Structural Iron and Steel Workers
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.
AI Impact Summary
Structural Iron and Steel Workers faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 14/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 1% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Structural Iron and Steel Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
AI Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
22 tasks analyzed
Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment.
Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools.
Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place.
Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting as needed.
Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members.
Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them or use rope to guide them into position.
Dismantle structures or equipment.
Hold rivets while riveters use air hammers to form heads on rivets.
Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled.
Place blocks under reinforcing bars used to reinforce floors.
Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs.
Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required. | 53.57Observed | 70.6% | 5% | |
| Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels. | 52Estimated | 70.0% | 5% | |
| Cut, bend, or weld steel pieces, using metal shears, torches, or welding equipment. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 8% | |
| Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Force structural steel members into final positions, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, or hand tools. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Pull, push, or pry structural steel members into approximate positions for bolting into place. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Unload and position prefabricated steel units for hoisting as needed. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Drive drift pins through rivet holes to align rivet holes in structural steel members with corresponding holes in previously placed members. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Assemble hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 4% | |
| Ride on girders or other structural steel members to position them or use rope to guide them into position. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 3% | |
| Dismantle structures or equipment. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Hold rivets while riveters use air hammers to form heads on rivets. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 2% | |
| Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Place blocks under reinforcing bars used to reinforce floors. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Catch hot rivets in buckets and insert rivets in holes, using tongs. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 2% | |
| Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 28.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$62,700
per year
Mean Wage
$69,270
per year
Employment
65K
workers
Wage Range
$42,000 - $107,520
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsDrywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
15%Median salary: $58,140
Higher risk than 1% of other occupations
Boilermakers
16%Median salary: $73,340
Higher risk than 2% of other occupations
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
17%Median salary: $54,660
Higher risk than 3% of other occupations
Insulation Workers, Mechanical
18%Median salary: $57,250
Higher risk than 4% of other occupations
Pile-Driver Operators
20%Median salary: $70,510
Higher risk than 6% of other occupations
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
20%Median salary: $60,800
Higher risk than 7% of other occupations
Construction Carpenters
21%Median salary: $59,310
Higher risk than 8% of other occupations
Rough Carpenters
23%Median salary: $59,310
Higher risk than 15% of other occupations
Sheet Metal Workers
24%Median salary: $60,850
Higher risk than 17% of other occupations
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
28%Median salary: $65,010
Higher risk than 31% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Structural Iron and Steel Workers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change