What do they 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.
Also known as:
Erector, Field Iron Worker, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Steel Erector, Steel Fabricator, Steel Worker, Structural Erector, Structural Steel Erector, Tower Hand, Union Ironworker
No Data Available
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4.2%
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Ranks #42 in job growth rate160Job Openings
Ranks #14 in net job growth
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- High school diploma equivalent (48%)
- Some college, no degree (23%)
- Associate's degree (12%)
- Less than high school diploma (12%)
- Bachelor's degree (5%)
- Master's degree (1%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (<1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Structural Iron and Steel Workers
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#1
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Degrees Granted
532
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Female Students
68
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Male Students
464
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Median Starting Salary
$55,200
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#2
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Degrees Granted
100
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Female Students
6
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Male Students
94
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Median Starting Salary
$47,900
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#3
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Degrees Granted
37
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Female Students
1
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Male Students
36
-
Median Starting Salary
$55,200
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#4
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Degrees Granted
9
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Female Students
2
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Male Students
7
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Median Starting Salary
$55,200
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#5
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Degrees Granted
7
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Female Students
0
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Male Students
7
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Median Starting Salary
$55,200
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People in this career often know a lot about:
- Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
- Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
- Gross Body Equilibrium - The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
- Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
- Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
- Dynamic Strength - The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
- Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
- Install metal structural components.
- Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
- Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.
- Fabricate parts or components.
- Position structural components.
- Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.
- Cut metal components for installation.
- Weld metal components.
- Install insulation in equipment or structures.
- Install gauges or controls.
- Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
- Dismantle equipment or temporary structures.
- Position safety or support equipment.
- Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel.
- Remove debris or damaged materials.
- Drill holes in construction materials.
- Rivet metal components.
This page includes data from:
Career data:
O*NET 31.0 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos:
CareerOneStop
, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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