Iron and Steel Mills

Industry Engagement

This industry involves companies engaged in one or more of the following:

• Direct reduction of iron ore
• Manufacturing pig iron in molten or solid form
• Converting pig iron into steel
• Manufacturing shapes: bar, plates, rod, sheets, strip, wire

Production Types

The industry is broken up based around the production type:

• Integrated Steel Mills

  Use a three-step process:

  1. Coal and Coke Making

  2. Iron Making

  3. Basic Oxygen Furnace

  
  

  All of these are shown in the World Steel image shown above.

• Mini Mills

  Produce steel from metal scrap. This type of production uses Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, without operations for coking or ironmaking.

The EPA map highlights where many US Iron and Steel mills are positioned.

Steel Occupations

Click an occupation to expand and learn more

• Construction Laborers and Extraction Occupations 

  Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. There are roughly around 2,550 of these workers found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers using hand tools, repairing drilling equipment, and transporting materials. Common job titles are Helper, Laborer, Post Framer, and Construction Worker.

• Cutting, Punching and Press Machine Setters 

  Operate machines that saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal. There are around 2,510 of this occupation found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers aligning metal parts and grinding out burrs or sharp edges. This makes cut resistant gloves a high priority for this worker. Common Job titles for this position are Die Setter, Press Operator, Machine Setter and Operator, Press Punch Operator.

• Electricians 

  Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Around 1,860 of this occupation is found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers connecting wires to breakers and transformers, making dielectric and FR safety gear important. Common Job titles for this position are Industrial Electrician, Journeyman Electrician and Wireman, and Maintenance Electrician.

• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters 

  Operate machines that extrude metal materials into tubes, wires, and bars. Around 970 work in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers loading materials into machines. Common Job titles for this position are Extruder Operator, Wire Mill Remover, Extrusion Press Operator and Metal Inspector.

• Forming Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders  

  Operate machines to taper, shape and form metal. There are around 7,470 of these workers found in Iron and Still Mills. You will find these workers removing dies, forging hammers and moving metal work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Forger, Blacksmith, Hammer Operator, and Forge Presso Operators

• Grind, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Operators  

  Operate grinding tools that remove excess metal material or burrs. There are around 1,130 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers sharpening edges and corners, along with polishing metal. Common Job titles for this position are Deburrer, Finisher, Grinder, and Grinding Operator.

• Heat Treatment Equipment Operators 

  Operate heat treating equipment, such as induction and flame-hardening machines. There are around 1,350 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers opening furnace doors to load stock and handling many materials. Common Job titles for this position are Burner, Batch Heater Operator, and Heat Treater.

• Helpers - Production 

  Duties include supplying or holding materials, along with cleaning work areas and equipment. Around 1,520 of these workers are found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers attaching cables, changing machine gears and handling a lot of material. All of these activities make gloves extremely important. Common Job titles for this position are Laborer, Press Helper, and Material Handler.

• Industrial Machinery Mechanics 

  Worker activities include repairing, installing, and adjusting industrial machinery. There are around 4,430 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers cutting and welding metal to repair broken metal parts. Job titles for this position are Fixer, Industrial and Master Mechanic.

• Machine Tool Cutting Setters and Operators 

  Operate cutting and forming machines. There are around 7,320 of these workers found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers changing cutting tools, aligning parts, and inspecting metalwork pieces. Common Job titles for this position are CNC Machine setter, CNC machinist, and CNC Operator. Exposure to hazardous equipment is always a concern.

• Machinists 

  Machinists are the workers who utilize the machine and cutting tools.  This occupation is highly skilled at operating machinery. There are around 1,540 of this occupation working in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find this worker operating machine tools to produce precision parts. Job titles for this position Gear Machinist, Machine Operator and Maintenance Machinist.

• Material Moving Workers 

  Help move steel and other materials. There are around 8,670 of these workers found across Iron and Steel Mills. That is a large number of hands needing protected. You will find these workers operating conveyors, transporting materials, and operating machines. Common job titles are Laborer and Operator.

• Metal and Plastic Workers 

  Operate machines designed to cut, shape and form metal. There are roughly 28,130 of this ocupation found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers fabricating metal products, lifting heavy materials and working with their hands. Be sure to check out our Metal Fabrication industry educational page.

• Metal Furnace and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators 

  Operates furnaces that melt and refine metal before casting or for constructing various types of steel. Furnace types include gas, oil, coal, electric arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces. There are roughly around 5,150 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mils. You will find these workers draining, transferring, and removing molten metal from furnaces and then placing into molds. Common Job titles for this position are Melt Room Operator, Vessel Operator and Central Melt Specialist.

  

  Employement of Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders by State

• Pourers and Casters 

  Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds. There are around 1,030 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers placing materials in molds, moving materials and manipulating things. Common job titles are General Caster, Foundry Worker, Furnace Operator, and Iron Pourer. Around 56% of this entire US occupation can be found in foundries.

• Rolling Machine Setters and Operators 

  Operate machines that plate, roll and flatten steel. There are around 5,630 of these workers in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers around shears, grinders and adjusting machines. Common Job titles for this position are Rolling Mill Operator, Mill Operator and Roll Form Operator.

• Welding Cutters and Fitters 

  Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, and brazing equipment to weld/join metal components, fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products. There are around 1,700 of these workers are employed in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers welding components in flat, vertical or overhead positions. Common Job titles for this position are Maintenance Welder, Mig Welder, and Welder/Fabricator

• Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Operators 

  Operate welding, soldering or brazing machines that weld, braze, or heat treat metal products. There are around 1,600 of these workers found in Iron and Steel Mills. You will find these workers adding material to work pieces, joining metal components, and annealing finished work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Fabricator, Mig Welder, Spot Welder, Fitter-Welder, and Braze Operators.