
What Do Reinforcing Welders, Iron and Rebar Workers Do?
Duties
Ironworkers typically do the following:
- Read and follow blueprints, sketches, and other instructions
- Unload and stack prefabricated iron and steel so that it can be lifted with slings
- Signal crane operators who lift and position structural and reinforcing iron and steel
- Use shears, rod-bending machines, and welding equipment to cut, bend, and weld the structural and reinforcing iron and steel
- Align structural and reinforcing iron and steel vertically and horizontally, using tag lines, plumb bobs, lasers, and levels
- Connect iron and steel with bolts, wire, or welds
Structural and reinforcing iron and steel are important components of buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. Even though the primary metal involved in this work is steel, workers often are known as ironworkers or erectors. Most of the work involves erecting new structures, but some ironworkers may also help in the demolition, decommissioning, and rehabilitation of older buildings and bridges.
When building tall structures such as skyscrapers, structural iron and steel workers erect steel frames and assemble the cranes and derricks that move materials and equipment around the construction site. Workers connect precut steel columns, beams, and girders, using tools like shears, torches, welding equipment, and hand tools. A few ironworkers install precast walls or work with wood or composite materials.
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers use one of three different materials to support concrete:
- Reinforcing steel (rebar) is used to strengthen the concrete that forms highways, buildings, bridges, and other structures. These workers are sometimes called rod busters, in reference to rods of rebar.
- Cables are used to reinforce concrete by pre- or post-tensioning. These techniques allow designers to create larger open areas in a building because supports can be placed farther apart. As a result, pre- and post-tensioning are commonly used to construct arenas, concrete bridges, and parking garages.
- Welded wire reinforcing (WWR) is also used to strengthen concrete. This reinforcing is made up of narrow-diameter rods or wire welded into a grid.
Structural metal fabricators and fitters manufacture metal products in shops, usually located away from construction sites.
Career Snapshot
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.
(Similar work titles include: Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Iron Worker Foreman, Ironworker, Ironworker Foreman, Reinforced Ironworker, Rodbuster, Rodman, Steel Tier)
Job Details
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers typically do the following:
- Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
- Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
- Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
- Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
- Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.
- Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
- Bend steel rods with hand tools or rod bending machines and weld them with arc-welding equipment.
Education and Experience
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required to enter the occupation. Most workers in this sub-sector learn through an apprenticeship and on-the-job training. Structural iron and steel worker occupations usually need three to four years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. Several groups, such as unions and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs.
Career Outlook
- Annual pay: As of May 2019, Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers earned approximately $49,000
- Employment growth forecast 2018-2028: 11%
- Entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent is generally required to enter an apprenticeship for this career sub-sector job.
Career Growth Opportunity
Certifications in welding, rigging, and crane signaling may make Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers more attractive to prospective employers. Future construction of commercial and industrial structures is expected to require these workers. The need to rehabilitate, maintain, or replace an increasing number of older highways and bridges is also expected to lead to some employment growth. After gaining experience, Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers may advance to become a supervisor or a manager, a position in which they have more responsibilities and are tasked with directing other workers.
Professional Associations
- Association for Iron and Steel Technology - AIST’s mission is to advance the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel.
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers - The IW represents 120,000 members in North America. This includes ironworkers who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental, architectural, and miscellaneous metals, rebar and in shops.
- Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust - IMPACT’s primary mission is to improve the economic competitiveness of the ironworking industry. Identify and expand work opportunities for Iron Workers and signatory contractors. Help resolve problems which reduce the competitiveness and economic development of the industry not susceptible to resolution within the collective bargaining process.
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers - The IW represents 120,000 members in North America. Members of this union have worked on nearly every major construction project you can think of - the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sears Tower, the St. Louis Arch, the Oil Sands Plant Expansion in Alberta, the World Trade Center and Freedom Tower. IW represents ironworkers who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental, architectural, and miscellaneous metals, rebar and in shops.
- National Center for Construction Education and Research - NCCER is a non-profit education foundation. It was developed with the support of more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry.
- Association for Iron and Steel Technology - This non-profit has as its mission to advance the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel.
- National Institute of Steel Detailing - NISD’s mission is to foster a professional approach to business, by advocating improved quality, through member networking, education and certification, and create a better understanding of the importance of detailing services in the construction process.
- United Steelworkers - The United Steelworkers is North America’s largest industrial union. They are 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They advocate for ‘better workplaces, better lives for everyone and a better world’.
- Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. - ABC's mission is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free enterprise approach that awards contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation.
- Building Trades Alliance, Structural Iron and Steel Worker - BTA is a non-partisan, apolitical organization dedicated to the promotion of the building trades and to the partnership between the various building trade unions and contractors that drives progress throughout our nation.
- American Welding Society - This organization is a non-profit with a global mission to advance the science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering and thermal spraying.
- Sisters in the Brotherhood - Sisters in the Brotherhood is a group dedicated to strengthening the UBC by promoting activism and diversity and by increasing the number of women members.
- The Associated General Contractors of America - The Associated General Contractors of America works to ensure the continued success of the commercial construction industry by advocating for federal, state and local measures that support the industry.
Publications
- Ironworker Magazine - Since its inception in 1901, The Ironworker has served as primary communication tool for our members, local union, district councils, and officers to keep apprised of ironworkers' interests locally and across North America.
- Constructor - online digital magazine
- Metal Working World Magazine - machine tools, sheet metal, technologies, news...