Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in California

Median $36.72 an hour for 7,110 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.72/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$76,370/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.83 – $56.7510th to 90th percentilehourly range
7,110Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Ironworker pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrCalifornia: 10th $22.83 · 25th $28.47 · median $36.72 · 75th $49.99 · 90th $56.75California$36.72$22.83$56.75United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for ironworkers: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 16th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 24th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.17). 7,110 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.83 – $28.47$47,480 – $59,220roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.47 – $49.99$59,220 – $103,980the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$49.99 – $56.75$103,980 – $118,030the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSan Jose: $52.62San Jose$52.62Vallejo: $51.40Vallejo$51.40Chico: $42.34Chico$42.34San Francisco: $41.99San Francisco$41.99Fresno: $38.51Fresno$38.51Los Angeles: $37.52Los Angeles$37.52Sacramento: $37.39Sacramento$37.39San Diego: $36.73San Diego$36.73Modesto: $36.45Modesto$36.45Santa Rosa: $36.24Santa Rosa$36.24Stockton: $36.00Stockton$36.00Riverside: $34.99Riverside$34.99
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
San Jose$27.10$52.62$47.66$62.7933043% above
Vallejo$29.39$51.40$47.37$68.5415040% above
Chico$23.32$42.34$41.84$59.845015% above
San Francisco$27.35$41.99$36.32$59.8480014% above
Fresno$22.50$38.51$37.68$56.301805% above
Los Angeles$22.59$37.52$33.03$52.982,1502% above
Sacramento$25.02$37.39$35.04$53.674502% above
San Diego$23.72$36.73$32.82$53.05740about the same as
Modesto$23.01$36.45$35.01$62.241001% below
Santa Rosa$24.94$36.24$33.62$47.92601% below
Stockton$23.22$36.00$34.25$61.441702% below
Riverside$22.73$34.99$32.89$50.751,1205% below
Bakersfield$22.43$33.85$33.55$47.011208% below
Oxnard$21.91$30.36$27.48$47.895017% below
San Luis Obispo$23.00$28.88$26.59$48.924021% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Ironworker wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.72California$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.92$38.49$17.196,310
2000$22.79$42.61$17.927,110
2001$23.80$43.27$18.727,520
2002$23.80$42.59$19.557,370
2003$22.89$40.05$19.587,980
2004$25.06$42.71$20.405,890
2005$24.04$39.63$19.515,320
2006$25.17$40.19$19.464,930
2007$23.57$36.60$20.265,770
2008$26.53$39.67$20.686,510
2009$26.98$40.49$21.406,290
2010$26.47$39.08$21.425,520
2011$29.83$42.69$21.975,000
2012$29.92$41.95$22.184,290
2013$34.45$47.61$22.364,960
2014$33.18$45.12$23.174,630
2015$31.69$43.04$24.286,100
2016$30.10$40.38$24.916,590
2017$29.85$39.21$25.308,710
2018$31.98$41.00$25.959,670
2019$31.79$40.03$26.469,950
2020$33.30$41.42$26.368,330
2021$35.68$42.39$28.157,850
2022$30.50$33.55$29.098,660
2023$36.90$38.99$30.177,730
2024$34.64$35.55$30.146,970
2025$36.72$36.72$30.187,110

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in California changed by -14.7% over the last ten years of data and by -8.3% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in California?

-28.5%Jobs since 20199,950 then, 7,110 in 2025
+16.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 25th of 49 states

Since 1999, the number of ironworkers counted in California has changed by +12.7%, against -20.0% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -28.5%.

Structural iron and steel workers in California vs United States, 1999 = 100CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025113California80United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, California vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearCalifornia jobsCalifornia indexUS index
19996,310100100
20007,11011396
20017,52011992
20027,37011787
20037,98012682
20045,8909382
20055,3208481
20064,9307879
20075,7709176
20086,51010380
20096,29010076
20105,5208868
20115,0007967
20124,2906867
20134,9607967
20144,6307370
20156,1009775
20166,59010481
20178,71013887
20189,67015390
20199,95015890
20208,33013284
20217,85012480
20228,66013778
20237,73012275
20246,97011076
20257,11011380

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for ironworkers in California

+5.5%Projected growth in California2024–2034, state agency
620Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,300Jobs in 20247,700 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

