Ironworker salary: what ironworkers actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 68,380 structural iron and steel workers nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What structural iron and steel workers earn: the full range
The middle half of structural iron and steel workers earn between $23.98 and $39.74 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $52.05 ($108,260 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $21.43.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.43 – $23.98 | $44,580 – $49,880 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.98 – $39.74 | $49,880 – $82,660 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $39.74 – $52.05 | $82,660 – $108,260 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Ironworker pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $58.10 | 93% above |
| New Jersey | $54.43 | 80% above |
| Washington | $51.76 | 72% above |
| Illinois | $48.97 | 62% above |
| Hawaii | $48.01 | 59% above |
| Rhode Island | $47.27 | 57% above |
| Oregon | $46.18 | 53% above |
| Minnesota | $45.83 | 52% above |
| Wisconsin | $44.63 | 48% above |
| New York | $44.52 | 48% above |
| Pennsylvania | $39.89 | 32% above |
| North Dakota | $39.48 | 31% above |
| Missouri | $37.22 | 23% above |
| Iowa | $37.21 | 23% above |
| Alaska | $37.01 | 23% above |
| California | $36.72 | 22% above |
| Ohio | $35.92 | 19% above |
| Idaho | $34.98 | 16% above |
| West Virginia | $34.54 | 14% above |
| Maryland | $34.49 | 14% above |
| Indiana | $33.72 | 12% above |
| Louisiana | $33.09 | 10% above |
| Montana | $32.40 | 7% above |
| Nebraska | $31.48 | 4% above |
| Kentucky | $30.80 | 2% above |
| Michigan | $30.21 | about the same as |
| Nevada | $30.05 | about the same as |
| Connecticut | $30.00 | 1% below |
| Maine | $29.69 | 2% below |
| District of Columbia | $29.44 | 2% below |
| Virginia | $28.97 | 4% below |
| New Hampshire | $28.81 | 5% below |
| Delaware | $28.76 | 5% below |
| Arizona | $28.55 | 5% below |
| Colorado | $28.28 | 6% below |
| Kansas | $28.15 | 7% below |
| Utah | $28.01 | 7% below |
| South Dakota | $27.43 | 9% below |
| Tennessee | $27.29 | 10% below |
| Alabama | $27.23 | 10% below |
| Florida | $26.78 | 11% below |
| Vermont | $26.75 | 11% below |
| Texas | $25.12 | 17% below |
| South Carolina | $24.40 | 19% below |
| Mississippi | $24.37 | 19% below |
| North Carolina | $23.43 | 22% below |
| Georgia | $23.12 | 23% below |
| Oklahoma | $22.92 | 24% below |
| Wyoming | $22.83 | 24% below |
| Arkansas | $21.88 | 28% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $58.10 | $54.91 | #1 | 2,050 |
| New Jersey | $54.43 | $50.03 | #2 | 1,060 |
| Washington | $51.76 | $48.37 | #4 | 850 |
| Illinois | $48.97 | $48.97 | #3 | 2,740 |
| Hawaii | $48.01 | $43.65 | #10 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $47.27 | $46.21 | #7 | 360 |
| Oregon | $46.18 | $44.66 | #8 | 570 |
| Minnesota | $45.83 | $46.48 | #6 | 910 |
| Wisconsin | $44.63 | $47.43 | #5 | 710 |
| New York | $44.52 | $41.26 | #12 | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $39.89 | $40.87 | #14 | 1,610 |
| North Dakota | $39.48 | $44.36 | #9 | 270 |
| Missouri | $37.22 | $40.99 | #13 | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $37.21 | $42.38 | #11 | — |
| Alaska | $37.01 | $36.14 | #19 | 120 |
| California | $36.72 | $33.17 | #24 | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $35.92 | $38.71 | #15 | 2,290 |
| Idaho | $34.98 | $36.63 | #18 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $34.54 | $38.59 | #16 | 150 |
| Maryland | $34.49 | $32.85 | #25 | 710 |
| Indiana | $33.72 | $36.14 | #20 | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $33.09 | $37.52 | #17 | 1,180 |
| Montana | $32.40 | $34.25 | #22 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $31.48 | $34.94 | #21 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $30.80 | $34.15 | #23 | 990 |
