Construction TradesSpecialization of Building/Construction Finishing

Best institutions to study Metal Building Assembly/Assembler

CIP 46.0411

A program that prepares individuals to construct industrial, storage, and commercial metal structures using prefabricated framing and siding components.

1 U.S. institutions graduated 5 Metal Building Assembly/Assembler students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0411, a specialization of Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04), and leads most directly to the Structural Iron and Steel Workers occupation (BLS SOC 47-2221).

Institutions
1
offering CIP 46.0411
States offered
1
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
5
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
0%
share of graduates
US median pay · Structural Iron and Steel Workers
$62,780
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Building/Construction Finishing
0.1%
of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates

About Metal Building Assembly/Assembler programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 46.0411
A program that prepares individuals to construct industrial, storage, and commercial metal structures using prefabricated framing and siding components. Includes instruction in sheet metal working, ironworking, assembly and fastening techniques, blueprint reading, site preparation, structural design principles, safety, and applicable codes and regulations.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Metal Building Assembly/Assembler program prepares individuals for careers in the construction trades, specifically focusing on the assembly of industrial, storage, and commercial metal structures. Students learn to work with prefabricated framing and siding components, making it ideal for those interested in hands-on construction work.

What you'll learn

Core coursework includes instruction in sheet metal working, ironworking, assembly techniques, blueprint reading, and safety regulations. Students also gain essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and reading comprehension, which are vital for successful assembly and construction.

Credentials awarded

What Metal Building Assembly/Assembler graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Award of less than 12 weeks5 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    100%

Graduates over time

Metal Building Assembly/Assembler completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.

5graduates in 2025
+0% since 2012
7 · 20162012202555
Graduates per year (IPEDS completions)
YearGraduates
20125
20135
20143
20156
20167
20174
20180
20190
20210
20220
20230
20240
20255

Top 1 institutions for Metal Building Assembly/Assembler, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet price
1Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks
558%—

Offered in 1 states

Where Metal Building Assembly/Assembler graduates come from. Each state links to all Building/Construction Finishing programs offered there.

StateInstitutionsGraduates / yrTop institution by graduates
Wisconsin15Moraine Park Technical College5 / yr

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2221, Structural Iron and Steel Workers, and its national outlook.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Structural Iron and Steel Workers, with an average annual wage of $62,700. The job outlook for this occupation is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.4% and approximately 5,500 annual openings.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~5,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$62,700
typically High school diploma or equivalent
National employment
68,380
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
US average pay
$70,280
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$62,780
annual

Top-paying metros

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$113,210avg
Trenton-Princeton, NJ
$111,350avg
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
$110,360avg
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
$107,460avg
Vineland, NJ
$103,660avg

Career pathways for CIP 46.0411

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Structural Iron and Steel Workersprimary
SOC 47-2221
$62,780+4.4%
About as fast as average
~5,500High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation needed

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Education
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Related careers

Structural Iron and Steel Workers
$70,280 avg · 68,380 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Metal Building Assembly/Assembler programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Speaking
Active Learning
Learning Strategies
Reading Comprehension
Writing

Knowledge areas

Building and Construction
Mechanical
Mathematics
Public Safety and Security
Administration and Management
English Language

Abilities that matter most

Multilimb Coordination
Static Strength
Visualization
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Manual Dexterity
Near Vision

Day-to-day work activities

Handling and Moving Objects
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Performing General Physical Activities
Getting Information
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

What graduates do on the job

  • Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
  • Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
  • Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
  • Fasten structural steel members to hoist cables, using chains, cables, or rope.
  • Hoist steel beams, girders, or columns into place, using cranes or signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift and position structural steel members.
  • Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.

Tools and technology used

Cost estimating softwareInventory tracking softwareMicrosoft OutlookProject scheduling softwareTurtle Creek Software Goldenseal

Other Building/Construction Finishing specializations

The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04).

Common questions

What is the duration of the program?+

The program awards credentials in less than 12 weeks.

What kind of jobs can I get after completing the program?+

You can work as a Structural Iron and Steel Worker.

What skills will I learn?+

You will learn skills such as critical thinking, blueprint reading, and safety practices.

What is the job outlook for this field?+

The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 5,500 annual openings.

What is the CIP code for Metal Building Assembly/Assembler?+

Metal Building Assembly/Assembler is CIP 46.0411 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to construct industrial, storage, and commercial metal structures using prefabricated framing and siding components. Includes instruction in sheet metal working, ironworking, assembly and fastening techniques, blueprint reading, site preparation, structural design principles, safety, and applicable codes and regulations.

How many institutions offer Metal Building Assembly/Assembler programs?+

1 U.S. institutions reported Metal Building Assembly/Assembler graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 5 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates.

How much do Metal Building Assembly/Assembler graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Structural Iron and Steel Workers occupation, which Metal Building Assembly/Assembler most directly leads to, pays a median of $62,780 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Building/Construction Finishing by stateWisconsin

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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