Small steel erection and install crew
Install beams, columns, stairs and light structural steel on remodels and small builds as a subcontractor.
- $15k-60k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
4,005 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.8% in a year
NAICS 238120 “Structural steel and precast concrete contractors”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small crew that travels to job sites to set and weld or bolt steel that a fabricator has already made: beams in home remodels, columns, mezzanines, stairs, railings and small commercial frames.
Your first three steps
- Check your state's contractor licensing rules and get any welding certifications that local builders and inspectors ask for
- Get a work truck, a welding rig and basic rigging and safety gear, and rent heavy equipment per job at first
- Introduce yourself to local general contractors and fabricators and offer to quote on their next install
Who pays
General contractors, home builders, remodelers and property owners who need steel installed by a specialist.
How it makes money
Fixed price per job or per piece of steel set, or an hourly crew rate, with extra for equipment such as a boom truck or lift you rent in.
Skills that help
- Welding and bolting
- Reading structural drawings
- Safe rigging and working at height
- Pricing and scheduling jobs
Watch out for
- State or local contractor license requirements for steel or structural work, check your state licensing board
- General liability insurance, and workers' compensation as soon as you hire, since this is high-risk work
- OSHA fall protection and rigging rules, plus crane or lift operator requirements, check what applies
- Some projects require engineer-stamped drawings, bonding or prevailing wage rates, check before you bid
- Late payment from contractors can strain cash flow, agree payment terms in writing
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: small steel erection and install crew
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a steel erection and install crew?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your vehicles, tools, rigging and insurance. These are estimates, not guarantees, so get quotes for your own equipment before committing.
How much can a small steel erection crew earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on crew size, how many jobs you win and your pricing. This is an estimate. Late payment from contractors can strain cash flow, so agree terms in writing.
What licenses and rules should I check before starting a steel erection business?
Check state or local contractor license requirements with your state licensing board. Also check OSHA fall protection and rigging rules, crane or lift operator requirements, and whether projects need engineer-stamped drawings, bonding or prevailing wage rates. Check insurance, including workers' compensation.
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