| Michigan | $30.21 | $31.40 | #26 | 1,750 |
| Nevada | $30.05 | $30.05 | #31 | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $30.00 | $28.96 | #33 | 330 |
| Maine | $29.69 | $30.61 | #30 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $29.44 | $26.79 | #42 | 210 |
| Virginia | $28.97 | $28.65 | #35 | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $28.81 | $27.65 | #39 | 220 |
| Delaware | $28.76 | $28.82 | #34 | 90 |
| Arizona | $28.55 | $28.35 | #36 | 3,980 |
| Colorado | $28.28 | $27.43 | #40 | 860 |
| Kansas | $28.15 | $31.24 | #27 | 260 |
| Utah | $28.01 | $28.32 | #37 | 1,630 |
| South Dakota | $27.43 | $30.96 | #28 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $27.29 | $29.70 | #32 | 1,240 |
| Alabama | $27.23 | $30.66 | #29 | 1,740 |
| Florida | $26.78 | $25.90 | #45 | 2,730 |
| Vermont | $26.75 | $27.30 | #41 | 50 |
| Texas | $25.12 | $25.87 | #46 | 9,700 |
| South Carolina | $24.40 | $26.04 | #44 | 660 |
| Mississippi | $24.37 | $28.01 | #38 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $23.43 | $24.85 | #48 | 2,000 |
| Georgia | $23.12 | $24.01 | #50 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $22.92 | $26.10 | #43 | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $22.83 | $24.63 | #49 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $21.88 | $25.18 | #47 | 1,080 |
Ironworker wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.19 | $33.22 | 85,520 |
| 2000 | $17.92 | $33.50 | 81,710 |
| 2001 | $18.72 | $34.03 | 78,700 |
| 2002 | $19.55 | $34.99 | 74,700 |
| 2003 | $19.58 | $34.26 | 70,420 |
| 2004 | $20.40 | $34.77 | 70,240 |
| 2005 | $19.51 | $32.16 | 68,900 |
| 2006 | $19.46 | $31.08 | 67,560 |
| 2007 | $20.26 | $31.46 | 65,100 |
| 2008 | $20.68 | $30.92 | 68,670 |
| 2009 | $21.40 | $32.11 | 65,130 |
| 2010 | $21.42 | $31.62 | 58,460 |
| 2011 | $21.97 | $31.44 | 56,920 |
| 2012 | $22.18 | $31.10 | 57,070 |
| 2013 | $22.36 | $30.90 | 57,480 |
| 2014 | $23.17 | $31.51 | 60,010 |
| 2015 | $24.28 | $32.98 | 64,280 |
| 2016 | $24.91 | $33.41 | 69,440 |
| 2017 | $25.30 | $33.23 | 74,420 |
| 2018 | $25.95 | $33.27 | 77,410 |
| 2019 | $26.46 | $33.32 | 76,570 |
| 2020 | $26.36 | $32.79 | 71,490 |
| 2021 | $28.15 | $33.45 | 68,620 |
| 2022 | $29.09 | $32.00 | 66,810 |
| 2023 | $30.17 | $31.88 | 63,780 |
| 2024 | $30.14 | $30.93 | 64,720 |
| 2025 | $30.18 | $30.18 | 68,380 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median ironworker wage changed by -8.5% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for ironworkers
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58.10 | $61.83 | 1,310 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49.68 | $58.38 | 800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.21 | $59.87 | 2,120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49.07 | $62.81 | 2,300 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47.27 | $59.67 | 640 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47.03 | $47.67 | 750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41.99 | $59.84 | 800 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $39.25 | $47.10 | 670 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37.52 | $52.98 | 2,150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36.73 | $53.05 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34.99 | $50.75 | 1,120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $33.72 | $46.93 | 1,110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $32.85 | $41.04 | 1,060 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $30.23 | $38.05 | 930 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $30.05 | $49.11 | 910 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for ironworkers in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $102.56 | — | 21/21 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $98.39 | — | 72/72 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $93.96 | — | 5/5 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $91.13 | — | 14/14 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $88.87 | — | 8/17 |
