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Ironworkers, boilermakers

How to become a Structural Steel Worker

Also called: Steel fabrication equipment operator, Machine ironworker, Bridge ironworker, Building ironworker, Shipbuilding ironworker

Makes the steel frames that hold up high-rise buildings and other large buildings and structures, working in a factory.

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Most people join after finishing high school or kosen (college of technology). After joining, you work on several stages of fabrication and learn to read drawings and instructions and specialist skills such as welding. To gain welding qualifications or the ironwork exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, you need to take training inside or outside the company and pass the test. Gaining skills qualifications along with management ability opens the way to promotion to foreman. Welding work also requires separate welding qualifications. Some tasks involve heavy objects, so physical strength is needed. You work in teams of several people, so cooperation is also needed.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Structural Steel Worker?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Most people join after finishing high school or kosen (college of technology). After joining, you work on several stages of fabrication and learn to read drawings and instructions and specialist skills such as welding. To gain welding qualifications or the ironwork exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, you need to take training inside or outside the company and pass the test. Gaining skills qualifications along with management ability opens the way to promotion to foreman. Welding work also requires separate welding qualifications. Some tasks involve heavy objects, so physical strength is needed. You work in teams of several people, so cooperation is also needed.

How much does a Structural Steel Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,066,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Ironworkers, boilermakers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Structural Steel Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 9% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Structural Steel Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026