Steel erector vs guard rail installer

The differences between steel erectors and guard rail installers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a guard rail installer has an average salary of $37,013, which is higher than the $36,280 average annual salary of a steel erector.

The top three skills for a steel erector include torches, blueprint specifications and steel beams. The most important skills for a guard rail installer are traffic control, DOT, and CDL.

Steel erector vs guard rail installer overview

	Steel Erector	Guard Rail Installer
Yearly salary	$36,280	$37,013
Hourly rate	$17.44	$17.79
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	294	31,150
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 56%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Steel erector vs guard rail installer salary

Steel erectors and guard rail installers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Steel Erector	Guard Rail Installer
Average salary	$36,280	$37,013
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $48,000	Between $24,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between steel erector and guard rail installer education

There are a few differences between a steel erector and a guard rail installer in terms of educational background:

	Steel Erector	Guard Rail Installer
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 56%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	General Studies
Most common college	-	-

Steel erector vs guard rail installer demographics

Here are the differences between steel erectors' and guard rail installers' demographics:

	Steel Erector	Guard Rail Installer
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6%	Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 1.6% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between steel erector and guard rail installer duties and responsibilities

Steel erector example responsibilities.

Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using torches, saws and or welding equipment.
Erect steel into place by using forklifts, chain hoists, and signaling crane operators.
Load, unload, and set machinery and equipment and operate power hoists, forklifts, and aerial lifts.
Handle and execute all activities relate to erection and dismantling of scaffolding.
Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
scaffold erector competent skills leadership skills flatb driver (non cdl) forklift operator

Guard rail installer example responsibilities.

Manage telecommunications, data and CCTV equipment.
Use``CDL"deliver guard rail and install guard rail.
Maintain inventory of all street signs with GPS.
Assist with assembling hoisting equipment to move heavy equipment or materials.
Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces using metal shares, torches, handsaw, and other welding equipment.
Perform preventative maintenance, troubleshot breakdowns and repair malfunctioning HVAC systems and components; utilize measuring and testing instruments.

Steel erector vs guard rail installer skills

Common steel erector skills

Torches, 25%
Blueprint Specifications, 14%
Steel Beams, 13%
Safety Guidelines, 8%
Hand Tools, 6%
Steel Erection, 4%

Common guard rail installer skills

Traffic Control, 32%
DOT, 29%
CDL, 22%
Guard Rails, 17%

Steel Erector vs. similar jobs

Steel Erector related careers

Steel Erector related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse construction and extraction jobs