Steel erectors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time steel erectors in the UK earned a median £35,824 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £3,215 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 185th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 42.8 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
Since 2021 it has risen 17.9%, from £30,376, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th percentile | – | £562.80 | £14.28 | – | £562.80 | £14.28 |
| 40th percentile | £34,473* | £587.70* | £14.51 | £32,292* | £587.70* | £14.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £35,824* | £669.20* | £15.89 | £34,782* | £669.20* | £15.89 |
| 60th percentile | – | £762.20* | £16.87 | – | £762.20* | £16.87 |
| Mean | £38,257 | £752.50 | £16.79 | £37,491 | £752.50 | £16.79 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £30,376 | £563.80* | £12.59* | £29,588* | £559.20* |
| 2022 revised | – | £621.40* | £14.53* | – | – |
| 2023 revised | £34,888 | £603.60* | £15.17 | £34,888 | £603.60* |
| 2024 revised | £35,863* | £742.10* | £15.93 | £34,842* | £718.30* |
| 2025 provisional | £35,824* | £669.20* | £15.89 | £34,782* | £669.20* |
What steel erectors do
Steel erectors fit and erect structural metal framework for buildings and other structures such as metal chimneys. (ONS SOC 2020, 5311)
Also covers: steel erector, steel fabricator, steel worker (structural engineering), erector (steel), furnace erector, girder erector, iron fighter, iron worker, ironwork erector, sheeter erector, steel constructor, steel worker, steelwork erector, structural erector, tower erector, fitter and erector and iron staircase erector (22 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines drawings and specifications to assess job requirements
- Erects ladders, scaffolding or working cage
- Directs hoisting and positioning of girders and other metal parts and checks alignment
- Arranges for or undertakes bolting and welding of metal parts
- Checks alignment of metal parts using spirit level and plumb-rule
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.
Related
Construction and building trades (median £34,643) · Stonemasons and related trades · Bricklayers · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026