Best institutions to study Ironworking/Ironworker
A program that prepares individuals to make and install structural, ornamental, and reinforcing metal structures and supports.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 102 Ironworking/Ironworker students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 48.0509, a specialization of Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05), and leads most directly to the Foundry Mold and Coremakers occupation (BLS SOC 51-4071).
About Ironworking/Ironworker programs
A program that prepares individuals to make and install structural, ornamental, and reinforcing metal structures and supports. Includes instruction in drafting, technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, welding, riveting, beam placement, ornamental design, structural reinforcement, crane operation, safety, and applicable codes and standards.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ironworking/Ironworker program, part of the Precision Metal Working field, prepares individuals to create and install various metal structures. This program covers essential skills for working with structural, ornamental, and reinforcing metal, making it suitable for those interested in a hands-on career in construction and metalworking. Students in this program will learn to interpret blueprints, perform welding and riveting, and operate cranes, among other tasks. This training is ideal for those who enjoy working with their hands and are looking for a rewarding career in a vital industry.
Core skills and knowledge in the Ironworking/Ironworker program include drafting, technical mathematics, safety protocols, and applicable codes and standards. Students will engage in coursework that emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, equipping them with the tools needed for success in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Ironworking/Ironworker graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years54 graduates / yr · 2 institutions53%
- Associate's degree48 graduates / yr · 1 institution47%
Graduates over time
Ironworking/Ironworker completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 138 |
| 2013 | 164 |
| 2014 | 278 |
| 2015 | 174 |
| 2016 | 194 |
| 2017 | 106 |
| 2018 | 124 |
| 2019 | 171 |
| 2020 | 215 |
| 2021 | 316 |
| 2022 | 226 |
| 2023 | 235 |
| 2024 | 161 |
| 2025 | 102 |
Top 2 institutions for Ironworking/Ironworker, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 99 | 40% | — | $41,767 |
| 2 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 24% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Precision Metal Working field (CIP 48.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 2 states
Where Ironworking/Ironworker graduates come from. Each state links to all Precision Metal Working programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 99 | Ivy Tech Community College99 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 3 | Community College of Allegheny County3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-4071, Foundry Mold and Coremakers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Ironworking/Ironworker program can pursue careers such as Foundry Mold and Coremakers. The job outlook indicates a decline of 25.9% in this field, with approximately 900 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $45,700, and typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 48.0509
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Foundry Mold and Coremakersprimary SOC 51-4071 | $48,110 | -25.9% Decline | ~900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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
Skills & knowledge in Ironworking/Ironworker programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
Tools and technology used
Other Precision Metal Working specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05).
- Welding Technology/CIP 48.0508
Welder 64,198 graduates / yr911 institutions - Machine Tool Technology/CIP 48.0501
Machinist 3,489 graduates / yr228 institutions - Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CIP 48.0510
CNC Machinist 2,248 graduates / yr166 institutions - Machine Shop Technology/CIP 48.0503
Assistant 1,542 graduates / yr87 institutions - Metal FabricatorCIP 48.0511588 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Tool and Die Technology/CIP 48.0507
Technician 423 graduates / yr35 institutions - Sheet Metal Technology/CIP 48.0506
Sheetworking 415 graduates / yr18 institutions - Precision Metal WorkingCIP 48.0599296 graduates / yr16 institutions
Common questions
What types of jobs can I get with this program?+
Graduates can work as Foundry Mold and Coremakers and in various ironworking roles.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills in welding, blueprint interpretation, safety, and technical mathematics.
What is the job outlook for ironworkers?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 25.9%, with about 900 annual openings.
What credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years or an Associate's degree.
What is the CIP code for Ironworking/Ironworker?+
Ironworking/Ironworker is CIP 48.0509 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to make and install structural, ornamental, and reinforcing metal structures and supports. Includes instruction in drafting, technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, welding, riveting, beam placement, ornamental design, structural reinforcement, crane operation, safety, and applicable codes and standards.
How many institutions offer Ironworking/Ironworker programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Ironworking/Ironworker graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 102 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Precision Metal Working graduates.
How much do Ironworking/Ironworker graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Foundry Mold and Coremakers occupation, which Ironworking/Ironworker most directly leads to, pays a median of $48,110 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Precision Metal Working field report median earnings of $41,767 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
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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