Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.
Also called: Concrete Buster, Concrete Rod Buster, Concrete Worker, Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker
Median pay
$58,970
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$43,310 – $104,540
People employed
13,800
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 6.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 7.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 8.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (32 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What reinforcing iron and rebar workers do
- 01Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
- 02Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
- 03Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
- 04Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
- 05Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
- 06Unload rebar from trucks.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Design
- Public Safety and Security
- Engineering and Technology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic87% · +8%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters86% · −13%
- Fence Erectors82% · −19%
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers79% · −9%
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters78% · −19%
Change into reinforcing iron and rebar workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fence Erectors90% · $47,980
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters85% · $51,330
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters80% · $47,550
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic80% · $63,870
- Helpers--Carpenters79% · $43,780