# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/reinforcing-iron-and-rebar-workers
- SOC code: 47-2171.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $58,970 (10th percentile $43,310, 90th percentile $104,540)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.3%
- Openings a year: 1,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 20 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 6 |
| Conventional (C) | 42 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 94/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 73/100)
- Getting Information (importance 73/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 70/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Coordination, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Mathematics, Design, Public Safety and Security, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, English Language, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Mechanical

## Also called

Concrete Buster, Concrete Rod Buster, Concrete Worker, Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Ironworker Journeyman, Ironworker Laborer, Journeyman Ironworker

## Related careers

- [Structural Iron and Steel Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-iron-and-steel-workers): $62,780 median pay
- [Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-metal-fabricators-and-fitters): $51,330 median pay
- [Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers): $58,930 median pay
- [Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers): $57,020 median pay
- [Brickmasons and Blockmasons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brickmasons-and-blockmasons): $62,120 median pay
- [Sheet Metal Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sheet-metal-workers): $61,800 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.