Structural metal workers make and install steel frameworks used in buildings and other structures. They also repair and renovate older buildings and structures.
| Quick Facts: Structural Metal Workers | |
|---|---|
| Wages | Earn $46,094 - $127,910 per year |
| Employment | Large occupation |
| 10 Year Growth | Declining |
| Annual Openings | Moderate |
Preparation 
Preparation
The Preparation section describes the education, training, and experience you need to prepare for work in an occupation. This section covers the types of formal and informal training programs you should take. In addition, this topic covers the amount of experience you need to enter an occupation.
For more information see the Preparation topic.
A structural metal worker typically needs to:
- have a high school diploma or equivalent
- complete an apprenticeship program or moderate-term, on-the-job training
Working Conditions
Working Conditions
The Working Conditions section describes an occupation's characteristics. This section covers the conditions and settings that workers in an occupation are exposed to. This list also shows characteristics that a worker needs to do well in the occupation.
For more information see the Working Conditions topic.
In a typical work setting, structural metal workers:
- Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of other workers.
- Work both outdoors and indoors. Workers at construction sites often work outdoors. Fabrication workers usually work indoors in shops.
- Must be sure that all details of the job are done and their work is very exact. Errors or omissions could seriously endanger the safety of workers. Errors could also make structures unsafe to use.
- Usually work a regular 40-hour week.
Wages
Wages
Multiple SOC version:
The Wage section gives you a sense of how much money workers earn in an occupation. Annual wage data appear for most occupations. The annual amount is based on working full time for 12 months.
Two types of information are given about wages--the median wage and the wage range. The median wage is represented by the line in the bar. The median wage is the amount above which half of all workers are paid and below which half of all workers are paid. This is similar to an average. The wage range from the 25% to the 75% is represented by the bar. The 25% means that one-quarter of workers in the occupation earn less than that amount. Similarly, one-quarter of workers in the occupation earn more than the 75%. Move your cursor over the bar to see the wage values.
For more information see the Wages topic.
In Illinois, structural metal workers earn a median wage of $46,094 - $127,910 per year.
| $0 | $50 | $100 | $150 | $200 |
| Illinois |
$ amounts are in thousands of dollars.
Employment and Outlook
Employment and Outlook
The Employment and Outlook section gives you information about the size of an occupation, whether it is growing or declining in size, and how many job openings there may be each year.
There are five size categories for occupations in CIS: very small, small, medium, large, and very large. Similarly, five categories are used for the number of job openings: very few, few, moderate, high, and very high.
Five categories are also used for growth: declining, more slowly than average, average, faster than average, and much faster than average. The growth rate tells you how rapidly an occupation is expected to grow in comparison to all other occupations. This information is an estimate. No one can predict exactly how many jobs will be available. The rate of growth of an occupation is determined by several factors. A few major factors are the state of the economy, competition, technological advances, and environmental rules.
For more information see the Employment and Outlook topic.
In Illinois, 7,290 structural metal workers work in this large occupation.
| Location | Employment | 10 Year Growth | Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 7,290 Large | -0.6% Declining | 731 Moderate |