Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Did You Know:
- Workers must be in good physical condition and have no fear of heights.
- Most employers recommend completion of a formal 3-year or 4-year paid apprenticeship, but some workers learn on the job.
- In most areas of the country, job opportunities should be favorable.
Industry Areas
- Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
- Nonresidential Building Construction
- Building Equipment Contractors
Day-to-Day 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.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
Overall Kind of Work
Structural and reinforcing iron and metal workers place and install iron or steel girders, columns and other construction materials to form buildings, bridges and other structures. They also posit...
Work Environment
Military
Welders and metal workers work indoors in metalworking shops and aircraft hangars. They also work outdoors at construction sites, on ships, and in the field.
Status
What is the difference between enlisted and officer?
Enlisted:Enlisted members enter the Military with a high school diploma (in some cases a GED), at a minimum. They are employed in almost every type of military career, often in hands-on roles.
Officers: Officers either enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater or served previously as enlisted members, and are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require intensive training.
Officer
Enlisted
Military Breakdown
The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.
808 Structural Iron and Steel Workers in the military
Service Branches
Welders and Metal Workers work in the following services:
Type of Work
The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.
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Things: 
Skills at a Glance
The levels of different skills helpful in this career.
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Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:
Equipment Operation & Maintenance:
Math & Science Skills:
Technology Design & Control:
Leadership:
Workplace at a Glance
The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.
Responsibility:
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Physical Activity:
Decision Making:
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