Median hourly wage
- $30.18/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $70,280
- People employed
- 68,380
Versus all US occupations
At $62,780, Structural Iron and Steel Workers earn 23% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,800 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 5% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $108,260 or more while the bottom 10% earn $44,580, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $120,840, and still leads at $114,262 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Structural Iron and Steel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $120,840 | $114,262 | 2,050 |
| 2New Jersey | $113,220 | $104,058 | 1,060 |
| 3Washington | $107,660 | $100,605 | 850 |
| 4Illinois | $101,850 | $101,893 | 2,740 |
| 5Hawaii | $99,860 | $90,822 | 290 |
| 6Rhode Island | $98,320 | $96,128 | 360 |
| 7Oregon | $96,050 | $92,927 | 570 |
| 8Minnesota | $95,320 | $96,653 | 910 |
| 9Wisconsin | $92,820 | $98,645 | 710 |
| 10New York | $92,610 | $85,813 | 2,700 |
Job outlook
Is Structural Iron and Steel Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | +3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Structural Iron and Steel Workers to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,900 openings are projected each year, 8.6% of the 68,300 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 Structural Iron and Steel 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 Structural Iron and Steel Worker do?
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.
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support bridges, roads, and other structures.
Day-to-day tasks
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
- Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
- Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
- Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting, as needed.
- Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
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 dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
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 dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
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 structural iron and steel 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
- Active Listening3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.5
- Operation and Control3.5
- Coordination3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Service Orientation2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Operation and Control | 3.5 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Inventory management 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 Structural Iron and Steel Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Structural Iron and Steel Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| 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
- Conventional3.7
- Investigative2.8
- Artistic1.4
- Enterprising1.2
- Social1.2
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Structural Iron and Steel Worker
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$65,380median a year
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More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with structural iron and steel 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
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$57,020
- 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 |
| Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher | $57,020 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Structural Iron and Steel Worker appears on
Questions
Structural Iron and Steel Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Structural Iron and Steel Workers make?
Structural Iron and Steel Workers earn a median of $62,780 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 23% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $30.18/hr. The middle half earn between $49,880 and $82,660. The top 10% earn $108,260 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Structural Iron and Steel 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 Structural Iron and Steel Workers. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training.
Is Structural Iron and Steel Worker a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Structural Iron and Steel Worker do?
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support bridges, roads, and other structures. A core O*NET task: bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Structural Iron and Steel Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Structural Iron and Steel Workers are Massachusetts ($120,840), New Jersey ($113,220), Washington ($107,660) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Structural Iron and Steel Worker?
O*NET scores Structural Iron and Steel 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.