Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Also called: Billboard Erector, Billboard Mechanic, Bridge Ironworker, Bridge Maintainer, Bridgeman, Building Construction Ironworker, Construction Ironworker, Erector
Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks.
What structural iron and steel workers do
Typical tasks
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
- Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
- Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.
- Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
- Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
- Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting, as needed.
- 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.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary
The median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers is $62,780 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $44,580 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $108,260. The mean annual wage is $70,280.
The mean hourly wage of $33.00 is 4.6× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Structural Iron and Steel Workers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $62,780 → in 3 years $69,100 → in 5 years $73,700 → in 10 years $86,600 (10-year range $74,500–$100,600). The model assumes pay growth of +3.3% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Structural Iron and Steel Workers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers United States | とび Japan | 鉄骨工 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $62,780 | ¥4.15M ≈ $26,360 | ¥5.07M ≈ $32,219 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $86,600 | ¥5.52M | ¥6.48M |
| Outlook score | 62 | 57 | 52 |
| AI replacement risk | 8% Very low | 15% Very low | 42% Moderate |
| Workers | 68K | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become structural iron and steel workers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as structural iron and steel workers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.