How to become a reinforcing iron and rebar worker

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What reinforcing iron and rebar workers do

• Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
• Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
• Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
• Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
• Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
• Unload rebar from trucks.

Skills that matter most

• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Mathematics
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is reinforcing iron and rebar worker a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 16% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Wisconsin $121,620
• Washington $108,970
• Nevada $102,130
• New York $98,040
• Oregon $93,490

Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.