NOC 72105: Ironworkers
What ironworkers do
Ironworkers fabricate, erect, hoist, install, repair and service structural ironwork, precast concrete, concrete reinforcing materials, curtain walls, ornamental iron and other metals used in the construction of buildings, bridges, highways, dams and other structures and equipment. They are employed by construction ironwork contractors. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Read blueprints and specifications to lay out work
- Unload and position steel units so each piece can be hoisted as needed
- Erect and install scaffolding, hoisting equipment and rigging
- Signal crane operator to position steel units according to blueprints
- Align and weld or bolt steel units in place
- Erect structural and architectural precast concrete components for buildings, bridges, towers and other structures
- Assemble and erect prefabricated metal structures
- Position and secure steel bars or metal mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures
- Install ornamental and other structural metalwork such as curtain walls, metal stairways, railings and power doors
- Examine structures and equipment for deterioration, defects or non-compliance with specifications
- May dismantle structures and equipment.
Job titles under NOC 72105
34 job titles are classified here, including ironworker, ironworker - metal building systems erector, ironworker apprentice.
- apprentice ironworker
- apprentice metal structure erector
- bridge construction ironworker
- building systems erector
- curtain wall installation ironworker
- generalist steel structure erector
- iron structure erector
- ironworker
- ironworker - metal building systems erector
- ironworker - ornamental
- ironworker - reinforcing rebar
- ironworker apprentice
- ironworker generalist
- journeyman/woman ironworker
- journeyman/woman reinforcing ironworker
- metal scaffold erector
- metal structure erector
- metal tank erecting ironworker
- metal wall framing installer
- metal wall framing ironworker
- metal wall installation ironworker
- ornamental ironworker
- ornamental-metal worker
- precast concrete erector
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a two- to three-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in ironworking are usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for ironworker (generalist) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
- Trade certification for ironworker (reinforcing) is compulsory in Quebec and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
- Trade certification for ironworker (structural/ornamental) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
- Trade certification for ironworker (metal building systems erector) is compulsory in Alberta.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified ironworkers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ironworkers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $29.00/hr | $43.00/hr | $49.80/hr |
Toronto ON | $34.00/hr | $44.23/hr | $49.47/hr |
Montréal QC | $31.04/hr | $43.45/hr | $45.25/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $26.00/hr | $38.09/hr | $50.59/hr |
Calgary AB | $25.50/hr | $40.00/hr | $49.09/hr |
Edmonton AB | $28.04/hr | $42.79/hr | $51.08/hr |
Ottawa ON | $31.55/hr | $44.55/hr | $50.50/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $25.05/hr | $33.99/hr | $48.11/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $35.10/hr | $44.23/hr | $48.60/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $28.49/hr | $44.05/hr | $50.12/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $32.82/hr | $44.98/hr | $52.17/hr |
London ON | $27.50/hr | $43.30/hr | $50.25/hr |
Halifax NS | $25.63/hr | $36.60/hr | $47.74/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $25.80/hr | $41.00/hr | $54.33/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $23.73/hr | $38.00/hr | $46.81/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $25.48/hr | $39.47/hr | $46.81/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.00/hr | $41.09/hr | $48.11/hr |
Nova Scotia | $24.72/hr | $36.71/hr | $47.35/hr |
New Brunswick | $26.00/hr | $38.00/hr | $48.36/hr |
Quebec | $35.10/hr | $44.23/hr | $48.60/hr |
Ontario | $32.27/hr | $44.34/hr | $50.25/hr |
Manitoba | $25.07/hr | $35.00/hr | $48.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $25.00/hr | $39.08/hr | $46.92/hr |
Alberta | $27.00/hr | $40.60/hr | $51.00/hr |
British Columbia | $26.00/hr | $38.09/hr | $50.59/hr |
Using NOC 72105 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 34 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Boilermakers (NOC 72103)
- Ironwork supervisor (NOC 72010)
- Metal fitters foreman/woman (NOC 72010)
- Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters (NOC 72104)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for ironworkers?
Ironworkers are NOC 2021 unit group 72105. Example job titles in this group include ironworker, ironworker - metal building systems erector, ironworker apprentice, ornamental ironworker.
What TEER is NOC 72105?
NOC 72105 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do ironworkers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $43.00/hr, about $84,000 a year full-time, with a range of $29.00/hr to $49.80/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.