Structural Iron and Steel Worker Career Assessment
Raising the steel frames of buildings and bridges
Welcome
Ironworkers put up the steel beams and columns that hold up buildings, bridges, and plants.
It is high, hard, and well-paid work. You will explore whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Structural Iron and Steel Worker?
An ironworker connects steel beams and columns to make the frame of a building or bridge. A crane lifts the steel, and the ironworker guides it into place and bolts or welds it. Ironworkers also place steel rebar in concrete and put up metal buildings.
The Reality: You will work high off the ground, often on narrow beams. Fall protection is a must, every time. The work goes on in cold and wind. Jobs can be far from home, and work can come and go with big projects.
Your Responsibilities:
- Read blueprints and plans
- Signal crane operators
- Guide steel beams and columns into place
- Bolt and weld steel together
- Set up rigging to lift heavy loads
- Place rebar for concrete
- Put up metal buildings
- Use fall protection and follow safety rules
You build the steel skeleton that holds everything up.
A Day in the Life
6:30 AM — Arrive at a hospital project. Safety meeting with the crew.
7:00 AM — Put on your harness. Check your gear and tools.
7:30 AM — Signal the crane operator as a beam comes up.
8:00 AM — Guide the beam into place and bolt it to the column, tied off 40 feet up.
12:00 PM — Lunch in the trailer to warm up. It is 5°F with wind.
12:30 PM — Weld steel connections on the second floor.
3:00 PM — Set up rigging for tomorrow's big lifts.
4:00 PM — Put away gear and log your apprentice hours.
Demanding teamwork high above the ground.
Training in North Dakota
Most ironworkers train through a 4-year apprenticeship. The Ironworkers union has a registered apprenticeship for all of North Dakota, with a training center in Bismarck. You earn pay while you learn.
Training Pathways:
- Union apprenticeship (4 years): Iron Workers Local 512 trains ND apprentices in Bismarck, with classes one weekend a month. You start at 70% of journeyman pay, with raises every 6 months.
- College first: NDSCS Building Construction Technology includes steel erection and metal building classes.
- Welding first: A welding program can help, since ironworkers weld a lot.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Iron Workers Local 512 (Bismarck training center) — North Dakota Statewide Ironworkers JATC registered apprenticeship (ironworkers512.com)
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Building Construction Technology, AAS, includes steel erection and pre-engineered metal buildings (ndscs.edu)
- Steel erection and construction companies — helper jobs and on-the-job training
Before You Start: Age 18 or older. High school diploma or GED. Valid driver's license and a reliable vehicle. Must pass a drug test. Apprentices buy their own tools (about $200 to $650) and pay dues and class fees.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No state ironworker license, but safety and welding certifications matter. North Dakota does not license ironworkers. Employers look for safety training and welding skills.
Helpful Credentials:
- OSHA 10 or 30-Hour Construction — job site safety, including fall protection
- Welding certifications — many ironworkers earn American Welding Society (AWS) certifications
- Rigging and signal person — training to rig loads and signal cranes safely
- Journeyman card — earned when you finish the apprenticeship
- ND contractor license — needed from the ND Secretary of State to run your own business on any job over $4,000
The Exams: Welding certifications require a hands-on weld test. Apprentices are tested in class and on the job.
Cost: The union program has dues and semester class fees. Welding tests vary in cost; employers often pay.
Keeping It Current: Welding certifications must be kept current by welding regularly. Contractor licenses renew every year by March 1.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Structural Iron and Steel Worker Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $27.60–$29.72/hour ($57,410–$61,820/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $39.48/hour ($82,120/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $40.38–$48.00/hour ($83,990–$99,840/year)
What that means: ND ironworkers earn far more than the U.S. median. Apprentices start at 70% of journeyman pay. Work can be seasonal and depends on big projects.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 270 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 300 (about 9% growth). Expect about 20 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 4% growth — about average.
Outlook: Fair to good. This is a small trade in North Dakota, with about 20 openings a year. Big projects like plants, hospitals, and bridges drive hiring.
Who Hires in ND: Steel erection contractors, commercial builders, bridge builders, and industrial and energy projects, including in oil country.
Work Setting: Outdoor job sites, high on steel frames. Cold, wind, and heat. Travel to job sites around the state and beyond.
Physical Demands: Very high. Climbing, balancing at heights, lifting heavy steel and tools, and working in all weather. No fear of heights.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 47-2221); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Journeyman Ironworker — Work with full skills and pay.
Path 2: Welder — Focus on structural welding.
Path 3: Foreman — Lead an ironworking crew.
Path 4: Rigger or Crane Signal Person — Plan and guide heavy lifts.
Path 5: Welding or Safety Inspector — Check work for quality and safety.
Path 6: Superintendent — Manage big steel projects.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Very strong pay in ND
- Earn while you learn
- Benefits through the union
- Build big, lasting projects
- Close teamwork
- Learn welding and rigging
What's Hard:
- Work at dangerous heights
- Cold and wind up high
- Few openings in ND
- Travel to job sites
- Work comes and goes with projects
- Very physical
Be Honest: Are you comfortable high off the ground? Will you follow safety rules every single time? Can you handle cold, wind, and travel?