Construction & extraction · SOC 47-2221
Structural iron and steel workers
BLS projects 68,300 jobs in 2025 to become 70,400 by 2035 — +3.1%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+3.1%
projected change to 2035
About 2,100 more jobs
5,900
openings a year
8.6% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$62,780
median annual pay
Usually entered with: high school diploma or equivalent
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment68,300
- 2035 projected70,400
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other construction & extraction occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Construction laborers1,489,300+7.3%
- First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers913,300+5.0%
- Carpenters889,700+3.9%
- Electricians821,000+9.2%
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters510,600+6.8%
- Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators489,500+4.6%
- Painters, construction and maintenance326,900+3.0%
- Cement masons and concrete finishers204,800+1.6%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.