Steel fixer
Steel fixers install and tie together steel bars and mesh that are used to strengthen concrete on construction projects.
- Starter salary£22,000 a year
- Experienced£45,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 44 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a steel fixer, you could:
- create structures and components from plans
- use hand and power tools to cut and bend bars or mesh
- tie reinforcement bars and mesh together with wire, clips or welds to build up sections
- secure steel to concrete bases
- install beams and pre-cast slabs
- work closely with engineering designers, steel erectors and other construction workers
Working environment
You could work on high rise buildings, on a construction site or on other structures.
Your working environment may be at height, physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and cramped.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- physical skills like strength, balance and co-ordination
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a steel fixer
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could take a construction or engineering qualification like construction skills. This could help you to find a trainee job with a company when you finish your course.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Steel Fixer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This can take up to 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Direct application
You could apply directly to work as a steel fixer. To do this, you'll usually need work-based qualifications in construction or engineering, or on-site experience.
Employers may also want you to have some GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- be able to cope with working at height
Career path and progression
As an experienced steel fixer, you could become a site safety supervisor or engineering technician.
You could also move into related areas like:
- welding
- scaffolding
- training
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleSteel erector
- Job roleFormworker
- Job roleScaffolder
- Job roleConstruction labourer
- Job roleEngineering construction technician
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0