Iron worker vs steel worker

The differences between iron workers and steel workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an iron worker has an average salary of $41,422, which is higher than the $37,949 average annual salary of a steel worker.

The top three skills for an iron worker include hoisting, torches and ironworker. The most important skills for a steel worker are safety equipment, overhead cranes, and torches.

Iron worker vs steel worker overview

	Iron Worker	Steel Worker
Yearly salary	$41,422	$37,949
Hourly rate	$19.91	$18.24
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	28,258	19,610
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Iron worker vs steel worker salary

Iron workers and steel workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Iron Worker	Steel Worker
Average salary	$41,422	$37,949
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $53,000	Between $28,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Buffalo, NY
Highest paying state	Alaska	New York
Best paying company	EMCOR Group	B.R. Fries Constructors
Best paying industry	Construction	Hospitality

Differences between iron worker and steel worker education

There are a few differences between an iron worker and a steel worker in terms of educational background:

	Iron Worker	Steel Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Business
Most common college	-	-

Iron worker vs steel worker demographics

Here are the differences between iron workers' and steel workers' demographics:

	Iron Worker	Steel Worker
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%	Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 1.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between iron worker and steel worker duties and responsibilities

Iron worker example responsibilities.

Attain diverse professional experience from working in various craft disciplines in maintenance, turnaround and new construction projects.
Perform field welds on ferrous and non-ferrous metals using SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW.
Interpret blueprints and schematics, and MIG, FCAW, SMAW weld parts as defined in specification sheets.
Force structural- steel members in to final position using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, sleeve bars, and hand tools.
Cut coupon samples to be test on CNC end mill lathe.
Attach pulleys and blocks to fix overhead structures.

Steel worker example responsibilities.

Attain diverse professional experience from working in various craft disciplines in maintenance, turnaround and new construction projects.
Handle power tools including TIG and gas welding systems.
Cut rods to require lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
Assemble steel for hangar bay doors on military bases MIG welding according to blueprints and schematics
Operate hoists in order to move castings or roll and turn castings when necessary to make surfaces accessible.
Repair products by dismantling, straightening, reshaping, and reassembling parts, using cutting torches and hand tools.

Iron worker vs steel worker skills

Common iron worker skills

Hoisting, 10%
Torches, 8%
Ironworker, 7%
Bolt-Up, 6%
MIG, 4%
Steel Beams, 4%

Common steel worker skills

Safety Equipment, 19%
Overhead Cranes, 14%
Torches, 5%
Steel Beams, 5%
Hoisting, 4%
CNC, 4%