Structural Iron and Steel Workers
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.
Also called: Fitter · Iron Worker · Ironworker · Steel Fabricator · Steel Worker · Structural Steel Erector
Median pay (national)
$62,700
$42,000–$107,520 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
64,720
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.4%
~5,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for structural iron and steel workers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $107,520 versus $42,000 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $62,700 leaves roughly 71% 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 +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 5,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $116,630, +86% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $26,890 — a 334% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
- Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
- Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
- Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
- Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
- Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.
- Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Dismantle structures or equipment.
Tools & technology
- Cost estimating software
- Inventory tracking software
- Project scheduling software
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Microsoft Outlook
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Design