| Alaska | 100% | $86.46 | — | 30/30 |
| California | 91% | $85.85 | $28.08 | 58/58 |
| Oregon | 86% | $82.83 | $64.87 | 36/36 |
| Washington | 100% | $82.83 | — | 39/39 |
| Delaware | 33% | $79.33 | $51.73 | 3/3 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $76.56 | — | 5/5 |
| Kansas | 11% | $73.25 | $38.11 | 105/105 |
| Missouri | 99% | $72.92 | $39.73 | 115/115 |
| Illinois | 100% | $70.53 | — | 102/102 |
| Pennsylvania | 96% | $69.89 | $55.47 | 67/67 |
| North Dakota | 53% | $69.06 | $43.23 | 53/53 |
| Michigan | 95% | $68.17 | $23.01 | 83/83 |
| New York | 82% | $67.84 | $58.62 | 62/62 |
| Indiana | 95% | $64.39 | $10.00 | 87/92 |
| Ohio | 90% | $64.02 | $42.75 | 88/88 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $63.72 | — | 1/1 |
| Virginia | 100% | $63.72 | — | 58/133 |
| Montana | 68% | $62.13 | $33.21 | 56/56 |
| Kentucky | 70% | $61.97 | $37.71 | 120/120 |
| Nebraska | 86% | $61.30 | $27.46 | 93/93 |
| West Virginia | 49% | $60.75 | $38.19 | 55/55 |
| Iowa | 60% | $59.98 | $32.30 | 99/99 |
| Maine | 38% | $59.92 | $31.45 | 16/16 |
| New Hampshire | 80% | $59.77 | $36.69 | 10/10 |
| Vermont | 100% | $59.77 | — | 14/14 |
| Idaho | 100% | $56.35 | — | 43/44 |
| Arizona | 100% | $52.91 | — | 15/15 |
| Tennessee | 27% | $52.39 | $19.83 | 95/95 |
| Colorado | 100% | $51.71 | — | 64/64 |
| Mississippi | 41% | $49.58 | $36.34 | 82/82 |
| Oklahoma | 97% | $49.48 | $21.30 | 77/77 |
| Arkansas | 73% | $49.21 | $19.39 | 75/75 |
| Louisiana | 86% | $48.61 | $26.59 | 35/64 |
| Alabama | 72% | $47.78 | $28.54 | 29/67 |
| North Carolina | 48% | $47.75 | $24.37 | 100/100 |
| South Carolina | 67% | $47.75 | $53.33 | 9/46 |
| Georgia | 47% | $47.05 | $16.75 | 159/159 |
| South Dakota | 88% | $46.28 | $35.96 | 66/66 |
| New Mexico | 97% | $46.16 | $36.21 | 33/33 |
| Florida | 63% | $44.56 | $22.15 | 67/67 |
| Texas | 73% | $38.07 | $20.00 | 253/254 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $62.94 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $87.36 | 87/87 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $90.97 | 17/17 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $23.54 | 29/29 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $40.82 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects structural iron and steel workers employment to change by +3.1% over 2025-35, with about 5,900 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare ironworker pay with other trades
See how ironworker pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do ironworkers make?
The median ironworker earned $30.18 an hour, or $62,780 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 68,380 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $23.98 and $39.74 an hour.
How much do ironworkers make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $21.43 at the 10th percentile to $52.05 at the 90th, with a median of $30.18. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice ironworker make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $21.43 to $23.98 an hour ($44,580 to $49,880 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays ironworkers the most?
Massachusetts had the highest median at $58.10 an hour in May 2025, followed by New Jersey ($54.43) and Washington ($51.76). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are ironworker wages going up?
In today's dollars the median ironworker wage changed by -8.5% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $24.28 to $30.18.
Is ironworker a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $62,780 a year, a 90th percentile of $108,260, projected growth of +3.1% and about 5,900 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2221 (Structural iron and steel workers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.