Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Construction and Extraction Occupations
O*NET-SOC code
47-2221.00

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.

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    Low· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.049

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.11

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published

    Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

20 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (5.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

  • Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
  • 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
Source
OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release
gh-main-0471612
License
MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %APIRaw / share %
Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.

47-2221.00

0.0048100.00.0086100.0
Not observed on any surface — 19 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
—0—0
Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
—0—0
Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
—0—0
Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
—0—0
Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
—0—0
Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
—0—0
Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
—0—0
Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
—0—0
Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
—0—0
Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
—0—0
Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting as needed.
—0—0
Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.
—0—0
Dismantle structures or equipment.
—0—0
Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
—0—0
Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them or use rope to guide them into position.
—0—0
Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled.
—0—0
Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.
—0—0
Place blocks under reinforcing bars used to reinforce floors.
—0—0
Hold rivets while riveters use air hammers to form heads on rivets.
—0—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (20)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)Type
Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.Core
Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.Core
Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.Core
Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.Core
Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them, or use rope to guide them into position.Core
Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.Core
Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.Core
Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.Core
Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.Core
Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.Core
Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.Core
Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting, as needed.Core
Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.Core
Dismantle structures or equipment.Core
Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.Core
Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.Core
Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled.Supplemental
Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.Supplemental
Place blocks under reinforcing bars used to reinforce floors.Supplemental
Hold rivets while riveters use air hammers to form heads on rivets.Supplemental

Occupation information

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025
68K
Projected employment, 2035
70K
Change (2025–35)
+3.1%
Median annual wage, 2025
$62,780
Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
78112강구조물 건립원Same scopeconfirmed
78222콘크리트패널 조립원Overlapping, not the sameconfirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

  • ISCO-08 7214Structural Metal Preparers and Erectors

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Structural metal preparers and erectors assemble, erect and dismantle structural metal frames of buildings and other structures.

Tasks

  • (a) marking metal framework as a guide when drilling, cutting and shaping metal stock for use in buildings, ships and other structures;
  • (b) drilling, cutting and shaping structural steel in a workshop;
  • (c) erecting steel framework for buildings, bridges and other constructions;
  • (d) assembling and erecting the framework and other metal parts of ships' structures;
  • (e) shaping and fitting structural-steel plates of ships under construction or repair;
  • (f) riveting structural metal members by hand, machine or pneumatic riveter.

Example occupations

Erector, structural metal · Preparer, structural metal · Riveter

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

  • structural ironworkerESCO 7214.3Same scope

    Structural ironworker in construction install iron elements into structures. They erect steel frameworks for buildings, bridges and other construction projects. They set metal rods, or rebar, to form reinforced concrete.

  • ornamental metal workerESCO 7223.14Overlapping, not the same

    Ornamental metal workers use finishing equipment and machinery to shape and finish fabricated ornamental metal workpieces, often used for the installation process in construction, such as railings, staircases, open steel flooring, fences and gates, and others.

  • sheet metal workerESCO 7213.4Overlapping, not the same

    Sheet metal workers in construction use sheet metal to construct roofs, ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, gutters and other metal structures. They read plans and determine the type and amount of materials to be used, then measure, bend, cut, shape, and attach pieces of sheet metal to create the required structure.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME codeROME title (French)Relation
F1502Monteur / Monteuse en structures métalliquesSame scope
H2911Métallier / MétallièreOverlapping, not the same

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
7314Montadores de estructuras metálicasThis occupation is narrower
7112Montadores de prefabricados estructurales (sólo hormigón)This occupation is broaderprovisional
7192Instaladores de fachadas técnicasRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB codeKldB title (German)Relation
24412Berufe im Metallbau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is narrower

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO codeJSCO title (Japanese)Relation
652とび職This occupation is narrowerprovisional
525鉄工，製缶従事者Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources