BRIDGE AND STRUCTURAL IRON WORKER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 133,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago is seeking a Bridge and Structural Iron Worker for the Chicago Department of Transportation, Division of In-House Construction. The position pays $64.19 per hour and is open to the public and current City employees covered by the relevant bargaining unit.

Under supervision, the successful candidate will perform journey-level ironwork on bridges, viaducts, buildings and other steel structures, reading blueprints, cutting and installing steel units, and ensuring safe, precise

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered structural ironwork apprenticeship training program and journeyman status.
• Alternative: industry or company sponsored apprenticeship training program in structural ironwork, plus two years of journey level work experience.
• Five years of experience as a Bricklayer.

Responsibilities

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to plan required ironwork.
• Cuts metal units with hacksaws, torches, or plasma cutters for installation or repair.
• Ensures tools, equipment, and materials are available at the site.
• Lifts and positions steel units using cranes or derricks.
• Aligns steel framework and guides units into final position.
• Drills rivet holes and uses pneumatic riveters to secure joints.
• Welds joints and repairs ironwork with appropriate torches.
• Loads, transports, and cleans up after work at the site.

Skills

Journeyman status

Apprenticeship training

Education

US Department of Labor registered structural ironwork apprenticeship training program

Illinois driver's license

Job description

1

$64.19/ Hourly

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

BRIDGE AND STRUCTURAL IRON WORKER

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Division of In-House Construction

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional Vacancies Possible Pending Budget Approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $64.19/ Hourly

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL AND REINFORCING IRONWORKER- LOCAL 1 (BARGAINING UNIT 46).

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on September 1, 2026

Under supervision, performs journey-level bridge and structural ironwork in the installation, repair, and maintenance of structural elements and framework on City bridges, viaducts, buildings, and other steel structures, and performs related duties as required.

Essential Duties

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and to layout and cut steel units
• Cuts metal units with hacksaws, burning torches, or plasma cutters to remove damaged ironwork and to install or repair steel structures
• Ensures adequate supplies of tools, equipment, and materials are at work sites to complete jobs
• Fastens steel units to cables from a crane or derrick to hoist steel into place
• Checks the vertical and horizontal alignment of steel and iron framework and guides units into position
• Operates turnbuckles, crowbars, and jacks to fit steel units into final position
• Drills and rings out rivet holes in steel units
• Aligns rivet holes and uses a pneumatic riveter to bolt steel units into place
• Repairs and maintains ironwork by welding steel joints with wire-feeding machines and electric or acetylene torches
• Prepares work activity reports
• Installs reinforcing iron into concrete (e.g., foundations, walls)
• Loads, transports, and unloads equipment and supplies as required
• Cleans equipment and work site after repairs as required

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 31ST & Sacramento Blvd

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered structural ironwork apprenticeship training program and journeyman status

Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:

• Successful completion of an industry or company sponsored apprenticeship training program in structural ironwork, PLUS two (2) years of journey level work experience as a structural iron worker
• Five (5) years of experience as a Bricklayer

Licensure, Certification, Or Other Qualifications

• A valid State of Illinois driver’s license is required

Physical Requirements

• Substantial lifting (up to 75 pounds) is required
• Ability to walk and stand for extended or continuous periods of time
• Ability to quickly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to climb staircases, ladders, and/or step stools
• Ability to access difficult to enter spaces (e.g., roofs, basements, tanks, field equipment, cramped quarters)
• Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment
• Ability to tolerate heights while working

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Exposure to loud noise, fumes or dust
• Exposure to hazardous conditions (e.g., construction sites, heavy machinery)
• Work performed above or below ground level
• Work performed using scaffolds and ladders

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires candidates to pass a job knowledge exam. Test results will be sent out by the Department of Human Resources after test results have been analyzed and compiled. Bidders who receive a passing score on the test will be hired in seniority order. External applicants who receive a passing score will be hired in lottery/random order.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION: Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your educational and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. You must provide your transcripts or diploma, professional license, or training certificates at the time of processing, if applicable. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn, and you will not be hired.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr/provdrs/Job_Classification_Compensation/svcs/classification-and-pay-plan.html#docaccess-ba6c316e7a6d538348ff53b1eeebb6ab

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago