Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in Kentucky

Median $30.80 an hour for 990 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.80/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$64,060/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.19 – $47.2910th to 90th percentilehourly range
990Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Ironworker pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKentucky: 10th $23.19 · 25th $27.16 · median $30.80 · 75th $36.81 · 90th $47.29Kentucky$30.80$23.19$47.29United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for ironworkers: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 25th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 23rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.15). 990 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.19 – $27.16$48,240 – $56,480roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.16 – $36.81$56,480 – $76,570the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.81 – $47.29$76,570 – $98,360the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $36.39Cincinnati$36.39Louisville: $33.31Louisville$33.31Lexington: $30.77Lexington$30.77
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$23.27$36.39$38.14$42.4848018% above
Louisville$24.71$33.31$35.78$42.333108% above
Lexington$21.65$30.77$33.12$38.1140about the same as

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

Ironworker wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.80Kentucky$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.06$32.97$17.191,280
2000$17.83$33.33$17.921,030
2001$18.39$33.43$18.721,090
2002$17.60$31.50$19.551,060
2003$19.49$34.10$19.58980
2004$19.24$32.79$20.40900
2005$18.41$30.35$19.51930
2006$18.29$29.21$19.46800
2007$19.53$30.32$20.26900
2008$20.99$31.39$20.681,240
2009$23.12$34.69$21.401,300
2010$22.51$33.23$21.42940
2011$21.75$31.13$21.97660
2012$22.12$31.02$22.18460
2013$17.93$24.78$22.36550
2014$20.17$27.43$23.17800
2015$24.03$32.64$24.281,070
2016$25.61$34.35$24.911,170
2017$23.17$30.43$25.301,110
2018$20.87$26.76$25.95980
2019$20.92$26.34$26.46700
2020$24.76$30.80$26.36690
2021$27.05$32.14$28.151,410
2022$29.06$31.97$29.091,310
2023$30.13$31.83$30.171,120
2024$32.95$33.82$30.14870
2025$30.80$30.80$30.18990

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Kentucky changed by -5.6% over the last ten years of data and by +16.9% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in Kentucky?

0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 17th of 49 states

BLS counted 990 ironworkers in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 10%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for ironworkers in Kentucky

+4.3%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
80Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
890Jobs in 2024930 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +4.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 890 to 930, with about 80 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 990 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 84 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $61.97 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $37.71). 36 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $37.71). The market median for the state is $30.80.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $37.71 (survey)Allen: $33.04 (survey)Anderson: $61.97 (union)Ballard: $62.12 (union)Barren: $37.71 (survey)Bath: $61.97 (union)Bell: $69.29 (union)Boone: $61.67 (union)Bourbon: $61.97 (union)Boyd: $43.63 (survey)Boyle: $61.97 (union)Bracken: $61.67 (union)Breathitt: $69.29 (union)Breckinridge: $62.12 (union)Bullitt: $61.97 (union)Butler: $33.04 (survey)Caldwell: $62.12 (union)Calloway: $62.12 (union)Campbell: $61.67 (union)Carlisle: $62.12 (union)Carroll: $41.03 (survey)Carter: $69.29 (union)Casey: $37.71 (survey)Christian: $33.04 (survey)Clark: $61.97 (union)Clay: $69.29 (union)Clinton: $37.71 (survey)Crittenden: $62.12 (union)Cumberland: $37.71 (survey)Daviess: $38.45 (survey)Edmonson: $33.04 (survey)Elliott: $69.29 (union)Estill: $61.97 (union)Fayette: $61.97 (union)Fleming: $61.97 (union)Floyd: $69.29 (union)Franklin: $61.97 (union)Fulton: $62.12 (union)Gallatin: $61.67 (union)Garrard: $61.97 (union)Grant: $61.67 (union)Graves: $62.12 (union)Grayson: $62.12 (union)Green: $37.71 (survey)Greenup: $43.63 (survey)Hancock: $38.45 (survey)Hardin: $61.97 (union)Harlan: $69.29 (union)Harrison: $61.97 (union)Hart: $37.71 (survey)Henderson: $33.04 (survey)Henry: $61.97 (union)Hickman: $62.12 (union)Hopkins: $62.12 (union)Jackson: $69.29 (union)Jefferson: $61.97 (union)Jessamine: $61.97 (union)Johnson: $69.29 (union)Kenton: $61.67 (union)Knott: $69.29 (union)Knox: $37.71 (survey)Larue: $61.97 (union)Laurel: $37.71 (survey)Lawrence: $69.29 (union)Lee: $69.29 (union)Leslie: $69.29 (union)Letcher: $69.29 (union)Lewis: $61.97 (union)Lincoln: $61.97 (union)Livingston: $62.12 (union)Logan: $37.71 (survey)Lyon: $62.12 (union)McCracken: $40.84 (survey)McCreary: $37.71 (survey)McLean: $38.45 (survey)Madison: $61.97 (union)Magoffin: $69.29 (union)Marion: $37.71 (survey)Marshall: $62.12 (union)Martin: $69.29 (union)Mason: $43.16 (survey)Meade: $61.97 (union)Menifee: $61.97 (union)Mercer: $61.97 (union)Metcalfe: $37.71 (survey)Monroe: $37.71 (survey)Montgomery: $61.97 (union)Morgan: $69.29 (union)Muhlenberg: $62.12 (union)Nelson: $61.97 (union)Nicholas: $61.97 (union)Ohio: $62.12 (union)Oldham: $61.97 (union)Owen: $61.97 (union)Owsley: $69.29 (union)Pendleton: $61.67 (union)Perry: $69.29 (union)Pike: $69.29 (union)Powell: $61.97 (union)Pulaski: $37.71 (survey)Robertson: $61.97 (union)Rockcastle: $61.97 (union)Rowan: $61.97 (union)Russell: $37.71 (survey)Scott: $61.97 (union)Shelby: $61.97 (union)Simpson: $37.71 (survey)Spencer: $61.97 (union)Taylor: $37.71 (survey)Todd: $62.12 (union)Trigg: $33.04 (survey)Trimble: $61.97 (union)Union: $62.12 (union)Warren: $33.04 (survey)Washington: $61.97 (union)Wayne: $37.71 (survey)Webster: $33.04 (survey)Whitley: $37.71 (survey)Wolfe: $69.29 (union)Woodford: $61.97 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$37.71$61.97$62.12survey 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/hrCarter (Kentucky): market median $30.80, prevailing (union) $69.29, gap +$38.49Carter (Kentucky)+$38.49Bourbon (Lexington): market median $30.77, prevailing (union) $61.97, gap +$31.20Bourbon (Lexington)+$31.20Bullitt (Louisville): market median $33.31, prevailing (union) $61.97, gap +$28.66Bullitt (Louisville)+$28.66Boone (Cincinnati): market median $36.39, prevailing (union) $61.67, gap +$25.28Boone (Cincinnati)+$25.28
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BellUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260019
BreathittUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
CarterUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260022
ClayUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
ElliottUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
FloydUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
HarlanUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
JacksonUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
JohnsonUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
KnottUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
LawrenceUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260026
LeeUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
LeslieUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
LetcherUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043
MagoffinUnion IRON0769-002 2025-06-01$39.70$29.59$69.29KY20260043

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

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in Kentucky?

The median ironworker in Kentucky earned $30.80 an hour ($64,060 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $27.16–$36.81; the top 10% earn more than $47.29.

Where does Kentucky rank for ironworker pay?

Kentucky ranks 25th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $30.80 an hour, and 23rd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 84 counties, with a typical package of $61.97 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 990 ironworkers in Kentucky in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.13; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's labor market agency projects +4.3% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 890 to 930 jobs.

How many ironworker openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 80 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.