California's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +5.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,300 to 7,700, with about 620 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 7,110 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 53 of the 58 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $85.85 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.08). 5 of the 58 counties still use a survey rate dated 1985 or earlier (for example Amador County at $27.85). The market median for the state is $36.72.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $85.85 (union)Alpine: $78.20 (union)Amador: $27.85 (survey)Butte: $78.20 (union)Calaveras: $85.85 (union)Colusa: $78.20 (union)Contra Costa: $85.85 (union)Del Norte: $28.08 (survey)El Dorado: $78.20 (union)Fresno: $85.85 (union)Glenn: $78.20 (union)Humboldt: $28.08 (survey)Imperial: $85.85 (union)Inyo: $85.85 (union)Kern: $85.85 (union)Kings: $85.85 (union)Lake: $28.08 (survey)Lassen: $78.20 (union)Los Angeles: $85.85 (union)Madera: $85.85 (union)Marin: $78.20 (union)Mariposa: $85.85 (union)Mendocino: $28.08 (survey)Merced: $85.85 (union)Modoc: $78.20 (union)Mono: $85.85 (union)Monterey: $85.85 (union)Napa: $78.20 (union)Nevada: $78.20 (union)Orange: $85.85 (union)Placer: $78.20 (union)Plumas: $78.20 (union)Riverside: $85.85 (union)Sacramento: $78.20 (union)San Benito: $85.85 (union)San Bernardino: $85.85 (union)San Diego: $85.85 (union)San Francisco: $85.85 (union)San Joaquin: $85.85 (union)San Luis Obispo: $85.85 (union)San Mateo: $85.85 (union)Santa Barbara: $85.85 (union)Santa Clara: $85.85 (union)Santa Cruz: $85.85 (union)Shasta: $78.20 (union)Sierra: $78.20 (union)Siskiyou: $78.20 (union)Solano: $78.20 (union)Sonoma: $78.20 (union)Stanislaus: $85.85 (union)Sutter: $78.20 (union)Tehama: $78.20 (union)Trinity: $78.20 (union)Tulare: $85.85 (union)Tuolumne: $85.85 (union)Ventura: $85.85 (union)Yolo: $78.20 (union)Yuba: $78.20 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$78.20survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for ironworkers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$20$40$60$80$100/hrSan Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo): market median $28.88, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$56.97San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo)+$56.97Ventura (Oxnard): market median $30.36, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$55.49Ventura (Oxnard)+$55.49Kern (Bakersfield): market median $33.85, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$52.00Kern (Bakersfield)+$52.00Riverside (Riverside): market median $34.99, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$50.86Riverside (Riverside)+$50.86San Joaquin (Stockton): market median $36.00, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$49.85San Joaquin (Stockton)+$49.85Stanislaus (Modesto): market median $36.45, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$49.40Stanislaus (Modesto)+$49.40Imperial (California): market median $36.72, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$49.13Imperial (California)+$49.13San Diego (San Diego): market median $36.73, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$49.12San Diego (San Diego)+$49.12Los Angeles (Los Angeles): market median $37.52, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$48.33Los Angeles (Los Angeles)+$48.33Fresno (Fresno): market median $38.51, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$47.34Fresno (Fresno)+$47.34Alameda (San Francisco): market median $41.99, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$43.86Alameda (San Francisco)+$43.86Sonoma (Santa Rosa): market median $36.24, prevailing (union) $78.20, gap +$41.96Sonoma (Santa Rosa)+$41.96El Dorado (Sacramento): market median $37.39, prevailing (union) $78.20, gap +$40.81El Dorado (Sacramento)+$40.81Butte (Chico): market median $42.34, prevailing (union) $78.20, gap +$35.86Butte (Chico)+$35.86San Benito (San Jose): market median $52.62, prevailing (union) $85.85, gap +$33.23San Benito (San Jose)+$33.23Solano (Vallejo): market median $51.40, prevailing (union) $78.20, gap +$26.80Solano (Vallejo)+$26.80
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamedaUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
CalaverasUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
Contra CostaUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
FresnoUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
ImperialUnion IRON0229-001 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260002
InyoUnion IRON0155-003 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260020
KernUnion IRON0155-003 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260020
KingsUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
Los AngelesUnion IRON0433-006 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260022
MaderaUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
MariposaUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
MercedUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
MonoUnion IRON0155-003 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260020
MontereyUnion IRON0433-005 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260018
OrangeUnion IRON0433-006 2025-01-01$50.70$35.15$85.85CA20260024

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the California prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in California?

895.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025896kSep 2026
Construction employment in California (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

More on California

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in California?

The median ironworker in California earned $36.72 an hour ($76,370 a year) in May 2025, 22% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $28.47–$49.99; the top 10% earn more than $56.75.

Where does California rank for ironworker pay?

California ranks 16th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $36.72 an hour, and 24th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 53 counties, with a typical package of $85.85 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in California?

BLS counted 7,110 ironworkers in California in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in California?

The BLS employer survey count of ironworkers in California went from 6,100 in 2015 to 7,110 in 2025, +16.6%, and -28.5% since 2019. California's labor market agency projects +5.5% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 7,300 to 7,700 jobs.

How many ironworker openings a year are there in California?

California projects about 620 openings a year for ironworkers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 5,900 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 47-2221. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.