Structural

What does the Structural career field do?

Manages, constructs, repairs, and modifies structural systems and wooden, masonry, metal, and concrete buildings. Fabricates and repairs components of buildings, utility systems, and real property equipment. Ensures compliance with environmental regulations. Related DOD Occupational Subgroup: 171000.

Duties and responsibilities

• Prepares and interprets working drawings and schematics for maintaining, altering, and repairing buildings and structures. Surveys proposed work sites to determine material and labor requirements. Prepares cost estimates. Reviews structural work progress and coordinates changes in schedules. Constructs and repairs footings, floors, slabs, foundations, walls, roofs, steps, doors, and windows for prefabricated and permanent structures. Constructs and modifies buildings. Prepares, applies, and finishes mortar, concrete, plaster, and stucco. Fabricates repairs and installs metal parts and assemblies for utility systems and buildings.
• Erects steel and lays out trusses and structures to specific dimensions. Welds, cuts, brazes, and solders ferrous and nonferrous metals using various welding processes. Welds butt, lap, tee, and edge joints in all working positions. Inspects, maintains, repairs, and installs overhead and rollup doors, and mechanical gates. Installs forms and reinforcing material. Applies protective coatings such as primers, stains, and sealants.
• Troubleshoots, repairs, and installs commercially manufactured locking devices such as keyed, combination, cipher, panic hardware/exit device, and pad locks.
• Erects scaffolding and works from ladders and mobile platforms.
• Identifies and selects construction materials considering strength, moisture content, grade, mix, application procedures, and curing.
• Manages, inspects, and evaluates work center activities. Ensures compliance with commercial and military publications. Submits and reviews supply and equipment requisitions. Discusses inspection findings and recommends corrective action.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: building maintenance, repair, and construction, including roofing; nomenclature of woodworking materials and methods of material storage; theory of squaring by equivalent measurements; application of shop mathematics; theory of wood treatment; type and specification requirements of masonry products: masonry batching formulas; methods of curing masonry products; types of coating preservatives and applications; compatible products to be combined in composite systems; methods of preparing various surfaces for finishing; locking devices; composition, characteristics, and identification of common commercial grade metals; construction grade metal requirements; types and uses of metal hardware; methods of forming and cutting metals; metal layout fabrication and repair; welding processes; shop drawings; metal measurement and layout devices; cutting equipment; gas and arc welding equipment; safety procedures and practices; and environmental concerns and safety precautions required in using, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in mathematics mechanical drawing, and use of metal, masonry and woodworking tools is desirable.

Training. For award of AFSC 3E331, completion of a basic structural course is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3E351. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E331. Also, experience in functions such as constructing and repairing buildings and heavy structures; erecting prefabricated structures; laying masonry units; mixing, applying, and finishing masonry products; erecting steel; use of protective equipment; and fabricating, installing, and repairing metal components using gas or arc welding equipment.
• 3E371. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E351. Also, experience performing or supervising functions such as laying masonry units; carpentry; constructing, erecting, maintenance, and repair of buildings and heavy structures; and planning, installing, repairing, welding, or forging metal components.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Vehicle Operations.
• Freedom from fear of heights.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs, must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 3 skill level, 2 years of lack of recent performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW DAFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 5 skill level, 4 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 7or 9 skill level, 6 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $31,640–$97,180 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Brickmasons and Blockmasons: $55,080
• Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: $36,710
• Carpenters: $49,520
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers: $46,000
• Construction and Building Inspectors: $62,860
• Construction Laborers: $37,890
• Construction Managers: $97,180
• Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: $47,460
• Fence Erector: $37,550
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $67,840
• Floor Layers: $45,520
• Furniture Finisher: $32,970
• Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers: $35,440
• Glaziers: $46,080
• Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters: $36,990
• Helpers--Carpenters: $34,280
• Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons: $31,640
• Helpers--Roofers: $33,260
• Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: $52,300
• Locksmiths and Safe Repairers: $43,690
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: $40,850
• Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers: $35,120
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: $49,770
• Patternmakers, Wood: $65,120
• Plasterers and Stucco Masons: $47,020
• Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: $49,390
• Roofers: $43,580
• Sheet Metal Workers: $51,370
• Stonemasons: $43,650
• Structural Iron and Steel Workers: $54,830
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: $41,780
• Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: $51,430
• Tile and Stone Setters: $44,220
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: $44,190