Steel Industry Workers

Most steel mills operate 24 hours a day. Workers work one of three shifts: day, night, or graveyard. Late-shift workers receive premium pay, as do those who work overtime (more than 40 hours per week), or on Sundays and holidays.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, mean annual earnings for production occupations in steel manufacturing in May 2019 were $53,780. It reports the following mean salaries for workers: first-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers, $70,490; machinists, $44,000; metal-refining furnace operators and tenders, $48,150; crane and tower operators, $49,890; rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, $47,490; inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers, $42,990; pourers and casters, metal, $46,260; cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, $39,100; and production work helpers, $32,790. In general, salaries range from $25,000 to $70,000 or more.

Workers receive paid holidays, paid vacations, sick leave, retirement plans, health and life insurance, and other fringe benefits. Many benefits are determined by contracts between the representative union and company management.