Structural metal worker vs iron worker

The differences between structural metal workers and iron 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 $37,644 average annual salary of a structural metal worker.

The top three skills for a structural metal worker include torches, BARS and . The most important skills for an iron worker are hoisting, torches, and ironworker.

Structural metal worker vs iron worker overview

	Structural Metal Worker	Iron Worker
Yearly salary	$37,644	$41,422
Hourly rate	$18.10	$19.91
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	24,589	28,258
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 100%	High School Diploma, 55%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Structural metal worker vs iron worker salary

Structural metal workers and iron workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Structural Metal Worker	Iron Worker
Average salary	$37,644	$41,422
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $60,000	Between $32,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	EMCOR Group
Best paying industry	-	Construction

Differences between structural metal worker and iron worker education

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

	Structural Metal Worker	Iron Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 100%	High School Diploma, 55%
Most common major	Communication	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Structural metal worker vs iron worker demographics

Here are the differences between structural metal workers' and iron workers' demographics:

	Structural Metal Worker	Iron Worker
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%	Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 1.3% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%	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%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between structural metal worker and iron worker duties and responsibilities

Structural metal worker example responsibilities.

Connect structural members using bolt-up methods.
Catch hot rivets in buckets, and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.

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.

Structural metal worker vs iron worker skills

Common structural metal worker skills

Torches, 50%
BARS, 50%

Common iron worker skills

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