Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
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.
Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCoordinationCritical ThinkingActive ListeningTime Management
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Structural Iron and Steel Workers pay by experience level
Entry level$46,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$51,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$65,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$85,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$112,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary by industry
Specialty Trade Contractors
39,260 workers
$74,500
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
32,390 workers
$74,000
Construction of Buildings
13,680 workers
$70,500
Nonresidential Building Construction
12,960 workers
$72,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
4,740 workers
$71,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
4,690 workers
$71,500
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
4,080 workers
$78,500
Building Equipment Contractors
3,400 workers
$73,500
Utility System Construction
2,520 workers
$72,000
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
2,490 workers
$81,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Structural Iron and Steel Workers pays 12% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
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