Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors Revenue Benchmarks
The average structural steel and precast concrete contractors business in the United States generates $4.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,777 structural steel and precast concrete contractors businesses in the U.S., employing 78,255 workers with an average profit margin of 7.0%.
What Does a Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Business Actually Do?
Specialty contractors erecting structural steel and installing precast concrete elements. Often work as subs on commercial/industrial projects.
Who buys: General contractors, developers, industrial builders.
Average Revenue
$4.7M
per year
Profit Margin
7.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$226K
per year
Total Businesses
3,777
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$327K
small business avg
Labor Cost
30.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors Charge?
Structural steel and precast concrete contractors are typically subs on commercial/industrial builds.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Structural steel erection | $800–1,500/ton |
Precast concrete (per element) | $500–5,000+ per unit |
Tilt-up wall construction | $50–100/sqft |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete structural steel and precast concrete business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a structural steel and precast concrete contractors business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the structural steel and precast concrete contractors industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Materials & subcontractors | $38 | $1.8M | Lumber, concrete, fixtures, subcontracted trades — the physical scope of the job. |
Wages & benefits | $30 | $1.4M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $5 | $236K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $147K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $796K | Equipment rentals, insurance (very high in construction), permits, vehicles, fuel. |
Net profit | $7 | $327K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.69%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.47%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.44%
annual
Businesses Closed
8,367
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Business?
Startup Cost
$25K – $150K
Break-Even
3 months
5-Year Survival Rate
52.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a structural steel and precast concrete contractors business do?
- Specialty contractors erecting structural steel and installing precast concrete elements. Often work as subs on commercial/industrial projects. General contractors, developers, industrial builders.
- How much do structural steel and precast concrete contractors charge?
- Structural steel and precast concrete contractors are typically subs on commercial/industrial builds. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average structural steel and precast concrete contractors make per year?
- The average structural steel and precast concrete contractors business generates $4.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $327K per year at a 7.0% profit margin.
- How many structural steel and precast concrete contractors businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,777 structural steel and precast concrete contractors businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 78,255 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a structural steel and precast concrete contractors business?
- Startup costs for a structural steel and precast concrete contractors business typically range from $25K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 52.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The structural steel and precast concrete contractors industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.7% entry vs 11.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 54% of structural steel and precast concrete contractors businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 8,367 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The structural steel and precast concrete contractors industry has declined 6% since 2000 (from 94,025 to 88,283 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors revenue with other industries: