Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Summary

Workers use wire ties to connect rebar.

Quick Facts: Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
2010 Median Pay	$38,430 per year $18.48 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Apprenticeship
Number of Jobs, 2010	19,100
Job Outlook, 2010-20	49% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	9,300

What Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers Do

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers install mesh, steel bars (rebar), or cables to reinforce concrete.

Work Environment

Installing rebar is physically demanding because workers spend a lot of time moving, bending, and stooping. Hazards include falls from ladders and scaffolding, cuts from sharp metal, and burns from equipment. Workers usually work outside in all kinds of weather, and some do their job at great heights.

How to Become a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker

Although most reinforcing iron and rebar workers learn their trade informally on the job, some get their training through a formal apprenticeship program.

Pay

The median annual wage of reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $38,430 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of reinforcing iron and rebar workers is projected to grow 49 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. The need to rehabilitate, maintain, and replace a growing number of older buildings, powerplants, highways, and bridges is expected to drive employment growth. Those with a variety of skills, such as welding and post tensioning training, should have the best job opportunities.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of reinforcing iron and rebar workers with similar occupations.

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What Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers Do About this section

Workers must align rebar to match specifications.

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers install wire mesh, steel bars (rebar), or cables to reinforce concrete.

Duties

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers typically do the following:

• Use blueprints, sketches, or other instructions for installation
• Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods
• Cut mesh and rebar with metal shears, hacksaws, or acetylene torches
• Bend rebar or weld it together to match design specifications
• Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms
• Install cables (post-tensioning systems)
• Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors
• Fasten rods together by tying wire around them with pliers
• Bend or place caps on exposed rebar to make it less hazardous

Concrete is often used in construction. To reinforce the concrete, reinforcing iron and rebar workers use one of three different materials:

• Rebar is used to reinforce concrete that forms highways, buildings, bridges, and other structures. These workers are often called rodbusters because they work with rods of rebar.
• Cable is used to reinforce concrete by a technique called post-tensioning. Post-tensioning allows designers to create larger open areas in a building because supports can be placed further apart. As a result, post-tensioning is commonly used for parking garages and arenas.
• Welded wire fabric is also used to reinforce concrete. Workers put the wire fabric into position using hooked rods.

Work Environment About this section

Rebar is often bent or capped for safety reasons.

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers held about 19,100 jobs in 2010. Workers were concentrated in three industries:

Installing rebar is physically demanding because workers spend a lot of their time moving, bending, and stooping. Workers must be able to carry, bend, cut, and connect rebar at a rapid pace to keep projects on schedule.

Injuries

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers experience a rate of injury and illness that is higher than most other occupations. Hazards include falls from ladders and scaffolds, cuts from sharp metal, and burns from equipment.

Work Schedules

Nearly all reinforcing iron and rebar workers work full time. Because they are reinforcing concrete, weather conditions that affect the curing time of concrete can impact work schedules.

In contrast to other construction trades, few reinforcing iron and rebar workers are self-employment.

How to Become a Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker About this section

Reinforcing iron workers must be physically strong enough to bend rebar.

Although most reinforcing iron and rebar workers learn their trade informally on the job, some get their training through a formal apprenticeship program. A high school diploma is generally required for becoming a reinforcing iron and rebar worker.

Training

On the job, trainees start by carrying rebar and setting it in place as directed by a foreman or supervisor. With experienced workers guiding them, trainees eventually acquire the skills of a fully qualified reinforcing iron and rebar worker.

Apprenticeship

Some reinforcing iron and rebar workers learn their trade through a 3- or 4- year apprenticeship. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical training and 1,400 to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. Nearly all apprenticeship programs teach both reinforcing and structural ironworking, but a few programs focus exclusively on reinforcing and rebar work.

On the job, apprentices learn to use the tools and equipment of the trade; handle, measure, cut, and lay rebar; and construct metal frameworks. In technical instruction, they are taught about reinforcing metals and installation techniques, as well as basic mathematics, how to read and draw blueprints, general construction techniques, safety practices, and first aid.

After completing an apprenticeship program, they are considered journey workers who may do tasks on their own.

A few groups, including unions and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs. The basic qualifications for entering an apprenticeship program are as follows:

• Minimum age of 18
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Physically able to do the work

Education

A high school diploma is generally required for becoming a reinforcing iron and rebar worker. High school courses in math, shop, and blueprint reading are useful. Training in post-tensioning systems also is helpful.

Important Qualities

Hand-eye coordination. Workers must be able to quickly tie rebar together. An experienced worker can tie rebar together in seconds and move on to the next spot, while a beginner may take much longer.

Physical strength. Workers must be strong enough to carry heavy bundles of rebar. Although individual rebar only weighs 5 to 10 pounds, the weight quickly adds up when they are bundled.

Stamina. Workers must have endurance because they spend many hours on their feet. Also, workers must bend over frequently to easily reach the rebar, especially when tying flat-surface reinforcement.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $38,430 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,280, and the top 10 percent earned more than $74,210.

The starting pay for apprentices is usually between 50 percent and 60 percent of what fully trained reinforcing iron and rebar workers make. They get pay increases as they become more skilled.

Nearly all reinforcing iron and rebar workers work full time. Because they are reinforcing concrete, weather conditions that affect the curing time of concrete can impact work schedules.

In contrast to other construction trades, few reinforcing iron and rebar workers are self-employed.

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers have a rate of union membership that is higher than the national average. Although there is no single union that covers all reinforcing iron and rebar workers, the largest organizer of these workers is the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of reinforcing iron and rebar workers is projected to grow 49 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast employment growth will result in only 9,300 new jobs over the 10-year period.

The need to rehabilitate, maintain, and replace a growing number of older buildings, powerplants, highways, and bridges is expected to drive employment growth. State and federal legislatures will likely continue funding road construction and related infrastructure projects, which will result in new jobs over the projections decade.

Job Prospects

Rapid employment growth should result in good job opportunities. Because employers prefer workers who can do a variety of tasks, reinforcing iron and rebar workers with additional skills, such as welding, should have the best job opportunities. Those with prior military service are also viewed favorably during initial hiring.

Like employment of many other construction workers, employment of reinforcing iron and rebar workers is sensitive to fluctuations in the economy. Workers may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of construction falls. However, shortages of workers may occur in some areas during peak periods of building activity. Employment opportunities should be greatest in metropolitan areas, where most large commercial and multifamily buildings are constructed.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about apprenticeships or job opportunities as a reinforcing iron and rebar worker, contact local cement or highway construction contractors, a local joint union-management apprenticeship committee, or the nearest office of your state employment service or apprenticeship agency. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's toll free help line, 1 (877) 872-5627, or Employment and Training Administration.

For apprenticeship information, visit

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers