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Steel fixer

Steel fixers install and tie together steel bars and mesh that is used to strengthen concrete on construction projects.

Annual Salary

£19,000 to £37,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 44 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; occasionally

1.1%
Future employment

There will be 1.1% fewer Steel fixer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

In this job, you'll:

  • set out the work area, following engineering plans
  • use hand and power tools to cut and bend bars or mesh
  • tie rebar - reinforcement bars - together with wire, clips or welds to build up sections
  • fit spacers and 'chairs' - supports
  • fix wooden formwork and shuttering that holds setting concrete in place
  • 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 may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

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 can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
College

You could take a construction or engineering qualification at college. This could help you to find a trainee job with a company when you finish.

Courses include:

  • Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills
  • Level 2 Award in Skills for Engineering

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You may be able to do an intermediate steel fixer apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
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).

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • be able to cope with working at height

More information

Further information

You can get more details about working and training as a steel fixer from Go Construct and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

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As an experienced steel fixer, you could become a site safety supervisor or engineering technician, or move into related areas like welding, scaffolding or training.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

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 movement and coordination
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • knowledge of maths
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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