# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-iron-and-steel-workers
- SOC code: 47-2221.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $62,780 (10th percentile $44,580, 90th percentile $108,260)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.1%
- Openings a year: 5,900
- 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) | 30 |
| Artistic (A) | 7 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 4 |
| Conventional (C) | 46 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 84/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 82/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 73/100)
- Getting Information (importance 70/100)
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (importance 67/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 65/100)
- Processing Information (importance 63/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Public Safety and Security, Production and Processing, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Design, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Education and Training

## Also called

Billboard Erector, Billboard Mechanic, Bridge Ironworker, Bridge Maintainer, Bridgeman, Building Construction Ironworker, Construction Ironworker, Erector, Field Iron Worker, Guard Rail Installer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $82,443 | $97,793 | $11,042 |
| [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-2767) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,627 | $90,691 | $17,750 |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,054 | $87,107 | not reported |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $69,819 | $74,310 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/reinforcing-iron-and-rebar-workers): $58,970 median pay
- [Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-metal-fabricators-and-fitters): $51,330 median pay
- [Sheet Metal Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sheet-metal-workers): $61,800 median pay
- [Carpenters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/carpenters): $60,580 median pay
- [Millwrights](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/millwrights): $65,700 median pay
- [Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers): $65,380 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.