Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
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.
Also called: Field Ironworker · Iron Installer · Iron Worker · Ironworker · Reinforced Ironworker · Rodbuster
Median pay (national)
$59,280
$39,470–$95,530 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,140
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.6%
~1,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for reinforcing iron and rebar workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $95,530 versus $39,470 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $59,280 leaves roughly 61% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.6% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 37 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $106,340, +79% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $19,760 — a 438% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
- Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
- Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.
- Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
- Bend steel rods with hand tools or rod-bending machines and weld them with arc-welding equipment.
Tools & technology
- Application Software SHEAR
- Applied Systems Associates aSa Rebar
- OTP ArmaCAD
- RebarWin
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Design
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Education and Training