Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Construction & Extraction
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2171
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 7
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
• Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
• Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.
• Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
• Bend steel rods with hand tools or rod-bending machines and weld them with arc-welding equipment.

Tools and technology

Acetylene torches, Adjustable widemouth pliers, Air compressors, Application Software SHEAR, Applied Systems Associates aSa Rebar, Arc welding equipment, Automatic rebar tying tools, Beam spreaders, Bolt cutters, Caulking guns, Chain slings, Chokers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Structural Iron and Steel Workers
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
• Brickmasons and Blockmasons
• Sheet Metal Workers
• Carpenters
• Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.