Occupation

Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Human Advantage 65%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.9 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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 Known As: Concrete Buster, Concrete Rod Buster, Concrete Worker, Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Journeyman Ironworker +19 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
  2. Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
  3. Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
  4. Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
  5. Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.
  6. Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
  7. Bend steel rods with hand tools or rod-bending machines and weld them with arc-welding equipment.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Unload rebar from trucks.
  • Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Less than a High School Diploma
37%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
34%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
30%

Technology & Tools

Software (6)

  • Application Software SHEAR
  • Applied Systems Associates aSa Rebar
  • OTP ArmaCAD
  • RebarWin
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (49)

  • Acetylene torches
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Air compressors
  • Arc welding equipment
  • Automatic rebar tying tools
  • Beam spreaders
  • Bolt cutters
  • Caulking guns
  • Chain slings
  • Chokers
  • Crowbars
  • Cutoff saws
  • Double lanyards
  • Electric drills
  • Grease guns
  • Hacksaws
  • Hard hats
  • Hard sole boots
  • Hickey bars
  • Hole saws
  • Hydraulic cable cutters
  • Hydraulic crimpers
  • Jig saws
  • Measuring tapes
  • Metal shears
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Pneumatic hammers
  • Portable hydraulic rod benders
  • Protective gloves
  • Rebar benders
  • Rebar cutters
  • Rigging equipment
  • Safety harnesses
  • Scaffolding
  • Shackle straps
  • Shear lines
  • Socket wrenches
  • Swaging tools
  • Tie wire reel
  • Tie wire reels
  • Torches
  • Tuggers
  • Utility knives
  • Welders
  • Wire snips
  • Wire twisters
  • Workshop cranes
  • Wrecking bars

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Skilled Trades Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers You are here
Zone 3

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